A to Z Challenge: Q

Q = Quindlen

Q. A bit of a tricky letter. There are a bunch of words: quiet (not in my house), quick, quail, Quayle, quality, quite, queen ... I could go on and on. But, instead of forcing myself to post something about which I didn't have much of anything to say, I figured the old standby would work. I'll post about a favorite author whose last name starts with Q.

Thank God I have one!

Anna Quindlen ~ I have only read one of her novels (to date), but that is enough. It was probably the best novel I read last year, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Every Last One. It was amazing. I was blindsided, and you will be, too. So. Well. Written. I don't actually own it – yet – but I fully intend to. For how good it is, here's the proof: I liked it more than The Time Traveler's Wife and Water for Elephants ...

It is THAT GOOD!

(In the interest of full disclosure, most book-title links in this post are to reviews I have written and posted on my book blog, Proud Book Nerd. If I haven't written a review, then the link goes to the Goodreads page for the book.)

A to Z Challenge: N

N = Nadol, Nepa, Nieffenegger,
Northrop, & Numeroff

I was stumped, absolutely stumped today. I considered "No Idea" as well as books with an N title. Nothing really rung true. But I decided to stick with the book theme, and check out (via Goodreads) my list of N authors. Perfect!

Jen Nadol ~ Her debut novel, The Mark, came out last year. It was very good. It's first in a series, and I'm very much looking forward to the release of Book 2, The Vision.

Andrea Nepa ~ Last year I had the pleasure of getting to review her children's book, Red in the Flower Bed. It's about adoption, and it is wonderfully written. And the illustrations are absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Their beauty is not adequately shown on any photos I've seen. When I opened the book, it is just breathtaking!

Audrey Nieffenegger ~ Author of one of the best books ever, The Time Traveler's Wife. This book was recently made into a movie, and it doesn't do the book justice. The book is so amazing. One of the best books ever – also one of the saddest ... but so GOOD! I'd like to say I want to read this again and again. But, I don't know. It haunted me for a while. Fabulous, fabulous book. I haven't read her others yet, but Her Fearful Symmetry is high on my list of books to read soon!

Michael Northrop ~ Fabulous YA author. I read his latest book, Trapped, last month and it was very, very well written.

Laura Numeroff ~ Author of several, very clever, fun children's books, the first of which (at least to my knowledge) is If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. The book is so cute, so clever. I find it fascinating. To come up with something like that would take painfully long! LOL My kids love her books, and we have several of them.

(In the interest of full disclosure, most book-title links in this post are to reviews I have written and posted on my book blog, Proud Book Nerd. If I haven't written a review, then the link goes to the Goodreads page for the book.)

Blog Journal: Day 18

Question: What do you collect?

Answer: Well, besides dust bunnies, there aren't a ton of things I collect. I guess you could say that I collect books. I love, love, LOVE reading, and OFTEN buy new books. I have TONS that I have NO IDEA when I'll actually get to read. And that's in addition to the ones I've agreed to review for my book blog, Proud Book Nerd! I also collect unicorn figurines. Not childish ones, but ones that are elegant, beautiful, breathtaking. If they have wings, even BETTER!

Up Next: A list of 20 things you love (or 20 of your favorite things).

Show Us Your Life: Favorite Books

Show us your life this week is all about your favorite books – for yourself and/or your kids.

This is a HARD one for me to do. Not because I hate books, rather for the opposite reason! I LOVE books, LOVE to read, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! So, picking just a few favorites is HARD for me - VERY hard! But, I'll give it a shot.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger ~ I just read it a few weeks ago, but it was SO GOOD! If you want detailed thoughts, here's my review.

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke ~ Not just the first book, but the whole series. GOOD! If you've seen the movie, I'm sorry. It sucked. The book is a gazillion times better!

The Crown Conspiracy by Michael J. Sullivan ~ Again, not just this one, but whole series (to date – two more are yet to be published). I took a chance with this one. I had registered to win it on Goodreads.com, and didn't win. I got a private message in which I was offered the book at a discounted price. I thought it sounded good, so I said sure. I had medium-to-low expectations when I went into this book, but I was BLOWN AWAY! This book FAR exceeded my expectations. I have read each of the following three books published since then (two of which I helped with editing), and this series gets better as it goes. Each book can be read as a stand-alone title, although I'd recommend reading them ALL because they are THAT good! My review for this one is HERE. If you want to read my reviews of each book in the series, they can be found HERE.

