Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Review of Twang


Title: Twang
Author: Julie L. Cannon
Genre: Christian Fiction
Rating: 4 ½ stars
Publisher: Abingdon Press 
     As a country music fan I was excited to read Twang. I was not disappointed; Julie L. Cannon brought music city (Nashville Tennessee) to life for me. I could image walking down the same streets that Jennifer walked down. Jennifer Clodfelter comes to Nashville to become a country music star; however she is shocked to learn that it does not happen overnight.
     Jennifer becomes a loveable character that you can’t help but root for. I love that the book also focus on the character’s development of faith. To Me Twang seems like a book that could be almost based on a real story. I got lost in the story, and didn’t want the story to end.  I look forward to reading more of Julie L. Cannon’s books in the future.
I received a copy of Twang from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts in this review are my own. Twang releases from Abingdon Press on September 1, 2012 

Monday, August 27, 2012

Review of The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow


Title: The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm

Author: Patricia MacLachlan

Genre: Children’s

Rating: 4 ½ stars

Publisher: Albert Whitman & Company 

     Every since I read the first The Boxcar in which we first meet Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They were running away because their parents had died and they were scared of their grandfather because they thought that he was mean.  Even though The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm is just one author’s  take on what their life might have been like when their parents were still alive. 
     I enjoyed the story even though it was different than The Boxcar Children Mysteries that I had grown to love as a child. I believe Patricia MacLachlan’s book will introduce a whole new generation to The Boxcar Children and allow their parents to take a walk down memory lane. It’s nice to see a children’s author who is writing books that are on the level and material that is geared towards their age level.

I received a copy of The Boxcar Children Beginning The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts in this review are my own. The Boxcar Children Beginning The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm releases from  Albert Whitman & Company  on September 1, 2012 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Reading this week


Finished
Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon
A Love So Strong and When Love Comes Home by Arlene James
Winning Balance by Shawn Johnson
I’d Tell I love you, But then I’d Have to Kill You by Ally Carter

Currently reading
The Homesteader’s sweetheart Lacy Williams
Short-straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter

The Preacher’s Bride by Jody Hedlund



Non-fiction reading
Runaway Girl by Carissa Phelps


Getting ready to read
Love’s Reckoning by Laura Frantz
A Long way from you by Gwendolyn Heasley
Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
Wildflower Bride in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Saving Hope by Margaret Daley
A Texans’s Honor by Shelley Gray




For school 
Intersections of Gender, Race, and Class: Readings for a Changing Landscape

Visions of America: Personal Narratives from the Promised Land

 

Ethnic Women: A Multiple Status Reality

 

Snapshots of Research: Readings in Criminology and Criminal Justice

 

unSpun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation

 

Fundamentals of Research in Criminology and Criminal Justice


On My Kindle


Reviewing
Netgalley

Camellia by Diane Ashley

 



Devotional reading
The Book of James
The Girl’s Still Got: Take a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World by Liz Curtis Higgs 


Reviews Posted this week


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Review of End of the Trail


Title: End of the Trail

Author: Vickie McDonough

Series: Texas Trails Series
 
Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating: 4 ½ stars

Publisher: Moody 

     The final book in the Texas Trails series, but End of the Trail can be read alone. Brooks Morgan accidentally inherites a ranch that was meant to be Keri’s. End of the Trail is only the second book in the Texas Trails Series but Keri is quickly becoming a favorite Heroine. I love her spunk and the fact that she knows how to use a gun.
     Both Brooks and Keri are running from their past. Brooks ran away from home and Keri did not have a traditional upbringing most work together to save a ranch.
     I love that the Texas Trails series have flawed hero’s and Heroine’s in order to show God’s grace. I also love that even though the hero “recues” the heroine the heroine is still strong in her own way to remain true to history, because the west wasn’t won my men and damsels in distress. The women who went west were strong and determined.
     I look forward to reading the rest of the Texas Trails series to read the rest of the Morgan family’s story. 

I received a copy of End of the Trail from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts in this review are my own.



Monday, August 20, 2012

Review of My Stubborn Heart


 Title: My Stubborn Heart

Author: Becky Wade

Series: no
 
Chapters: 23 plus Epilogue

Pages: 343

Genre: Christian Fiction, Christian romance

Rating: 4 ½ stars

                Kate Donovan has come with her grandmother to restore the family home. She needs a break from her job as a social worker after losing a client. The handy man that her grandmother hired Matt Jarreau a former Hockey player who has given up hockey after losing his wife to cancer.
     I enjoyed My Stubborn Heart the story line was different. Both Matt and Kate were believeable character’s and true to life. There were words used that I wasn’t use to seeing in Christian fiction.  I would have to say that My Stubborn Heart is a book for older reads. But still a good read. 

