Christian Historical Fiction Reading Challenge - August update

Another month over. I can't believe how fast this year is going.

This month I read 8 books for the challenge.

I have now read 56 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
49. Wild Heather by Catherine Palmer
50. English Ivy by Catherine Palmer
51. Sweet Violet by Catherine Palmer
52. The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer
53. Sabrina by Lori Wick
54. Jessie by Lori Wick
55. The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis
56. Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy

Teaser Tuesdays - August 31

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 UnGuide to Dating by Camerin Courtney and Todd Hertz

'Most of all, we need to trust God to build our romantic relationships. And we need him not only as the architect but as a day-to-day presence in both members' lives. Great advice comes from Psalm 127:1: "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain."'

2010 Reading Challenge - week 34

Just 2 for me this week. There has been way to many other things to do.

However, I am getting close to my target. I have read 125 out of 160 books, taking me to 78%!! Just 35 more books to read for the year. I think I can manage that!

So the 2 for this week were:

• Mainely Mysteries by Susan Page Davis and Megan Elaine Davis
• Wildflower Bride by Mary Connealy (#3 Montana Marriages)

I'm still reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• The UnGuide to Dating by Camerin Courtney and Todd Hertz
  

Friday Fill-Ins #191

And...here we go!

1. You do your thing; I do mine and sometimes our plans will be the same.

2. Fort Night is what's been on my mind on and off all day (for those who don't know this is an extra kid's club activity that we are running at church tonight. We make forts out of cardboard boxes and blankets and have fort wars using scrunched up newspaper).

3. Remember when life was simple and nothing worried us.

4. Reading, craft and ... are three of my favorite obsessions :-)

5. During the last year I have struggled through some tough things - and there is no end in sight.

6. Playing with little kids puts a smile on my face.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Fort Night, tomorrow my plans include a birthday catch-up with a friend (6 months late) and Sunday, I want to enjoy the fellowship at church, a quiet afternoon and then some planning for future children's ministry!

Teaser Tuesdays - August 24

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!

Impostors at Blue Heron Lake (Mainely Mysteries #3) by Susan Page Davis and Megan Elaine Davis

'Emily steered her boat toward Raven's beach. She'd left work early to go with Nate when he broke the news of the murder to Jette, but Jette wasn't at the Heron's Nest. Rita Eliot had no idea where she'd gone, so Nate left to patrol, and Emily had warily climbed into her boat.'

I highly recommend this book. The copy I'm reading is an anthology type, where all three books in the series are in the one volume. It's great to read something from a mother/daughter team.

2010 Reading Challenge - week 33

Ok, I'm claiming 4 books for this week.

Some of you may say I'm cheating a little when you find out what the 4th one is, but I don't think so.

So they are:

• The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis
• Finding God In Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada
• It Had to Be You by Janice Thompson
• Jennifer by Dee Henderson

Ok, the last one is actually a short story that is part of the O'Malley series. It slots in just before the start of The Negotiator, and is Jennifer's story, or at least the start of it. Her story is told throughout the rest of the series. I always thought she got left out, so I'm glad Dee has made this available. It is only available on her website though. If you would like to read it for yourself, check it out here.

And finally, I am currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• The UnGuide to Dating by Camerin Courtney and Todd Hertz
• Mainely Mysteries by Susan Page Davis and Megan Elaine Davis (3 in 1)

Friday Fill-Ins #190

And...here we go!

1. Laughter is the best medicine.

2. "12.30 works for" are the three words that started off the last email I sent.

3. What I'm most looking forward to today is watching Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel.

4. Seeing Dad's with their children puts a smile on my face.

5. Where in the world is Carmen Sandiago (have you ever played that game?)?

6. Lunch out with a friend just what I needed!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to watching the movie mentioned in #3, tomorrow my plans include voting in the federal election and going to and engagement party and Sunday, I want to enjoy our GNG planning breakfast, church and hopefully the church business meeting, then a quiet afternoon and evening at home!

Teaser Tuesdays - August 17

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!

I nearly forgot that today was Tuesday!

But here is my teaser.

It Had to Be You by Janice Thompson

'Very strange. I seemed to be falling asleep standing up. Don't go down, Bella. Don't go down.