I'm going to stop here, because I could just keep writing until my fingers fall off. I LOVE to read. And, honestly, I'm probably a pretty easy judge of books. But, for me, it's all about the story. I can overlook sub-par writing if you get me hooked by the plot! ;-)

UPDATE ~ MckLinky is back!

PHEW! MckLinky is back, so please use MckLinky to enter my giveaways. They can be found:

• Here Burns My Candle ~ Ends 4/9
• An Absence So Great ~ Ends 4/15
• This Little Prayer of Mine ~ Ends 4/19

Exciting Announcement

For several days now I have been considering breaking my book blog off from here. Don't get me wrong – I love this blog. But, I was thinking that it might be nice to split the more personal from the less personal. I felt like this blog was getting way too cluttered, and I don't like that! I want to keep this as my primary blog, but have my new blog as all things reading-related – book reviews, giveaways, or other book-related posts that might come along. So, without further ado, I introduce you to:

Proud Book Nerd

No, I haven't posted anything yet. But, I purchased a new layout and am now in the process of moving things over there. I will not be moving any posts from here to there. Anything that I had put on this blog before right now will remain here. Widgets, buttons, and other things like that might disappear from here, but posts aren't moving. So, if you're a bookish one, like me, or wanna win some free books, please start following me over there! Again, the new blog is:


Proud Book Nerd

I hope to see you there!

Book Review: The Flowering Cross by Beth Ryan

Title: The Flowering Cross

Author: Beth Ryan, Illustrated by Renee Graef

Summary: This is an Easter children's book about loving your neighbor. It talks about a little girl, Katie, and her family and how they befriend the grumpy old man next door. While the rest of the neighborhood refers to the man as "Mean Old Jack," Katie's family calls him "Papa Jack." Their love helps pave the way for him to come to know God's love.

My Thoughts: This is a very good story with a wonderful message! My 6-year-old daughter liked the story a lot. Included in the story are suggestions for how to talk to your child about the story and how it relates to God. While they're good, I think that they interfere with the telling of the story. I think that, for future readings, I'll make sure to discuss the insights after finishing the story. My daughter was very interested in the story, as well as the Bible verses on some of the pages. The illustrations are beautiful and nicely compliment the story. Also included is a page with instructions on how you can make your own flowering cross. I thought that's pretty neat – a way to further bring the story to life at home. Overall, I think this is an excellent addition to a child's library, especially if you're looking for Easter-related stories!

Source: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Own It: Get your own copy of The Flowering Cross HERE.

Book Review & GIVEAWAY: This Little Prayer of Mine

Title: This Little Prayer of Mine

Author: Anthony DeStefano, Illustrated by Mark Elliott

Summary: Author Anthony DeStefano’s adult books, The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven, have sold a quarter-million copies. Illustrator Mark Elliott’s cherished artwork has appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s ever-popular Princess Tales series.

Now, these acclaimed inspirational experts have come together to create This Little Prayer of Mine, a beautiful and alluring book designed to guide children into a very simple, real and expressive relationship with God.

Through engaging rhymes and alluring illustrations, This Little Prayer of Mine shows children—and their parents and grandparents—that complete dependence on God is what brings peace and fulfillment. It invites children to know and believe that God is always just a simple prayer away and that He longs to respond to them with a resounding, “Yes!”

This Little Prayer of Mine appeals to readers from all different faiths. Easy-reader format allows children to read alone, or with someone older, and encourages them to openly express their fears, thanks, and needs directly to God.

Author Bio: Anthony DeStefano is the author of The Prayers God Always Says Yes To and A Travel Guide to Heaven. He has received prestigious awards from religious organizations worldwide for his efforts to advance Christian beliefs in modern culture.

Mark Elliott’s brilliant illustrations have appeared in popular picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine’s Princess Tales series. His acclaimed artwork delivers inspiration, wonder, and timeless beauty on every page.

My thoughts: This is a very cute, sweet story about praying to God. It shows children all the different times we can pray – when we're sad, when we're lonely, when we're scared, etc. It also shows how to ask God's forgiveness when we're not acting as we should. The illustrations are absolutely lovely and go perfectly with the story. Very detailed, my children and I enjoyed really looking through them. This book would be a great addition to any child's library!

