Reading Challenges 2018 - Update 1

Hi everyone!
By now you're probably wondering what's happened to me and where I am in the progress on my reading challenges.

Well, by the end of January I had started a new full time job (YAY!! - it's been something I'd wanted for a while)! So I haven't had as much time for reading. I've also read more non-fiction books this year, and they take me longer to read.

For this reason, I have dropped my Goodreads goal to 100 books for the year. My current total says 25, but I have actually read 2 more than that - one that I mentioned in my last post that doesn't appear on Goodreads and another that I finished this morning, but haven't added to my Goodreads total.

As for the Bethany House Challenge, I'm actually doing extremely well, with 3/4 of the books read for the challenge.

So here's what I've read for each one:

• With a car on the cover - A New Name by Grace Livingston Hill
• Whose protagonist has a fascinating career - True Honor by Dee Henderson
• Set in a place you've visited - Life's Adventures by Arthur Barton (this is the one that doesn't appear on Goodreads) - There is a photo in the book of the author in almost exactly the same spot as a photo of me was taken!
• Inspired by a literary classic - Possibilities by Debra White Smith (based on Persuasion by Jane Austen)
• With a child as a narrator - Once Upon a Summer by Janette Oke
• Written by an author with your initials - A Girl to Love by Betty Neels (I had a struggle finding a book by an author with my initials and even more trouble finding one that I was actually willing to read. There was another book I initially tried by couldn't even finish the 1st chapter because of the swearing.)
• Containing letters or diary entries - True Valor by Dee Henderson
• A librarian recommends to you - From Desk to Dugout by Robyn Youl & Keith Hallett
• That shares a title with a song - Sweet Home Alabama by Paige Winship Dooly, Pamela Griffin, Lisa Harris & Pamela Kaye Tracy

2016 Reading Challenges - Mid-Year Update

I know, I know ... you haven't heard from me about what I'm reading lately. If you read my last post for my Get Talking series you would see that I've been changing over computers and did't have the files I needed until recently. Some people would say, why don't you just put everything on a cloud so you can access it everywhere. Well, how secure are they? Anybody could hack into them if they really wanted to, so I'll stick with having things on my own device. Anyway, on to books ...

Just 2 more books in the Anne series to read, then on to other L M Montgomery books. I'm still not sure whether I'll try to read as many of her books as possible (as a friend suggested) or not. But I've still got time to work things out, since it is only June.

June's book was Anne of Ingleside. I love reading about the antics of her and Gilbert's children. More to come in the next book - Rainbow Valley!

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I've been doing really well on the Alphabet Soup Challenge - just 6 books to go. Since my last update, I have added (books in bold added since last update):

A - Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
B - Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
C - Crime Scene Jerusalem By Alton Gansky
D - The Director's Cut by Janice Thompson
E - Every Storm by Lori Wick
F - Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter
G - Greetings From the Flipside by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay
H - A House Divided by Robert Whitlow
I - In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon
J - Jennifer by Dee Henderson
L - Lethal Beauty by Lis Wiehl
M -  A Murder Among Friends by Ramona Richards
N - Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island (Lonely Planet Guide)
O - One More Wish by Robin Jones Gunn
P - The Pounamu Prophecy by Cindy Williams
S - Seaside Blessings by Irene Hannon
T - Twice Stolen by Susanne Timpani
U - Undetected by Dee Henderson
W - Water's Edge by Robert Whitlow
Y - You Are Special by Max Lucado

I'm in the middle of a book for 'R', then I just need to work out K, Q, V, X and Z.

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Finally the Bethany House 2016 Reading Challenge.
It's been a struggle to find books for this one, but I have managed to add a few squares.

Added this time are:

• Is a nonfiction book about the era/setting of a favourite novel - Lonely Planet Guide: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island
• You found at a yard sale or thrift store - You are Special by Max Lucado
• Has a character with your best friend's name - Jennifer by Dee Henderson (the character is also the title of the book!)

One of my sisters was also doing this challenge, and she has now finished. We will be reading the same book for 'Is at least 100 years old.'