Sunday, August 19, 2012

Reading this week


Finished
Leah’s Choice by Emma Miller
The Game Store Mystery by Gertrude Chandler
The Ghost in the First Row by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Courageous by Randy Alcorn
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Twang by Julie L. Cannon (reviewed for netgally)


Currently reading
A Texans’s Honor by Shelley Gray
Smart Girl get what they Want by Sarah Strohmeyer
Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon
The Homesteader’s sweetheart Lacy Williams
Short-straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
The Guardian Duke by Jamie Carie
A Love So Strong and When Love Comes Home by Arlene James

Non-fiction reading

Winning Balance by Shawn Johnson
Runaway Girl by Carissa Phelps

Getting ready to read
A Long way from you by Gwendolyn Heasley
Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
Wildflower Bride in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Secret Letters by Leah Scheier
Saving Hope by Margaret Daley
Love’s Reckoning by Laura Frantz


For school 
In two weeks


On My Kindle


Reviewing
For netgalley
 Right where I belong Krista McGee

Devotional reading
The Book of James from the Bible
The Girl’s Still Got: Take  a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World by Liz Curtis Higgs 

Reviews Posted this week



Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Review of Mud Sweat and Tears


Title: Mud Sweat, and Tears

Author: Bear Grylls

Series: 
 
Chapters: 110 plus epilogue

Pages: 408

Genre: Memoir autobiography

Rating: 4 ½ stars

     Bear Grylls the star  of  Man Verses Wild.  In Mud Sweat, and Tears Bear records his life from childhood to now. His time in the SAS Britain’s Special Forces, climbing Everest when his Christian faith finally became real to him.    Meeting his wife and knowing that she was the one.  Mud Sweat, and Tears is an honest  autobiography that holds nothing back. All in all I enjoyed reading it.  Though it does make me miss the show Man Verses Wild

Monday, August 13, 2012

Review of Skip Rock Shallows


Title: Skip Rock Shallows

Author: Jan Watson

Series: Copper Brown series which is a c Continuation of the Troublesome Creek series

Chapters: 33 plus epilogue

Pages: 375

Genre: Christian Historical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

     Lilly Gray Corbett is serving as a doctor in a coal mine camp in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Even though she grew up in the same hills the people of the mining town still see her as an outsider. She wants to help the people of the hills. She wants to give back, however her fiancé Paul doesn’t want her stay in what he calls a backwater town.  While in Skip Rock a love from Lily’s from past comes back into her life. Lilly is the doctor of Copper Brown a midwife in their Eastern Kentucky home but Lilly chooses to follow in her late father’s footsteps to become a doctor. Lilly has choices that she needs to make will she make the right ones? Will she trust God’s will for her life? 
     I enjoyed Skip Rock Shallows. I loved that it was set in my home state. In many ways it reminded me of Christy, but at the same time it was completely different as well. I’ve always wanted to read more about Lilly after reading Still House Pond. To me Skip Rock Shallows was a good close to Lilly’s story but I wouldn’t say no to more books in the series. 

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Reading this week


Finished
The Queen’s Vow by C.W. Gortner
Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK by Betsy St. Amant
The Spy Game by Gertude Chandler Warner
Shiloh by Phyllis Naylor Reynolds
The Vanishing Passagner by Gertude Chandler Warner  
The Boxcar children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm by Patrica MacLachlan (reviewed for Netgalley) review to come
End of the Trail by Vickie McDonough (Reviewed for netgalley) review to come


Currently reading
A Texans’s Honor by Shelley Gray
Leah’s Choice by Emma Miller
The Game Store Mystery by Gertrude Chandler
The Ghost in the First Row by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Smart Girl get what they Want by Sarah Strohmeyer
Lethal Legacy by Irene Hannon
Courageous by Randy Alcorn
Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Non-fiction reading
 Still trying to find something to read.