Funny how I couldn't seem to convince my legs to cooperate. Gravity caught up with me, and as the room spun out of control, I found myself dropping down, down, down ... to the cold, hard floor.'

This was a great book. The third in the Weddings by Bella series (and I think the last).

Art and Jigsaw Puzzles

Did you know that some of the best artwork is found only as a jigsaw puzzle?
I find that rather sad.

The picture above is by Australian artist Almar Zaadstra and is called Country Wedding.




This one is Blythevale, Victoria by Brian Nash. He is also an Australian artist.

Ok, so you're wonding how this connects to jigsaw puzzles. Well, I saw these as jigsaw puzzles in a local game shop.

I'd love to have the second one on my wall, but sadly I have no room, although, I've just been looking on the website and you can get small prints for quite a good price. Hmm ... very tempted.

2010 Reading Challenge - week 32

Ok, so last week I made a slight mistake and included a book in my currently reading list that can't actually be included in this challenge, but don't worry I haven't actually included it in the count.

So, I'm sad to say that for this challenge I only finished one book this week.

And that was:

• A Father for Zach by Irene Hannon

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada
• The UnGuide to Dating by Camerin Courtney and Todd Hertz
• The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis

Friday Fill-Ins #189

And...here we go!

1. Music often speaks to my soul.

2. A cup of tea is what I like first thing in the morning.

3. The first thing I said this morning was: Good Morning.

4. Fish and chips; it's what's for dinner tonight.

5. It's all been a bit crazy, stressful and overwhelming lately.

6. Sleeping is what I feel like doing right now.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to yet another quiet night at home, tomorrow my plans include going to the OAC Children's Ministry Training Day and Sunday, I want to enjoy church, have a quiet afternoon and maybe go out for dinner (depends on how tired I am from Saturday)!

Teaser Tuesdays -August 10

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!

My teaser this week comes from a book that I have wanted for years. It was originally printed in 1893!!! It's actually a book of short stories, but some characters from some of the author's other novels have popped up again. Thank you to Dodo Press for bringing back old, rare, out-of-print books.

Nine Little Goslings by Susan Coolidge

'Like a little moth attracted by a flame, Dick wandered down the stair in the direction of the light. The candle was standing on the table in a bedroom, - a pretty room, Dickie thought, though it did not seem as if anybody could have lived in it lately.'

Smile for the ...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

2010 Reading Challenge - week 31

6 books for me this week! Much better than the last few weeks, but then I always seem to read more when I'm sick. I tend to read in bed instead of doing other things.

More Catherine Palmer this week, plus Lori Wick, and all historical fiction.

They were:

• Wild Heather by Catherine Palmer
• English Ivy by Catherine Palmer
• Sweet Violet by Catherine Palmer
• The Courteous Cad by Catherine Palmer
• Sabrina by Lori Wick
• Jessie by Lori Wick (audio book edition)

I'm reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Nine Little Goslings by Susan Coolidge (I've wanted this book for years, but it's been out of print until Dodo Press picked it up)

Friday Fill-Ins #188

And...here we go!

1. Life is crazy.

2. I just try to keep going.

3. My last text message (or IM) ended in these three words: probably gave me.

4. Chicken Enchilladas is what I'm thinking about for dinner sometime soon, but I probably won't get it.

5. On the 1st day of August was one of my cousin's birthday.

6. My sister is lively and energetic.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to my sister being home, tomorrow my plans include a potential trip to Vic Market and Sunday, I want to enjoy the fellowship at church in the morning and baby-sitting in the evening!

Changes

It is a difficult thing choosing a new background for your blog. Not on this one, but my cross stitch and craft projects one (you will find it here).

I have had a background from Cutest Blog on the Block for a while, but when I looked at my blog today after posting, I noticed that it had disappeared, instead having a box saying that the picture had been moved.

So I had the task of trying to find just the right new background. I didn't want to change all the colours, so finding one that matched was a bit tricky.

But I have now made a decision, and hopefully I still like it tomorrow.

Teaser Tuesdays - August 3

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!

Sabrina by Lori Wick

' "Mama." Clancy was suddenly there, a hatbox in her hand.

"Yes, Clancy."

"I need this."

"A hatbox? You don't have a hat."

"But I will when my head is biggest." '

Don't children say the funnniest things?!