Update

Do to my class load and the amount of work that I have had the these past two weeks there will be no reviews this week. If I can get caught up with everything this week, I should be able to post reviews next week or at the very least the following week. 

Thoughts and whatnot's

Cover Reveal of Michelle Madow's New book.

I first discovered Michelle with her Remembrance series and I fell in love with her writing Style. I am happy to be part of the cover reveal for her newest book.

·         The back cover blurb: 

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

·         The release date: February 25, 2014.

·         The link to the Goodreads page: Add The Secret Diamond Sisters on Goodreads.

·         Pre-order links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Book Depository

·         The Facebook event page for the book release party at Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL on March 1, 2014: The Secret Diamond Sisters Book Release Party!

·         Links to Michelle Madow’s social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter

 Michelle Madow’s website: www.michellemadow.com

The giveaway for the ARC of The Secret Diamond Sisters: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Reading This Weeking

Finished

Trouble Vision by Allison Kingsley

Lauren Yanofsky Hates the Holocaust by Leanne Lieberman

The Transfer: A divergent Story by Veronica Roth

Currently reading

Bride Wanted by Renee Andrews

Love’s Awakening by Laura Frantz

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Non-fiction reading

The Five Love Languages Single Edition by Gary Chapman

Getting ready to read

Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway

Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson

Poems and Songs by Robert Burns

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

For school 

Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction by Douglas T. Kenrick

The Politics of the Administrative Process by Donald K. Kettl

On My Kindle

Emma by Jane Austen

Doon by Carey Corp

Reviewing

Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujici

Devotional reading

1 Timothy  Psalms

Reviews Posted this week

Review of City of Bones

Review of City of Ashes

Review of City of Ashes

Title: City of Ashes

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments 

Chapters: 19 plus epilogue

Pages: 453

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 3 ½ stars (for language) 4 stars for storyline.

     Book 2 In The Mortal Instrument City of Ashes picks up where City of Bones leaves off. Clary thought her surprises were finished but she’s wrong. She finds out that her father is very much alive and she has a brother she never knew about. Not her best friend is going through changes himself. City of Ashes has a little bit more action than book one.

     While I liked City of Ashes for the story and action I could have done without some of the language.  It was still a good book for mainstream teen fiction that is why the two star rating.  Other than the language the only thing that I didn’t like was that it ended in a cliff hanger. It does make want to read the rest of the series. My sister keeps bugging me to start book three.

Review of City of Bones (book)

Title: City of Bones

 

Author: Cassandra Clare

Series: The Mortal Instruments book 1  

Chapters: 23 plus epilogue

Pages: 485

Genre: Teen Fantasy

Rating: 4 stars

    

     Clary had always thought that she was a normal teenage girl. That her mom was just an artist and her dad was dead. However all that changes when she thinks she witnesses a murder that no one else can see.

     To make matters worse her mother goes missing and she meets Jace a shadow hunter, and she might be one as well. So begins City of Bones the first book in the Mortal Instruments series.

     When my sister basically made read City of Bones I didn't think that I would like it. This was because it was a type of book that I normally don’t read. Once I started it I felt myself drawn to the characters especially Clary who is described as being short with red hair, green eyes a short temper. I will admit that I broke one of my own rules: I saw the movie before I read the book. I have broken that rule only once before with The Lord of Ring trilogy. However now I wish I had read the book before I went to see the movie. Both however were relatively good. 

Thoughts and Whatnot's

Reading this week

Finished

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

 I only finished one this week with all my school work 

Currently reading

Bride Wanted by Renee Andrews

Trouble Vision by Allison Kingsley

Love’s Awakening by Laura Frantz

The Transfer: A divergent Story by Veronica Roth

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

Non-fiction reading

The Five Love Languages Single Edition by Gary Chapman

Getting ready to read

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway

Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson

Poems and Songs by Robert Burns

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

For school 

Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction by Douglas T. Kenrick

The Politics of the Administrative Process by Donald K. Kettl

On My Kindle

Emma by Jane Austen

Doon by Carey Corp

Reviewing

Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujici

Devotional reading

1 Timothy  Psalms

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Happy Happy Happy

Review of Beast and Beauty

Coming Soon

 

Review of Beast and Beauty

Title: Of Beast and Beauty

Author: Stacey Jay

 

Chapters: 29 plus prologue and epilogue

Pages: 391

Genre: Teen Dyspitoa, fairy tales retold

Rating: 4.5 stars

     Of Beast and Beauty is a retelling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and Beast. It is also set in the future. However there is a twist “beauty” is actually the princess; Princess Isra doesn’t realize that she is beautiful she thinks that she is blind because of an accident. Gem is the “beast” he is the one that is being held prisoner by “beauty”.

     While Of Beast and Beauty sticks to the main points of the story Stacey Jay puts her own unique twist on the story and makes it her own. Of Beast and Beauty is an unique and wonderful read. I would suggest this to any fan of Beauty and the Beast. However there is some language in the book but it is still worth a read.

Review of Happy, Happy, Happy

Title: Happy, Happy, Happy,

Author: Phil Robertson

 

Chapters: 14 plus prologue and afterword

Pages: 230

Genre: Memoir

Rating: 5 star

                In Happy, Happy, Happy Phil Robertson holds nothing back. He is completely honest about his past and how today he is not the same man. That he is a new creation in Christ. Who as the creator of Duck Commander and one of the stars of Duck Dynasty on A&E. The same family who believes in Faith, Family and then ducks. 