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Own It: Get your own copy of This Little Prayer of Mine HERE.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the MckLinky below (you can leave the first box, labeled "entry content," blank). Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Monday, April 19. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from ramblings.more(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other giveaways!

The GIVEAWAY for Here Burns My Candle ends on April 9!

Enter to win An Absence So Great by April 15 HERE!

I'm back!

I just wanted to say a quick hello – and almost-too-late HAPPY EASTER! We had a lovely weekend with the hubby's family. It was very nice. I'm not going to worry about posting things I'd intended to over the weekend – or things I typically post over the weekends. I'm just going to pick up where I left off. I'm sure you can understand! ;-)

That said, this week is spring break for us, so I'm not sure how much I will be around. I do have a couple of book reviews – including another giveaway – coming soon, so I'll at least be around for those! ;-) In case I'm not around much beyond that, I hope you all have a very blessed week! :-)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reminder: I have TWO GIVEAWAYS that are currently open. Not surprisingly, both are books. The first is Here Burns My Candle. (Click on the title to find the post.) Entries are open through Friday, April 9. The winner will be chosen – and announced – the next day. The second is An Absence So Great. Entries are open through Thursday, April 15. To enter either, just fill out the MckLinky information attached to the end of the appropriate post. If you cannot figure out the MckLinky, please post a comment and I'll be happy to add you to the list! :-)

GIVEAWAY: An Absence So Great

I hate doing this, but I have to post this without a review. I just have not had the time to finish the book yet. I am guessing I can finish it tomorrow, while we're on the way to visit family (5 hours in the car), but I won't be able to blog about it then. So, in order to be faithful to my commitment to post about it this week, I have decided to post without a review. So, my plan is simple: make this post with the description, my thoughts on it as of where I'm at in it, and the GIVEAWAY. I'll post a review when I'm finished!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Title: An Absence So Great

Author: Jane Kirkpatrick

Summary: Inspired by the engaging stories told through her grandmother’s photographs taken at the turn of the century, award-winning author Jane Kirkpatrick provides a portrait of the tension between darkness and light in the soul of a young woman pursuing her professional dreams.

Despite growing in confidence as a photographer, eighteen-year-old Jessie Ann Gaebele’s personal life is still at a crossroads. Hoping she’s put an unfortunate romantic longing behind her as “water under the bridge,” she exiles herself to Milwaukee to operate photographic studios for those ill with mercury poisoning.

Jessie gains footing on her dream to one day own her own studio and soon finds herself in other Midwest towns, pursuing her profession. But even a job she loves can’t keep those painful memories from seeping into her heart, and the shadows of a forbidden love threaten to darken the portrait of her life.

Author Bio: Jane Kirkpatrick is an award-winning author of sixteen historical novels, including A Flickering Light, the first part of Jessie Gaebale’s story, and three nonfiction titles. Known for her unique insights into the exploration of community, family and faith of actual historical women, the Wisconsin native and her husband have called their ranch in Oregon home for the past 25 years.

My Thoughts: I'm having a hard time getting into it, I think largely because I haven't read the first book in this series. I think it has the potential to be very good, but frequent references to the back story make it hard for me to get into it. I think what I'm going to do is get my hands on A Flickering Light, read that one, then come back and try again. I have a feeling that once I know what came before, I'll be VERY eager to read this one – especially since the references to the first part of the story really make me WANT to know what happened!

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Read It: Get your own copy of An Absence So Great HERE.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the MckLinky below (you can leave the first box, labeled "entry content," blank). Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Thursday, April 15. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from ramblings.more(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other GIVEAWAY for Here Burns My Candle! 

Whatcha Reading Wednesday

Hey, bookworms! This one's for you! Hosted by Busy Moms Who Love to Read, this is just a fun little thing to share a tidbit from what you're reading.