Now you are all up-to-date with my reading challenges. How are you going with yours?

2016 Reading Challenges - January

I'm on track with the Anne of Green Gables Challenge. I finished Anne of Green Gables, but I must admit I'm finding it hard not to just keep reading the series and limit myself to just one book a month.

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6 Letters done for the Alphabet Soup Challenge
A - Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
B - Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
E - Every Storm by Lori Wick
G - Greetings From the Flipside by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay
S - Seaside Blessing by Irene Hannon
U - Undetected by Dee Henderson

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And finally, I have made it on the board for the Bethany House Challenge.

This one is common to all three challenges:

• Anne of Green Gable by L M Montgomery

Book and Movie Associations

Do you ever associate movies and TV shows with books? I'm not talking about movies that are based on books, rather the content or character or something else makes  you think about a particular movie or show or book and you feel like you just have to watch it or read it?

I do ... all the time.

Sometimes there's a flow on effect, where one leads to another.








I love Dee Henderson's book 'Undetected'. Every time I read it, I then get the urge to watch 'The Hunt for Red October' starring Sean Connery and Alec Baldwin.

This also connects with an episode of JAG that refers to 'The Hunt for Red October'.

Then I've been watching 'Operation Petticoat' starring Cary Grant and Tony Curtis. Which leads me to my next book:

'Every Storm' by Lori Wick. While not set on a submarine, it does involve a rescue and war time.

There are others as well.

If I'm going to watch 'The West Wing' then I always watch 'The American President first.

Not that it actually comes first (although it was made first), but some of the sets were used in both the movie and the TV show and some of the actors are the same, although not in the same roles or even having the same name.

I'm sure there are others, but I think you get the idea.

How about you? Do you associate books and movies or TV shows like this?

Get Talking - Dinner Time!

Card number 2 from my Kikki.K Conversation Starter Cards says:

If you could choose five famous people to have dinner with, who would you choose?

My five are (in no particular order):

• Queen Elizabeth II
• My grandparents were the same age as Queen Elizabeth II and it would be nice to hear her tell about her experiences at similar ages as my grandparents. I'd also like to know if she is going to nominate a successor to the crown, or just leave it to the current succession line (e.g, skip Prince Charles)
• Sir John Monash
• Sir John Monash was a real forward thinker and planner. I have long admired the way he thought about the need for larger roads and space for them to expand; places for cities to grown and the like. I'd like to know what he would do about some of the situations in my area that we face, and what kind of plan he would come up with to address them.
• Dee Henderson
• Dee is one of my current favourite authors. I'd like to ask her about the break she took from writing, if she is going to write a sequel to 'Before I Wake', and how she handles being a single woman.
• Robin Jones Gunn
• Robin is another of my favourite authors. There are just so many things we could talk about!
• John, one of the Apostles
• John walked and talked with Jesus and he possibly lived longer than any of the other apostles. He wrote my favourite gospel. I'd like to ask him what it was like to be with Jesus.

So, who would you choose to have dinner with?

The Value You Place

I've often had people tell me that they don't read Christian fiction because you can't learn anything about God from those books.

That is ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE!!!

Some of the things I have learned best have at least had their beginning through reading a Christian fiction novel. Here are some of my thoughts on this:

1. As you read a book you begin to walk with the characters through their "life" (yes, it's fictitious, but for that time you are in the pages they have become real), and as you do, the lessons they are "learning" become absorbed into your subconscious or even take hold of your conscious thoughts.

A character will "share part of their life story" with another character and that becomes real - it's like when someone shares their story with you and you realise that they have dealt with an issue like you are currently facing and you ask them for advice (of course, you can't ask the character for advice, but the other character either does that or offers their story of how they coped/dealt with something).

In the case of a novel, the struggles a character is having and the way they allow God into their life can challenge/encourage/motivate you to do the same.

Some authors will even have their characters going to church and put in the book parts of the sermon they are listening to - which will generally have been a sermon the author has personally heard when they were attending church one Sunday. Lori Wick is one such author.