Thoughts and Whatnot's

Reading this week

Finished

Sisterchicks Down Under by Robin Jones Gunn

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Wings of Morning by Kathleen Morgan

VIII by H.M. Castor

Currently reading

Bride Wanted by Renee Andrews

Love’s Awakening by Laura Frantz

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Non-fiction reading

The Five Love Languages Single Edition by Gary Chapman

Getting ready to read

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway

Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson

Poems and Songs by Robert Burns

The Transfer: A divergent Story by Veronica Roth

For school 

Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction by Douglas T. Kenrick

The Politics of the Administrative Process by Donald K. Kettl

On My Kindle

Emma by Jane Austen

Doon by Carey Corp

Reviewing

Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujici

Devotional reading

1 Timothy  Psalms

Reviews Posted this week

Review of The Rancher Next door

Review of Sisterchicks in Sombreros

Review of Sisterchicks in Sombreros

Title: Sisterchicks in Sombreros

Author: Robin Jones Gunn

Series: Sisterchicks book 3

 

Genre: Christian Chick Lit

Rating: 4 ½ stars

     The third book in the Sister chicks series. It’s the first book in the series in which the sisterchicks are actually sister.  In this book the sisterchicks  end up in Mexico. I enjoyed the book a little bit but not as much as a did the first two books. 

Review of The Rancher Next Door

Title: The Rancher Next Door

Author: Betsy St. Amant

Series: Love Inspired

 

Chapters: 20

Pages: 214

Genre: Christian Romance

Rating: 4.5 stars

                The Rancher’ Next door is another great love inspired book by Betsy St. Amant. The book has a cowboy and a firefighter in it. However they aren’t the same person, in this book the firefighter happens to be the heroine.

     I love that the love inspired line is a quick read but still focuses on faith and trusting God. 

Thoughts and Whatnots

Reading this week

Finished

Heart’s Safe Passage by Laure Alice Eakes

My Heart’s in the Lowland by Liz Curtis Higgs

Child of the Mist by Kathleen Morgan

The Amazing Mystery Show by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah Ladd

Poems by Currer Bell

The Mystery of the Midnight dog by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Ghost of the Chattering bones by Gertrude Chandler Warner

The Great Turkey Heist by Gertrude Chandler Warner

A Horse Named Dragon by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Currently reading

Bride Wanted by Renee Andrews

Sisterchicks Down Under by Robin Jones Gunn

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Love’s Awakening by Laura Frantz

Non-fiction reading

The Five Love Languages Single Edition by Gary Chapman

Getting ready to read

Only the Good Spy Young by Ally Carter

Talon by Ronie Kendig

Pride, Prejudice, and Cheese Grits by Mary Jane Hathaway

Courting Hope by Jenna Mindel

Southern Fried Sushi by Jennifer Spinola Rogers

Love at Any Cost by Julie Lessman

Choices of the Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes

Dyer Consequences by Maggie Sefton

Grace Unplugged by Melody Carlson

Poems and Songs by Robert Burns

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

For school 

Social Psychology: Goals in Interaction by Douglas T. Kenrick

The Politics of the Administrative Process by Donald K. Kettl

On My Kindle

Emma by Jane Austen

Doon by Carey Corp

Reviewing

Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action by Nick Vujici

Devotional reading

1 Timothy  Psalms

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Stealing the Preacher

Review of Undeniably Yours

Review of Undeniably Yours

Title: Undeniably Yours

Author: Becky Wade

 

Chapters: 24 plus epilogue

Pages: 380

Genre: Christian Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade was an awesome read. Bo Porter quickly became one of my favorite heroes. To me Bo is the perfect hero for a novel. He’s a cowboy a strong Christian and a former Marine. As someone whose real life heroes have always been Marines and other members of the Military.

     Meg Cole learns throughout the novel that she is not her family name or her past. 

     I loved the fact that Bo was a simple man who loved horses and wanted to keep the horse farm up and running. Because it was basically his brother’s life line. Other favorite parts of the book was that Bo favorite drink was Dr. Pepper which surprising it’s headquarters is in Texas also there was a reference to one of my favorite country song by my favorite country singer in the book.

     Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade has the right balance between cowboys, friendship and most importantly Faith. I cannot wait for Becky Wade’s next book. 

Review of Stealing the Preacher

Title: Stealing the Preacher

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Series: sort of the sequel to Short straw Bride

 

Chapters: 44 plus epilogue

Pages: 347

Genre: Christian Historical fiction Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     Stealing the Preacher is sort of the sequel to Short Straw Bride. Crockett Archer is the younger brother of Travis Archer.  Crockett isn’t your typical preacher. Joanna Robbins isn’t a typical rancher’s daughter she is the daughter of a former outlaw.

     Crockett thought he was going to be a preacher at another church however it seems God had other plans and he used an outlaw who was trying to give his daughter her birthday wish.

Stealing the Preacher is a good reminder to us that just because you don’t think you can’t do something or don’t think your good enough God has other plans, and He can use anybody He calls.  Will Both Crockett and Joanna find that out?

I was given a review copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Thoughts and whatnots