Christian Historical Fiction Reading Challenge - July update

It is that time of the month when I update you on how I've been going with this challenge.

For those of you who haven't been following this blog, I actually finished this challenge in March, and decided to see just how many books in this genre I read throughout the year.

This month I read 5 books for the challenge.

I have now read 48 books for the year!

They are:

1. The Confidential Life of Euginia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo
2. Pieces of Silver by Maureen Lang
3. Remember Me by Maureen Lang
4. New Mexico by Janet Lee Barton
5. The Tapestry by MaryAnn Minatra
6. The Masterpiece by MaryAnn Minatra
7. The Heirloom by MaryAnn Minatra
8. Texas Brides by Cathy Marie Hake
9. Battles of Destiny Vol. 3 by Al Lacy
10. Battles of Destiny Vol. 4 by Al Lacy
11. A Place Called Home by Lori Wick
12. A Song For Silas by Lori Wick
13. The Long Road Home by Lori Wick
14. A Gathering of Memories by Lori Wick
15. Gingham Bride by Jillian Hart
16. Look to the East by Maureen Lang
17. Love Awakens the Heart by Lori Wick
18. The One Forever Promise by Lori Wick
19. Ransome's Honor by Kaye Dacus
20. Angel's Den by Jamie Carie
21. The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy
22. Pasadena Primises by Rachel Druten
23. Brides of the Empire by Darlene Minrup
24. The Raven Saint by M L Tyndall
25. Woven Hearts by Cathy Marie Hake, Kelly Eileen Hake, Kathleen Paul & Susan Downs
26. The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Coleen Coble
27. Florida Brides by Muncy G. Chapman
28. Louisiana Brides by Kathleen Y'Barbo
29. Veiled Joy by Colleen L. Reece
30. In Tune With Wedding Bells by Grace Livingston Hill
31. Where Two Ways Met by Grace Livingston Hill
32. The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke
33. The Puritans by Jack Cavanaugh
34. The Colonists by Jack Cavanaugh
35. The Patriots by Jack Cavanaugh
36. The Adversaries by Jack Cavanaugh
37. The Pioneers by Jack Cavanaugh
38. The Allies by Jack Cavanaugh
39. The Victors by Jack Cavanaugh
40. The Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke
41. The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkard
42. Though None Go With Me by Jerry B. Jenkins
43. The Bride Blunder by Kelly Eileen Hake
44. Found Treasure by Grace Livingston Hill
45. Outlaw Marshal by Al and Joanna Lacy
46. Cassidy by Lori Wick
47. The Affectionate Adversary by Catherine Palmer
48. The Bachelor's Bargain by Catherine Palmer

2010 Reading Challenge - week 30

This has been a Catherine Palmer week for me. The only books I finised were written by her.

And once again there were only two of them.

Being a chauffer may mean more time to read books in Sabrina (the movie with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond), but it doesn't for me. I did at some books to my shelf and TBR pile this week that will count for this challenge when I read them.

So the 2 books were:

• The Affectionate Adversary by Catherine Palmer (Miss Pickworth #1)
• The Bachelor's Bargain by Catherine Palmer (Miss Pickworth #2)

I will be reading the 3rd book in this series, but according to Catherine you shoule read a couple of her other regency books before you read that one because they have characters in them that pop up again the the 3rd book. I'm currently reading the first of these other books (see below), but so far I haven't come across any cross-over characters.

So I'm reading:

• Wild Heather by Catherine Palmer (English Ivy #1)
• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada

Friday Fill-Ins #187

And...here we go!

1. I'm going crazy.

2. Life can be a fine mix between adventure and daring.

3. Perhaps today you can make it a point of not cutting me off.

4. I'm not sure I have a true adventurer’s spirit.

5. Compassion is something we should all practice.

6. Keep smiling no matter how difficult.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night at home, tomorrow my plans include sleeping in and watching more Gilmore Girls and Sunday, I want to enjoy fellowship at church, followed by lunch with the Christmas in July team, then babysitting in the evening!

Teaser Tuesdays - July 27

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada

'Today, take a complicated situation and - with time, patience, and a smile - turn it into something positive ... for you and for others.'

2010 Reading Challenge - week 29

Another slowish reading week for me. Acting as chauffer for my family gives me less time for reading, although I have to admit that some of my reading time has been taken up by other pursuits.

So I read 2 books this week, and they are:

• Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury
• Cassidy by Lori Wick (Big Sky Dreams #1)

I am currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada
• The Affectionate Adversary by Catherine Palmer (Miss Pickworth #1)

Teaser Tuesdays - July 20

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

The Affectionate Adversary by Catherine Palmer

'Though he had been pulled from the sea with nothing to call his own, Charles was given a frock coat, waistcoat, trousers, shirt, and cravat from the captain's personal wardrobe. Only his boots remained from the fine set of garments with which he had departed London months before. On this day, as the Queen Elinore sailed up the Thames, Charles polished the brown leather to a high shine.