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you're currently reading and open it to a random page. Choose a random spot on the page (I close my eyes and point LOL), and select two full sentences. Make a post (or just leave a comment, if you'd prefer) with the two sentences you selected. Include the page number and title and author of the book. If, by some odd chance, your two sentences have the possibility of spoiling the story for someone (say, it happens to name the death of a character or reveals a surprise twist), make sure to include **Spoiler Alert** before you share the sentences – that way anyone who'd rather not have it spoiled can opt to skip it! ;-) Then link up on the MckLinky provided! :-)

Here's mine for the week:

"You'd be surprised," Augie said. "Truth telling gets sympathy, especially when you tell them of the mistakes." ~ Page 192 in An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick

Whatcha Reading Wednesday

Hey, bookworms! This one's for you! Hosted by Busy Moms Who Love to Read, this is just a fun little thing to share a tidbit from what you're reading.

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you're currently reading and open it to a random page. Choose a random spot on the page (I close my eyes and point LOL), and select two full sentences. Make a post (or just leave a comment, if you'd prefer) with the two sentences you selected. Include the page number and title and author of the book. If, by some odd chance, your two sentences have the possibility of spoiling the story for someone (say, it happens to name the death of a character or reveals a surprise twist), make sure to include **Spoiler Alert** before you share the sentences – that way anyone who'd rather not have it spoiled can opt to skip it! ;-) Then link up on the MckLinky provided! :-)

Here's mine for the week:

"I shall pen a letter at once," she promised, her hands growing cold at the mere thought of it. "Might you arrive in Castleton by Michaelmas?" ~ Page 148 in Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs

Winner Announcement

It is time to announce the winner of my latest giveaway. With the help of random.org, here is the result:

Here are your random numbers:

1 

Timestamp: 2010-03-18 00:32:36 UTC

So, the winner is DENISE! :-) CONGRATULATIONS! You have won a copy of Mother-Daughter Duet and Dancing With My Father!

After submitting this post, the winner will be sent an e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours, or I will choose a new winner.

THANK YOU everyone who entered! Stay tuned for more giveaways - I have another book up for grabs next week.

Quick Reminder

About a week ago, I posted another book giveaway! One week from today, it ends. So, I thought I'd remind you all about it! Up for grabs is Dancing with My Father and Mother-Daughter Duet. You can sign up for either one or both - just specify on your entry. So far, there aren't very many entries - I'm hoping it's because of lack of interest in these books, rather that lack of interest in me. (I'm pathetically insecure, aren't I?) Whatever the excuse, please support me! ENTER HERE!

Sneak peek: Coming in a couple of weeks is a giveaway of Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs and a giveaway of An Absence So Great by Jane Kirkpatrick.

GIVEAWAY: Dancing With My Father & Mother-Daughter Duet

Today I'm posting for another blog tour. This one features two books that I just don't think I can get finished by tomorrow! I'm a little over halfway through one, and just don't see the time to read the second - at least not by the end of tomorrow! ;-) So, here's the info about the books. I'll post my thoughts on them, and later - eventually - a review.

I have one copy of EACH book to give away to two lucky readers. Details on how to win are below!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Description:  The reality of living in a broken, fallen world can leave women feeling overcome by fear, guilt, and weariness. Many develop “sawdust souls,” numb to any sense of joy.

In this warm and wise book, author Sally Clarkson invites readers to take God’s hand and let Him lead them into a life of anticipation, passion, and purpose. With the voice of a trusted mentor, she reveals how, by getting in tune with the rhythm of God’s presence, women can nurture an inner attitude of anticipation and celebration even in the stressful seasons of life.

Through rich biblical insights woven with real-life stories, women will be inspired to recapture a spirit of joy as they follow God’s lead on the dance floor of life.

Author Bio: Sally Clarkson is a popular speaker, known across the nation and internationally for her work with women. She is the author of several books, including The Mission of Motherhood, The Ministry of Motherhood, and Seasons of a Mother’s Heart. She has worked in various ministries, including Campus Crusade for Christ. With her husband, Clay, she is cofounder of Whole Heart Ministries, which encourages and equips Christian parents. The Clarksons, parents of four, live near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

My thoughts: This book is making me think about a lot of things in ways I'd never done before - or at least not in a long time. While it's about joy, it's also made me think about my role in my family - my job as a wife and a mother. It's made me realize that I need to embrace these roles in a way I haven't yet, and really give these people in my life everything I have. The following quote, in particular, really touched me:

Parents face the test of whether to pursue our own rights and interests or give up personal time and priorities in order to invest in training our children and learning what it means to be a servant leader.

