November Wrap Up

November wrap up

November to finish 

Roseblood by A.G. Howard 

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart 

WonderWoman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo 

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare 

Taking Aim: Daring to Be different, Happier, and Healthier in the Great Outdoors by Eva Shockey 

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

November TBR

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner 

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

The Chick and the Dead: Life and death behind Mortuary Doors by Carla Valentine DNF

A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson 

A Dangerous Engagement by Melanie Dickerson 

It Takes Two by Jonathan Scott

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton didn't read DNF

Reading this week

Finished

Hardcore Twenty Four by Janet Evanovich

A gift from Bob by James Bowen

The Secret Book and Scone Society by Ellery Adams

The Boy who was raised by Librarians by Carla Morris

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters by Jane Yolen  

Currently reading

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

A Christmas Tartan by Paige Shelton

Riverdale

Batgirl and the birds of Prey

Non-fiction reading

It Takes Two by Jonathan Scott

Never Look at the Empty Seats by Charlie Daniels

Getting ready to read

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R King

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

O Christmas Bree by Erynn Mangum

A Texas Holiday Reunion by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Twelve Slays of Christmas by Jacqueline Frost

Reviewing

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

Devotional reading

365 Devotions for Hope

Did not Finish

Cat about Town by Cate Conte

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray

Reviews Posted this week 

Thanksgiving

Peter Pan retellings I've read this year

Title: Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook

Author: Christina Henry

Pages: 292

Genre: retelling

Rating: 4 stars

     My favorite retelling of Peter Pan that I've read this year. It's told from the point of view of Captain Hook starting from his childhood. This one was the story of Hook that I've wanted to read since I was a child. I always knew that was more to the story than what Barrie told.

Title: Hook's Tale Being the Account of an Unjustly Villianized Pirate written by Himself

Author: John Pielmeier

Pages: 288

Genre: retelling

Rating: 3 stars

     Is Hook's story told from his point of view. An adult fiction book.

]

Title: Unhooked

Author: Lisa Maxwell

Pages: 342

Genre: teen fantasy retelling

Rating: 3 stars

     Peter Pan retelling with a fantasy twist that looks at the pirates in a new light.

Title: Never Never

Author: Brianna Shrum

Pages: 356

Genre: retelling

Rating: 3 stars

     A Peter Pan Retelling that's actually a prequel to Peter Pan.

Reading this week

Finished

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

A Room with a Brew by Joyce Tremel

The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson

Death overdue by Allison Brook

Currently reading

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

Hardcore Twenty Four by Janet Evanovich

Non-fiction reading

A gift from Bob by James Bowen

Getting ready to read

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R King

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray

O Christmas Bree by Erynn Mangum

Cat about Town by Cate Conte

A Christmas Tartan by Paige Shelton

Riverdale

Batgirl and the birds of Prey

Reviewing

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

Devotional reading

365 Devotions for Hope

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of Once Upon a Eliza

Title: Once Upon a Eliza

Author: Erynn Mangum

Series: Carrington Springs book 2

 

Chapters: 20

Pages: 322

Genre: Christian Chick lit new adult

Rating:  5 stars

     Once Upon an Eliza is the second book in the Carrington Springs series by Erynn Mangum. Even though it's not a true sequel you do need to read Katie in Waiting first. As most of the character's are introduced in the first book.  Eliza is a maternity nurse who moved to Carrington Springs to get away from her brother Mike and his friend Cooper.  Since losing both of their parents Mike has become overprotective of his little sister.  Eliza sees Cooper her brother's best friend as a slight pest. he's a firefighter when not working is always trying to find things to fix at Eliza's house. 

     I liked Eliza better than I did Katie. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that I could relate to Eliza; and what she had gone through in life. I too lost two loved ones one suddenly the other slowly just like Eliza did.  Unlike Eliza though I don't know the loss of both parents, but do know the sting of the loss of a mom.  It's a sting that doesn't begin to ease quickly. 

     I've been a fan of Erynn's books since I accidentally discovered Miss Match in the Lauren Holbrook series in the teen selection of my library. Miss Match wasn't teen it was basically Christian Chick lit. A chick flick you can read. I had tried to read chick lit before but had always been disappointed by the content. But Erynn's books our different the chick lit is infused with Christian faith and message of and lesson of learning to trust God and his promises and to rely on him.  Each of Erynn's books are no different and Once upon an Eliza continued that trend. I discovered her books in my early twenties the same age as most of the characters in that first series, and now at 30 her three heroines in the Carrington Springs series are also in their 30s. Erynn's books always find a way to be relevant for whatever age or stage in life I am. 

     I enjoyed book two and I can't wait to see what book three holds. There's a seen towards the end between Eliza and the hero that starts her realizing that what she wanted was actually right in front of her all along. Which I thought   was cute. You never know where loves going to find you. 