Others who have really impacted me through their novels include Robin Jones Gunn, Dee Henderson, Irene Hannon, Cathy Marie Hake, Janette Oke and Colleen L Reece.

Many of the novels on my shelves have little post-it-note tags where I have found something that impacted my life and got me thinking more about God, learning more about His character or things I can listen to, learn from and put in practice in my life.

2. If you are witnessing to someone, they may not willingly pick up a Bible to read, however a well chosen novel that gives a clear Gospel message can be a way to share with them in a way that is not so obvious, but nonetheless powerful and effective.

2014 TBR Pile Challenge - February and March Update

Ok, I know. I missed an update! I got to over half way through March and realised that I hadn't given an update, but then I'd only read 2 books for this challenge in February, so I decided to do an update for 2 months at the end of March!

February:

• The Crossing by Gilbert Morris
• Jennifer by Dee Henderson

I went on to read the rest of the O'Malley series, so it was a good reading month, just not for the challenge!

March:

I managed 3 books for the month, and almost squeezed in a 4th, but didn't finish it until this morning, so I'll catch you up on that one in my next update and keep you in suspense for now!

• Christy Miller's Diary by Robin Jones Gunn
• Decorating Without Fear by Sharon Hanby-Robie
• The Story Girl by L M Montgomery

So, I've now finished 12 of 29 from my original TBR Pile list!

Now, you might be wondering why some of these books have been on my TBR pile for a while, and the simple reason is that some of my reading preferences have changed since these books arrived on my shelf. I'm more interested in contemporary than historical novels; biographies I tend to only read once, and since I had already read them once in my lifetime the appeal for them has waned.

How about you?

Have you made any progress on your TBR pile?

Is there a reason why a book (or many) have sat in your pile for a long time?

Let me know! I'd love to know what your thoughts are!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013 - August Update

Oops! I almost forgot to do this post! I have been so busy with all that this new month has brought that I almost forgot to update you on what I read for this challenge in August.

So I ended July with a total of 39 books.
August was a good month for re-reads. I was in the mood for old favourites.

• God's Gift by Dee Henderson
• The Witness by Dee Henderson
• Love Awakens the Heart by Lori Wick (books 1 and 2 of the Californians series)
• The One Forever Promise by Lori Wick (books 3 and 4 of the Californians series)
• Every Storm by Lori Wick
• Rise and Shine by Liz Curtis Higgs (a devotional, not a novel)
• The Marriage Wish by Dee Henderson

So, these 7 books take me to a total of 46 for the year!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013 - July Update

Here we are at the end of another month! I can't believe how fast this year is going.

This month I added 5 books to my total for the year, taking me to a total of 39!

• True Honor by Dee Henderson
• True Courage by Dee Henderson
• Every Little Thing About You by Lori Wick
• A Texas Sky by Lori Wick
• City Girl by Lori Wick

I hope you are enjoying re-reading some of your old favourites if you are doing this challenge!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013 - June Update

June had some new reads and some old favourites!

• What Katy Did Next by Susan Coolidge
• Clover by Susan Coolidge
• In the High Valley by Susan Coolidge
• True Devotion by Dee Henderson
• True Valour by Dee Henderson

So 5 books for the month takes me to 34 for the year!

Friday Fill-Ins - February 24

And...here we go!

1. I'm feeling content with where my life is right now.
2. I want to get married and raise a family.
3. I need to find a man before I can do number 2.
4. I was thinking that it would be nice to go and see a movie.
5. I wish my bedroom was designed a little differently.
6. I'm reading several books right now - The Negotiator by Dee Henderson, Becoming a Woman of Simplicy by Cynthia Heald, Piece by Piece by Tammy Tolman, Trusting God by Jerry Bridges, In Search of a Memory by Pamela Griffin.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to an night at home, tomorrow my plans include a "Me" day and Sunday, I want to enjoy church, the church business meeting and our 1st Young Adults service (not that I consider myself to be a young adult anymore)!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2011 - The Final Count

Hi Everyone!
Happy New Year!!