This quote jumped out at me. I need to be better about giving up my own personal interests and personal time for the benefit of my children. Yes, the needs to be some balance, but I need to be less self-centered and more focused on my kids. God has given me these wonderful blessings, and I need to focus on them. That means less time pursuing my own interests and more just caring for them, loving on them, being a good mother to them.

The style of the writing in this book is very conversational and very easy to read. Overall, I am enjoying her stories and learning a lot about my relationship with God.

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Get your own copy: Order your copy of Dancing with My Father HERE.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Description: When a daughter is born, her mother has a thousand hopes and dreams for her, especially that they will be best friends one day.

Unfortunately, even the best of intentions can go awry. There are so many challenges on the journey to adult friendship that the reality is fraught with friction and frustration. But a harmonious relationship is possible.

Award-winning author Cheri Fuller and her daughter, Ali Plum, have been there and have discovered the keys to a healthy relationship. In Mother-Daughter Duet they share their story—each from her own perspective—in which they have experienced distance and tension, growth and challenge, and, ultimately, acceptance and harmony. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on several basic principles (letting go; listening; respect; setting boundaries; and more), Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms repair the breach so that daughters want to draw close.

The mother-daughter dynamic is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But mothers and daughters can achieve mutual respect and learn to celebrate their differences when they learn the two-part harmony of the mother-daughter duet.

Author Bios: Cheri Fuller is a best-selling, award-winning author whose books have sold more than one million copies. She speaks to a wide range of women at women’s conferences and is a frequent guest on national radio and television programs.

Ali Plum is Cheri’s daughter, a writer and songwriter, a wife, and a mother to Noah and Luke. She and her mom have weathered the ups and downs of their relationship to find one of the most treasured, honest relationships of their lives. Ali has recorded background vocals for popular musicians, and Mother-Daughter Duet marks her debut into book publishing.

My thoughts: Don't really have any yet, as I have yet to even open this book. BUT, I do look forward to reading it. As the mother of two daughters, I hope to gain a lot of insight into how best to foster a healthy relationship with my girls. Once I've read it, I'll let you know if it delivers! ;-)

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Get your own: You can purchase your own copy of this book HERE.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And now for the EXTRA FUN part! Sign up to get a FREE copy of either book. Contest ends at 1 a.m. CENTRAL on March 17. To enter, just give me your information using the MckLinky form below. Make sure to specify what you're entering for (Dancing, Duet, or both)! Remember, only I have access to your e-mail address, so don't be shy! Finally, contest is open only to U.S. residents. No P.O. boxes.

Thaw Blogsplash: Read a Novel for FREE

Ruth's diary is the new novel by Fiona Robyn, called Thaw. Fiona has decided to blog the novel in its entirety over the next few months, so you can read it for FREE. How cool is that? Ruth's first diary entry (the first chapter of Thaw) is below, and you can continue reading tomorrow HERE.

Before getting to Thaw, I must add that I am honored to be part of this Blogsplash! Thank you, Fiona, for allowing me to help get the word out about Thaw!

~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~***~~~

These hands are ninety-three years old. They belong to Charlotte Marie Bradley Miller. She was so frail that her grand-daughter had to carry her onto the set to take this photo. It’s a close-up. Her emaciated arms emerge from the top corners of the photo and the background is black, maybe velvet, as if we’re being protected from seeing the strings. One wrist rests on the other, and her fingers hang loose, close together, a pair of folded wings. And you can see her insides.

The bones of her knuckles bulge out of the skin, which sags like plastic that has melted in the sun and is dripping off her, wrinkling and folding. Her veins look as though they’re stuck to the outside of her hands. They’re a colour that’s difficult to describe: blue, but also silver, green; her blood runs through them, close to the surface. The book says she died shortly after they took this picture. Did she even get to see it? Maybe it was the last beautiful thing she left in the world.

I’m trying to decide whether or not I want to carry on living. I’m giving myself three months of this journal to decide. You might think that sounds melodramatic, but I don’t think I’m alone in wondering whether it’s all worth it. I’ve seen the look in people’s eyes. Stiff suits travelling to work, morning after morning, on the cramped and humid tube. Tarted-up girls and gangs of boys reeking of aftershave, reeling on the pavements on a Friday night, trying to mop up the dreariness of their week with one desperate, fake-happy night. I’ve heard the weary grief in my dad’s voice.