Would she have him? Dare Sarah Carlyle take the risk of being wed to a man she had known such a short time? A crippled pauper who by his own admission had nothing to offer her save a raft of promises and dreams? She must set aside all reason to take him on, Charles knew. Yet how could he make his way forward without her?'

2010 Reading Challenge - week 28

Last week marked the half-way point in this challenge, and I am happy to report that I am over half-way towards my goal of 160 Christian books for the year.

This week I read 2 books. This takes me to 108 books for the year, and 67.5%!

They were:

• Possibilities by Debra White Smith (a modern twist on Jane Austen's novel, Persuasion)
• Northpointe Chalet by Debra White Smith (a modern twist on Jane Austen's novel, Northanger Abbey)

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury

Friday Fill-Ins #185

And...here we go!

1. This is what life does. It lets you enjoy the little things that crop up everyday.

2. Do I appreciate the moment?

3. Upon reflection I have decided to continue doing the Interior Design course, especially now that I've been given a 6 month extension and can't get access to the modules unless I complete each assignment.

4. I have wanted a denim jacket for quite a long time and yesterday I bought one.

5. Later, you wake up someone else to let you out the door (said to the cat at 6.45 am).

6. Look to the far and boundless sea for it is a powerful force, but also a calming one.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night at home, tomorrow my plans include driving Dad to yet another appointment, and having a girly afternoon tea with friends and Sunday, I want to enjoy a very full day, with the possibility of having all meals out, and church, and singing practice for Christmas in July, and finally, maybe, babysitting!

Teaser Tuesdays - July 13

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

'Northpointe Chalet' by Debra White Smith

'A gust of wind whistled around the aging building. The apartment, nestled atop Kathy's bookstore, groaned like a soul tormented from ancient of days. The drapes fiercly surged.

I must have left the window open. The practical thought both disappointed and comforted. Then Kathy remembered shutting and locking the window before donning her satin pajamas and crawling into bed. Both comfort and disappointment plummeted.

Kathy glanced toward her telephone sitting on the nightstand on the other side of the bed. The shadowed distance between her and the phone stretched into an insurmountable chasm, too difficult to span for a terrified soul trapped by rigid terror.

For but a second the drapes halted their activity, only to shiver through the final throes of the captive's determination to reveal himself. Kathy released her copy of Edgar Allen Poe's Complete Works, gripped her throat, and lunged for the phone. Nothing could stop her calling for help now ... nothing ... except the cordless receiver was not in its cradle.'

No, this is not actually a thriller! This is a modern twist on Jane Austen's novel, 'Northanger Abbey.'

2010 Reading Challenge - weeks 26 & 27

Ok, so I have 2 weeks of books to include this time, since I wasn't able to post last week.

For the past 2 weeks I finished 6 books. One I have been reading for a while.

And they were:

• Found Treasure by Grace Livingston Hill
• Beyond the Picket Fence by Lori Wick (a collection of her short stories)
• Sisterchicks Do the Hula by Robin Jones Gunn (audio book, and one of my favourites)
• Outlaw Marshall by Al and Joanna Lacy (Return of the Stranger #1)
• Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye by Carolyn McCulley (the one I've been reading for a while)
• Pretense by Lori Wick (one of the longest books I've ever read)

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada (year-long devotional)
• Finding God In Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Possibilities by Debra White Smith (a modern twist on the Jane Austen novel, Persuasion)

Friday Fill-Ins #184

And...here we go!

1. Layers of the past can be hard to break through.

2. Do you have good insight?

3. I'd be willing to bet, if I was a betting person.

4. I hope the cat scares the dog.

5. I'm fond of chocoalte mousse!

6. Don't eat too much!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a quiet night at home after a crazy day, tomorrow my plans include relaxing and maybe practicing carols for Christmas in July and Sunday, I want to enjoy the fellowship at church, plan GNG for this week and babysit in the evening!

Teaser Tuesdays - July 6

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

For those of you who are wondering where I was last week, I was at a youth camp run by my church. It was my first time as a cabin leader. I thought I might have tried to schedule a post, but I didn't have time.

So my teaser for this week comes from a book I have read several times, but just had to read again.

'Pretense' by Lori Wick

'"Mackenzie met Paxton Hancock when she was still in the Army. He works for IronHorse, and that's how Tom Magy got the Micah Bear series."

Richard was listeningg attentively, but Delancey stopped, seeing how long this could take. She finally went to the bookshelf in the other room, came back to their bed, and handed him Blue Crayon.

"Mackenzie wrote this."

Richard started visibly, but Delancey just stood by the bed.

"Mackenzie wrote this?"

"Yes, and all the other Mac Walker books."

Seconds passed, and his face grew thoughtful. Delancey waited to hear what he would say.

"Why the pretense?"

In the Animal (and bird) Kingdom This Week ...

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Let's get funky!! For those who read this and were at LF8R!!!


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This is how I feel about ferris wheels too!


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