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?

2014 TBR Pile Challenge - Final Count

I guess you're wondering how I did this year.
I didn't finish the pile, but I did get through most of it.

Since my last update I have read:

• Cast of Characters by Max Lucado
• Every Day Deserves a Chance by Max Lucado
• God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew
• Where Jesus Walked by Ken Duncan
• Glory of Creation by Thomas Kinkade
• Reflections of a Thankful Heart by Lori Wick

With these ones being finished, it means I read all but 5 of the list, which means 24 out of 29.

Of course, this was just some of my reading for the year. I actually read a total of 140 books for the year.

How did your year finish up? Did you achieve your reading goals? Did you get through your TBR pile?

Stay tuned for next year's challenge!

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.

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 - May Update

More reading occurred in May - some new books, some rereads!

• Finding God in Hidden Places by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Where the Wild Rose Blooms by Lori Wick
• Whispers of Moonlight by Lori Wick
• To Know Her by Name by Lori Wick
• Promise Me Tomorrow by Lori Wick
• What Katy Did by Susan Coolidge
• What Katy Did at School by Susan Coolidge

So 7 books for the month takes me to 29 for the year!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013 - April update

April, so that that you are just a memory. Life is moving way to fast.
However, I did manage to add 5 more books to my total!

• Bamboo and Lace by Lori Wick
• Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick
• Finders Keepers by Catherine Palmer
• Kiss the Bride by Kristy Dykes, Aisha Ford, Vickie McDonough, and Carrie Turansky
• Hide and Seek by Catherine Palmer

So I dived right past 20 and landed on 22 for the year!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2013 - March Update

Here we are! April 1st and time for me to update you on my "Diving" progress!

I had some extra time to read during March, as I have finally finished the course I was studying (I will soon be starting another, but have to wait for some paperwork to arrive).

This month I read 10 books for the challenge!
So that takes me to 17 for the year so far (actually 18, because I have already finished one for April).

The books for March were:

• The Proposal by Lori Wick
• The Rescue by Lori Wick
• The Visitor by Lori Wick
• The Pursuit by Lori Wick
• Where Do I Go? by Neta Jackson
• Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson
• Who Do I Lean On? by Neta Jackson
• Never the Bride by Cheryl McKay and Rene Gutteridge
• Crime Scene Jerusalem by Alton Gansky
• The Case of the Vanishing Corpse by Kel Richards

So, yes, by the end of 3 months I've almost reached the target of 20 books!

Happy Reading everyone! I hope this inspires you to look back through your shelves and find old treasures!

Contentment Reading Challenge 2011 - April, May, June

It's been a while since I did any blogging - almost a month! But it's been much longer since I updated you on how I am going with this reading challenge.

My last update was at the end of March and I had read a total of 18 books. That left me just two book to get to the 20 suggested for the "Diving in" level of the challenge that I selected. Of course, that didn't mean I was limited to only reading 20 books, and I can say that I have now read more than that.

For April, May and June, I read a total of 6 books for this challenge. They were:

1. The Quilt by T. Davis Bunn
   
2. In Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
   
3. More Stories from Grandma's Attic by Arleta Richardson
   
4. All Through the Night by Grace Livingston Hill
5. Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick
6. Exit Betty by Grace Livingston Hill
   

So that now takes me to 24 books for the challenge.
The Grandma's Attic books were actually new to my shelves because I got reprinted copies (see FIRST post), but I had read them before, so I'm including them. They're the kind of books that it doesn't matter how many times you read them, you still get a good laugh.

Contentment Reading Challenge 2011 - March

With my life completely crazy and reading being one of the things that has taken a back seat I managed 4 books for this challenge during March.
Maybe when I've finished my childcare placement for uni I will have a little more time. The 4 books for this month were (one of which I finished today):

1. The Fires of Freedom by Sally Laity and Dianna Crawford (#4 Freedom's Holy Light)


2. The Embers of Hope by Sally Laity and Dianna Crawford (#5 Freedom's Holy Light)


3. The Torch of Triumph by Sally Laity and Dianna Crawford (#6 Freedom's Holy Light)


4. Every Storm by Lori Wick

Overall I read 8 books for the month. So half being for this challenge is pretty good.

Contentment Reading Challenge 2011 - February

It was a shallow dive for me this month.

After the 10 books I read in January, I only managed 4 books for February. There are a lot of reasons for this, but I don't have the inclination to go into that now.

Of the 7 books I read this month, the 4 books that qualify for this challenge are:

1. The Princess by Lori Wick
2. The Gathering Dawn by Dianna Crawford and Sally Laity (#1 Freedom's Holy Light)
3. The Kindled Flame by Dianna Crawford and Sally Laity (#2 Freedom's Holy Light)
4. The Tempering Blaze by Dianna Crawford and Sally Laity (#3 Freedom's Holy Light)

Someone might argue that because the 3 later books aren't actually on my bookshelf they don't count, however they are on our family bookshelf (my family also has a lot of books, not just me), and I have read them before, so they do count in my estimation.

2010 Reading Challenge - week 37

2 books completed this week.

They were:

• A Very Private Grave by Donna Fletcher Crow
• Bamboo and Lace by Lori Wick

Next week I will be posting a review of A Very Private Grave, so stay tuned for that.

I'm reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Rise and Shine by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Becoming a Woman of Simplicity by Cynthia Heald
• Sweet Delights by Terri Blackstock, Elizabeth White and Ranee McCollum

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)

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?!

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)

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)

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?"

2010 Reading Challenge - week 9

Just 5 books finished this week.

Although, if you really think about it the 2 Lori Wick books were actually 4 from a series.

So this week we have:

• Love Awakens the Heart by Lori Wick (The Californians vol. 1)
• The One Forever Promise by Lori Wick (The Californians vol. 2)
• Prayer is an Adventure by Patricia St John
• Ransome's Honor by Kaye Dacus
• Angel's Den by Jamie Carie (I finished this just before doing this post)

I'm currently reading (or about to start):

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada
• Cure For the Common Life by Max Lucado
• Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight by Karen Scalf Linamen
• The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy
  

2010 Reading Challenge - week 8

Ok, so I'm a little late with this post, but I have been quite busy, and not near my computer for the past few days. I was attending a Children's Ministry training conference on Friday and Saturday. 2 very full days, but worth it.

One of the speakers was Wess Stafford, the author of 'Too Small To Ignore', one of the books I finished reading this week. I highly recommend this book, especially for people in or thinking about being involved in children's ministry, and for parents.

In total I finished reading 4 books for this challenge this past week.

• Too Small To Ignore by Wess Stafford


• Menu For Romance by Kaye Dacus


• Controlling Interest by Elizabeth White


• Without a Trace by Colleen Coble

I'm currently reading:

• More Precious Than Silver by Joni Eareckson Tada


• Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado


• Only Nuns Change Habits Overnight by Karen Scalf Linamen


• Embrace Grace by Liz Curtis Higgs


• Love Awakens the Heart by Lori Wick (this is vol. 1 in her Californians series)