So where do I start with all this? What do you want to know about me? I’m Ruth White, thirty-two years old, going on a hundred. I live alone with no boyfriend and no cat in a tiny flat in central London. In fact, I had a non-relationship with a man at work, Dan, for seven years. I’m sitting in my bedroom-cum-living room right now, looking up every so often at the thin rain slanting across a flat grey sky. I work in a city hospital lab as a microbiologist. My dad is an accountant and lives with his sensible second wife Julie, in a sensible second home. Mother finished dying when I was fourteen, three years after her first diagnosis. What else? What else is there?

Charlotte Marie Bradley Miller. I looked at her hands for twelve minutes. It was odd describing what I was seeing in words. Usually the picture just sits inside my head and I swish it around like tasting wine. I have huge books all over my flat; books you have to take in both hands to lift. I’ve had the photo habit for years. Mother bought me my first book, black and white landscapes by Ansel Adams. When she got really ill, I used to take it to bed with me and look at it for hours, concentrating on the huge trees, the still water, the never-ending skies. I suppose it helped me think about something other than what was happening. I learned to focus on one photo at a time rather than flicking from scene to scene in search of something to hold me. If I concentrate, then everything stands still. Although I use them to escape the world, I also think they bring me closer to it. I’ve still got that book. When I take it out, I handle the pages as though they might flake into dust.

Mother used to write a journal. When I was small, I sat by her bed in the early mornings on a hard chair and looked at her face as her pen spat out sentences in short bursts. I imagined what she might have been writing about; princesses dressed in star-patterned silk, talking horses, adventures with pirates. More likely she was writing about what she was going to cook for dinner and how irritating Dad’s snoring was.

I’ve always wanted to write my own journal, and this is my chance. Maybe my last chance. The idea is that every night for three months, I’ll take one of these heavy sheets of pure white paper, rough under my fingertips, and fill it up on both sides. If my suicide note is nearly a hundred pages long, then no-one can accuse me of not thinking it through. No-one can say; ‘It makes no sense; she was a polite, cheerful girl, had everything to live for’, before adding that I did keep myself to myself. It’ll all be here. I’m using a silver fountain pen with purple ink. A bit flamboyant for me, I know. I need these idiosyncratic rituals; they hold things in place. Like the way I make tea, squeezing the tea-bag three times, the exact amount of milk, seven stirs. My writing is small and neat; I’m striping the paper. I’m near the bottom of the page now. Only ninety-one more days to go before I’m allowed to make my decision. That’s it for today. It’s begun.

Continue reading tomorrow here...

Book Review: Yesterday's Promise

Yesterday's Promise by Linda Lee Chaikin


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Summary: Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa. In England, his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart.

My review: Before reading this book, I was disappointed to find out that this was Book 2 in a series. I hate starting a series (not just books, but anything - TV shows, movies, etc.) anywhere but the beginning. Normally, I would table the book until I'd read the previous one in the series. But, I had agreed to read this one and post a review this week. As this was one of two books I was to review this week, I didn't have the time to read Book 1 in this series. I wish I had. I found that there was much in this book that had me questioning if I'd know what was being referred to if I had read Book 1. There were many events and circumstances referenced that I was completely clueless about. So, I don't know that this would be a stand-alone title. I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read Tomorrow's Treasure first.

That said, overall I did like the book. While it took me awhile - meaning at least a few chapters - to get into it, I soon found myself unwilling to put it down. In fact, I read the last hundred-plus pages today. I think part of why I couldn't get into it at first was because this book starts (and continues) with the assumption that I'm familiar with the back story. But, once I got into it, I found the story and the characters quite interesting.

I now feel that I have to read Tomorrow's Treasure - to get the first part of the story into my head. Then I'd like to re-read this one. Hopefully it'll be a bit easier to read once I'm familiar with the earlier story in the series. Although, I do fear that knowing how this one plays out means that I'll have much in the first book actually ruined. But, it's more about finding out what happened before.

So, if this book sounds interesting to you, I suggest you start with Tomorrow's Treasure first, then read this one. I would guess that this one is quite good if read after the first in the series!

Source: Sent by publisher for review.

Get your own: You can get your own copy of Yesterday's Promise HERE.