So, as promised I am giving the final count for the Contentment Reading Challenge 2011.
I signed up to Dive and and read at least 20 books. I have gone well beyond that, but I'll leave you in suspense for just a little longer.

During December I read 10 books. They were:

1. Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K Paul
2. Texas Christmas Brides by Cathy Marie Hake and Kathleen Y'Barbo
3. Yuletide in Ireland and Wales by Ginny Aiken and Tamela Hancock Murray
4. English Carols and Scottish Bagpipes by Pamela Griffin and Jill  Stengl
5. Silent Star by Tracie Peterson
6. The Red Gloves Collection by Karen Kingsbury
7. An Angel's Story by Max Lucado
8. The Christmas Candle by Max Lucado
9. True Devotion by Dee Henderson
10. True Valor by Dee Henderson

So ... drum roll please ...

The grand total for the Contentment Reading Challenge 2011 is:

48 books!!! 

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)

2010 Reading Challenge - week 23

3 books again this week. But that's because I've been busy working on some other projects, and haven't had time to read in the mornings when I get up.

They were:

• The Rescuer by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #6)
• The Country House Courtship by Linore Rose Burkard (#3 in her Regency series)
• Though None Go With Me by Jerry B Jenkins (I also watched the movie that this book has been made into this week - it stars Cheryl Ladd from the Charlie's Angels TV series.)

I'm reading (or about to start):

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye by Carolym McCulley
• In Harm's Way by Irene Hannon (Heroes of Quantico #3)

2010 Reading Challenge - week 22

3 books finished this week

They were:

• The Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #3)
• The Protector by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #4)
• The Healer by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #5)

It's not that these books are hard to read, I love them. It's just that I haven't spent as much time reading this week because I've had other projects that I've been working on.

I'm still reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada (just reminding you that this is a year-long devotional)
• Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye? by Carolyn McCulley
• The Rescuer by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #6 - the final book)

Teaser Tuesdays - June 1

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 Healer' by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #5)

'The doorbell rang. Carol wasn't expecting anyone. "Just a minute." She went to get it.

Carol opened the door only to stop, surprised. "Was the basketball game canceled?" She stepped back to let her visitor in. She hoped Amy would be smart enough to stay in the kitchen when she heard his voice so they could avoid a confrontation.

"Not exactly". The gunshot hit her inthe chest. She went crashing back into the living room table.'

2010 Reading Challenge - week 21

4 books this week.

I have now read 90 out of my 160 target - taking me to 56% finished.

The books I read this week are:

• The Hidden Flame by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke (Acts of Faith #2)
• Danger in the Shadows by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series prequel)
• The Negotiator by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #1)
• The Guardian by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #2)

I'm reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Did I Kiss Marriage Goodbye by Caroyln McCulley
• The Truth Seeker by Dee Henderson (O'Malley series #3)

Teaser Tuesdays - May 25

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 Negotiator' by Dee Henderson

'In the past hour and a half, Kate had completely shut off her emotions. She was too numb to feel anything anymore. The faces around her were grim. Helicopters waited on the taxiway to take survivors to the hospitals, but there were no survivors.

It had become a massive crime scene.'

2010 Reading Challenge - week 17

Only 3 books for me this week, but I have to say that 2 of them were really, really long.

Of course it didn't help that I was out every day this week.

Ok, so the books I finished were:

• The Witness by Dee Henderson
• The Puritans by Jack Cavanaugh (American Family Portrait series #1)
• The Colonists by Jack Cavanaugh (American Family Portrait series #2)

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Get Married by Candice Watters
• The Patriots by Jack Cavanaugh (American Family Portrait series #3)

2010 Reading Challenge - week 16

4 books finished this week.

They are:

• Where Two Ways Met by Grace Livingston Hill
• Only Nuns Change Habit Overnight by Karen Scalf Linamen
• The Centurion's Wife by Davis Bunn & Janette Oke
• In All These Things by Marjorie Buckingham

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Get Married by Candice Watters
• The Witness by Dee Henderson (by the way, when are you having another book published Dee? I want to know what happens to the people in 'Before I Wake'. They haven't caught the bad guy yet.)