Reading this week

Finished

Seasons of Waiting by Betsy Childs Howard

A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman

The Hidden Oracle by Rick Riordan

The Blue Tattoo by Margot Mifflin

Currently reading

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

A Room with a Brew by Joyce Tremel

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R King

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

Hardcore Twenty Four by Janet Evanovich

Death overdue by Allison Brook

The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson

Reading for School

Classic

Audio on the Way to Work

Mystery Book Club at work

Reviewing

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

Devotional reading

365 Devotions for Hope

Did not Finish

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa da La Cruz

Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's first female Serial Killer by David Wilson

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of A Moonbow night

Title: A Moonbow Night

Author: Laura Frantz

 

Chapters: 32

Pages: 378

Genre: Christian Historical fiction Christian Historical Romance

Rating: 5 stars

     Moonbow Night is Laura Frantz's 2017 novel. A novel that takes fans back to the Kentucky Frontier. Temperance Tucker's family came to the frontier with Daniel Boone when tragedy struck. But they press on to Kentucky because due to other events her has father has a price on his head or so he thinks. 

     They start the Moonbow Inn in which everyone around thinks is run by the widow Tucker and her children. Her father stays hidden for the majority of the year. In order to protect his family. Tempe's claim to frame is she's a good shot and an even better guide, though she's a petite thing.  When Scion Morgan's surveying  company needs a guide they hire Tem Tucker not realizing that they guide isn't a boy but a young woman.

     A Moonbow Night is different in many ways from Laura's previous novels. The heroines cut from a rougher cloth than her previous heroines.  In many ways Scion Morgan is even rougher around the edges than even Red Shirt. Who just happened to be my favorite hero until Seamus came along in Mistress of Tall Acre. Scion has since become my second favorite hero with Seamus being number one Red shirt rounds out the top three. 

     Temperance Tucker doesn't really fit with Laura's other heroines and that's not a bad thing. Tempe is a young woman shaped by events of her past as well as the Kentucky frontier. With a brother unable to hunt and run the woods and an absentee father Tempe learned to shoot not only for protection but to put food on the table. Tempe's a tomboy in time period that it wasn't a thing. 

     Tempe and Scion surprisingly bring out the best in each other. Her more so if they can both let go of the past and learn to trust God. 

     Reading A Moonbow Night was slightly bittersweet. That had nothing to do with the book or the writing style. Just the fact that this was the first Laura Frantz book that I was able to enjoy reading without my mother.  But all in all I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed Laura's previous novels. Readers who love historical fiction and novels set in the Bluegrass state. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Reading this week

Finished

Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Fundamentals of Children’s Services by Michael Sullivan

Currently reading

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart

Roseblood by A.G. Howard

A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

Pride and Prejudice and Mistletoe by Melissa da La Cruz

Non-fiction reading

Mary Ann Cotton: Britain's first female Serial Killer by David Wilson

Getting ready to read

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R King

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

Reading for School

Classic

Audio on the Way to Work

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Mystery Book Club at work

Reviewing

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

Devotional reading

365 Devotions for Hope

Seasons of Waiting by Betsy Childs Howard 

Did not Finish

The Chick and the Dead by Carla Valentine

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of Land of Silence

Title: Land of Silence

Author: Tessa Asfhar

Chapters: 31 plus epilogue

Pages: 390

Genre: Christian Biblical fiction

Rating: 5 stars

     Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar is a retelling of Biblical story of the woman with the bleeding condition. Not only did I read this book at the right time. To get out of my reading slump, but it also helped me deal with losing my   mother. 

     Tessa's books always seem to come to life for me. The characters seem so real. Land of Silence was no different. Eilanna has faced hardships in life; she's almost given up hope. When she hears of the messiah someone who can heal her. So she searches him out. In the end she doesn't just find physical healing she finds so much more.  

     I was having a hard time dealing with losing my mom, but after reading Land of Silence and the recount of the bleeding woman in the Gospels; I was reminded that I am still a daughter. But more importantly as a believer I am a daughter of the King of kinds, and Lord of lords. 

     So thanks Tessa for writing this book. It was truly a God moment that the publisher chose to release it when they did. It was released the right moment as I was reminded me of Who's I am. 


I received a complimentary copy of Land of Silence from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

November TBR

November to finish 

Roseblood by A.G. Howard 

These Healing Hills by Ann H Gabhart 

WonderWoman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo 

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare 

Taking Aim: Daring to Be different, Happier, and Healthier in the Great Outdoors by Eva Shockey 

November TBR

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner 

Firstborn by Tosca Lee

The Chick and the Dead: Life and death behind Mortuary Doors by Carla Valentine 

A Viscount's Proposal by Melanie Dickerson 

A Dangerous Engagement by Melanie Dickerson 

It Takes Two by Jonathan Scott

Many Sparrows by Lori Benton