Note: This is the second of two books reviewed as part of this week's Spring Value Fiction Blog tour, which features six full-length novels priced at $5.99 (according to the press release I received). The other book review of Beneath a Southern Sky can be found HERE.

View all of my GoodReads.com reviews >>

Book Review: Beneath a Southern Sky

Beneath a Southern Sky by Deborah Raney
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Summary: Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the mission field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between the two men who love her?

My Review: I hadn't heard of Deborah Raney before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Long story short: I'll be looking to read more of Raney's books, because this one was GOOD.

I like how this is a Christian book, but it's not preachy. The references to God and the praying in the book felt natural - they fit with when I'd find such things in my own life. I like the natural Christianity in the book, rather the the oftentimes overly preachy references in other Christian fiction.

The plot was good. It showed that the consequences of not listening to that still small voice often are quite painful - not just for those refusing to submit, but also for their loved-ones. The choices we make in our walk with God aren't just about us - they affect everyone we know to some degree or another. Those most dear to us likely are most affected by it. This book served as a good reminder for me to make sure to be in tune to God's prompting in my heart, and to strive to be in His will.


Source: This book was sent by the publisher for review.

Get Your Own Copy: Interested? Purchase your own copy here.

Note: This is the first of two books that I will be reviewing as part of this week's Spring Value Fiction Blog tour, which features six full-length novels priced at $5.99. Look for my review of Yesterday's Promise later this week.

View all of my GoodReads reviews >>

GIVEAWAY & Book Review: Hear No Evil

Hear No Evil: Marching in the Lord's Army, Fleeing the Devil, and Finding a Righteous Groove by Matthew Paul Turner

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars (note: on Goodreads.com, it is 4 stars, because they do not have half-star ratings)

Summary: A collection of wise, compelling, and often uproariously funny essays built around the experience of music as a transformational element in a moment of truth, Hear No Evil mines Matthew Paul Turner’s humorous memories of his evangelical youth and invites readers to groove along on his journey.

From attending forbidden contemporary Christian concerts to moving to “Music City” Nashville, Hear No Evil chronicles Turner’s “life soundtrack” which morphs seamlessly into the stories of people, places, and experiences that have taught the music-editor-turned-author some new things about God, forced him out of his comfort zone, and introduced him to a fresh view of grace along the way.

If you’ve ever had the opening bars of a song transport you back in time or remind you of a pivotal spiritual moment, Matthew Paul Turner’s honest—and frequently hilarious—musings will strike a chord. Straight forward and amusing, Hear No Evil is an exploration of a life of faith lived to a personal soundtrack.

My review: Matthew Paul Turner grew up in a very strict - fundamentalist - church/family. I didn't realize just how sheltered some people are - and how extreme fundamentalists can be! Oddly, though, despite my growing up in a Charismatic church, I was almost as sheltered as he was. Especially when it came to music. I attended a church that STRONGLY discouraged listening to secular music. In fact, I remember a time when one of the youth leaders gave me a bunch of free CDs in exchange for old secular music of mine - which was then destroyed! Despite my "best" attempts, I've never stuck to listening to strictly Christian music for long. Anyway, because of this and similar experiences, I found myself able to relate in a way I never would've guessed!

Back to the book. I'm jealous of Turner! I'd love to work for CCM, and to meet AMY GRANT! She's the ONE artist I've been a fan of all my life. She's the person I always say I'd meet if I could meet ONE person. I would love to get to read the story he originally wrote from the interview he mentions in this book. I couldn't believe the piousness of his boss in regards to Amy's life! Apparently this man was just plain BLIND because of the REDWOOD TREE in his own eye!

This was a very enjoyable read, and I thought it was quite interesting to see some things about how the Christian music industry works behind the scenes. There were things I never would've even guessed - but makes a lot of sense.

Anyone who LOVES music (I often say it's my passion) should read this book!

Source: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Get your own copy: I was sent ONE extra copy to give away FOR FREE to my readers. So, please fill out the McLinky form below. Make sure to include your e-mail address (only visible by ME) so I can contact you if you are the winner! This contest is open through 2 a.m. CENTRAL time on Monday, February 22. I will announce the winner (to be randomly selected with the help of random.org) within 24 hours.

If you do not win, you can purchase your own copy here.

View all my GoodReads reviews >>