Getting ready to read

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox
A Long way from you by Gwendolyn Heasley
Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
Wildflower Bride in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
The Homesteader’s sweetheart Lacy Williams
Short-straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
Secret Letters by Leah Scheier
Saving Hope by Margaret Daley
The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy: A Pride and Prejudice Mystery by Regina Jeffers  

For school 

Not till the 27th
On My Kindle


Reviewing

For netgalley
Twang by Julie L. Cannon

Devotional reading
The Book of James from the Bible
Discovering the Treasure of a Godly Woman: Proverbs 31 by Elizabeth George(taking a break from this)
The Girl’s Still Got: Take  a Walk with Ruth and the God Who Rocked Her World by Liz Curtis Higgs  

Lifegroup- reading through John


Reviews Posted this week 


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Review of Lily


Title: Lily

Author: Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver

Series: Song of the River
 
Chapters: 52

Pages: 319

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction, Christian Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     Lily Anderson is a southern belle who doesn’t want to be forced into a loveless marriage. She takes her dowry and buys a steamboat only to discover that she only owns half of the boat. She wants to be able to raise both her sister’s Camellia and Jasmine the way she was raised on board a steamboat.

     Lily shares ownership of the Hattie Belle with Blake Matthews a man who is also running from his past. While Lily is on the Hattie Belle she discovers that Jasmine is thriving on the boat while Camellia is actually wilting. Is living on a steamboat really the right thing for her family? Can Lily and Blake let go of the past in order to have a future?

     I enjoyed reading Lily, it was a different type of read life on the river and a southern belle. Lily was the first book by Diane T. Ashley that I read. I am looking forward to next book in the series Camellia’s story. Growing up in a river town I have always enjoyed riding an historic steamboat during the summer.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Review of The Last Song


Title: The last Song

Author: Nicholas Sparks

Series: no
 
Chapters: 37 Plus Epilogue

Pages: 390

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

     I believe that The Last Song has become one of my favorite Nicholas Sparks books. It is one of the cleanest of his novels. The Last Song is tied with The Lucky One, but my favorite novel is still A Walk to Remember. One of the reasons I picked up The Last Song was because I finally wanted to watch the movie, and I am the type of person who cannot watch a movie based on book without reading the book first. The second reason is I am trying to read all of the Nicholas Sparks books and watch the movies that some of his books where turned into.

     Veronica (Ronnie) Miller is supposed to spend the summer with her dad and brother in North Carolina. Well as a New Yorker she hate’s it. Till she meets Will Blakelee and discovers a sea turtle nest. Things start to look up.

     The Last Song is a coming of age novel. About a teenage girl finding her place and what she wants out of life. It is also a story of a father and daughter reconnecting. I really enjoyed this novel and I hope the movie is half as good as the book. 

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Reading This week


Finished
The Bull Rider’s Baby by Brenda Minton
Her Fmaily Wish by Betsy St. Amant
Her small-town Sheriff by Lissa Manley
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
Between the Lines by  Jodi Picoult
Hometown Family by Mia Ross
The Petite Advantage by Jim Karas
My Stubborn Heart by Becky Wade



Currently reading
Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK by Betsy St. Amant
The Queen’s Vow by C.W. Gortner
A Texans’s Honor by Shelley Gray

Non-fiction reading
 need to find something to read

Getting ready to read
Love in Disguise by Carol Cox
A Long way from you by Gwendolyn Heasley
Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis
Wildflower Bride in Dry Creek by Janet Tronstad
Leah’s Choice by Emma Miller
Short-straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer
The Homesteader’s sweetheart Lacy Williams



For school 


On My Kindle


Reviewing


Devotional reading
The Book of James from the Bible
Discovering the Treasure of a Godly Woman: Proverbs 31 by Elizabeth George
Lifegroup- reading through John


Reviews Posted this week 




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Downton Abbey meets the The Luxe Series


Title: Wentworth Hall

Author: Abby Grahame

Series: N/A
 
Chapters: 22 plus epilogue

Pages: 276

Genre: Teen Historical fiction

Rating: 4 stars (I don’t remember any bad language).

     The best way to sum up Wentworth Hall is simply this Downton Abbey meets The Luxe series. It is basically a Downton Abbey for teens, and it combines elements from The Luxe series. I remember picking up the novel at Barnes and Noble because I liked the cover. Then when I picked it up I discovered that it was set during the time period of Downton Abbey and about ten years after the The Luxe series ended and I was hooked.
     Maggie comes back from France different than the care free girl that she was before she left. Maggie also comes back with a secret that could change the whole family. For a first novel Wentworth Hall was a good read even though I felt that the ending was rushed. What I liked most was that the novel was a clean teen read. 


I just felt like reviewing a book from my own bookshelf