A Peak In My Mailbox...

 

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren where we share what books we got in the mail the previous week!

Here are some of the books that came in the mail for me recently!

• Interrupted: A Life Beyond Words by Rachel Coker *
• To See The Sun by Peggy Blann Phifer *
• Nightshade (Discarded Heroes #1) by Ronie Kendig
• Digitalis (Discarded Heroes #2) by Ronie Kendig
• Wolfsbane (Discarded Heroes #3) by Ronie Kendig
• Powers: A Novel by John B. Olson
• Shade by John B. Olson
• Try Darkness (Ty Buchanan #2) by James Scott Bell
• Oil by Jeff Nesbit
• Becca by the Book (Getaway Girls #3) by Laura Jensen Walker
• Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard
• Stuff Christians Like by Jonathan Acuff
• Lee: A Life of Virtue by John Perry

* for review

FYI, this is NOT a typical week... I got so many books! :)

So there is a little peak in my mailbox... what books did you get this past week?

Saturday Discussions: Race and Racism in YA

I'm not going to dig into this one too much. not because I don't think it's a worthy topic but because as a reader, I don't tend to notice race too much in YA. I tend to picture that everyone looks like me in what I read and I am a typical white female. This is no way means that I think everyone should look like me in books, this is just me being honest and honestly, when I read I picture myself.

Now, this topic idea is stemming from all the racist remarks that the African American cast of The Hunger Games is getting. I was reading several articles about it on E! News and was completely disgusted by what people have been Tweeting.

One person wrote "why does rue have to be black not gonna lie kinda ruined the movie". Another tweeted "why did the producer make all the good characters black".

There was another example given too: "call me racist but when i found out rue was black her death wasn't as sad #ihatemyself."

Of course, you know by know that these Tweets were directed at the young actress who played Rue as well as Thresh and Cinna. May I be the first here to say WHAT THE HELL? I've said it before and I'll say it again until I'm blue in the face, THE INTERNET DOES NOT FORGET. Just because you can hide behind anonymity doesn't give you the right to treat people rudely. I mean, you are talking about a 13 year old girl and not judging the merit of her acting talents but making states based solely on the color of her skin.

So here's where the book part comes in. I have to admit that when I read The Hunger Games, I didn't picture Rue and Thresh as African American. I pictured them as either Chinese or Indian. Call me crazy all you want. I'm not here to argue about their race, I'm just here to tell you what I thought. Cinna was a 24 year old white man in my head. But when the movie casting news came out and I saw who they cast in the roles, it didn't bother me. I thought they did an awesome job selecting the right people for the right roles, even if they aren't how I pictured them when I read the books. These feelings were justified when I went and saw the movie.

Rue doesn't have a lot of screen time but little Amandla Stenberg makes every second count with an honest and believable portrayal of Rue. I too didn't feel as sad when Rue died but it is because Katniss and Rue didn't get enough screen time together to make her death have as much of an impact as it was in the book.

Lenny Kravitz Sizzled as Cinna. He brought the quiet yet powerful demeanor that I imagined in the book and I felt his connection to Katniss immediately. He and Jennifer Lawrence has such good chemistry, I really thought that Cinna could be added to the love triangle thing.

Seriously though, to complain about the choices of characters based solely on the color of their skin is complete bullshit and I am shocked that that trash is still around. I love reading articles and novels that highlight different cultures and races. I think that the YA community is changing this with each new story at a time and I'm glad for it.

What do you guys think about this? Do you know any good books that highlight different races or cultures? Sound off in the comments!

Monthly Reflections (#3)

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Monthly Reflections, where we take the time to reflect on the previous month.

My goals for March were...

☐ Read 9-10 books, including:
☐ 1 eBook (I'm thinking Bourne...)
☐ 1 "Just for Fun" book
☐ A book starting with the letter N
☐ 1 book from my TBR pile! :)
☐ 1 YA book


In March, I... (updated)


Read 9 books!!
☑ 1 YA book (Bourne)
☑  1 eBook (Bourne)
☐ Did not read a book starting with the letter N
☑ Read one "Just For Fun" book
☑ Read a book from my TBR pile

Books read: 
 

My favorite book I read in March was Bourne by Lisa Tawn Bergren!!! :D

Reviews:


Ruby Dawn by Raquel Byrnes
Heart's Safe Passage by Laurie Alice Eakes
Bourne (River of Time 3.1 Novella) by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Song of my Heart by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Prize of My Heart by Lisa Norato
Before The Scarlet Dawn by Rita Gerlach
Missing by Shelley Shepard Gray
The Chase by DiAnn Mills
Downtown Green by Judy Christie

Interviews:


Erica Vetsch ~ Author of A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas
Sherri Wilson Johnson ~ Author of To Dance Once More
Ann Shorey ~ Author of Where Wildflowers Bloom
Ann H. Gabhart ~ Author of Words Spoken True

Blog Awards:



My Sixth Blog Award! :D

Oh, and I was tagged by Eve! :)

Looking ahead:


Here is what I hope to accomplish in April...

Read 9 books including:
1-2 eBooks
A book from my TBR pile
A book starting with the letter "N" or "E" (I'm trying to get "Melanie" and I'm two "E's" and one "N" away!)


Now it's your turn! What did you accomplish in March, what do you hope to accomplish in April? 


If you want to do your own Monthly Reflections, feel free to grab the button and post about it on your blog, then leave a comment with the URL - otherwise, please share your thoughts in a comment!

Review: Downtown Green by Judy Christie

About Judy Christie

Author Judy Christie loves to help busy people slow down and enjoy each day more – in her series of novels about Green, Louisiana, and her Hurry Less Worry Less nonfiction books. Judy started her writing career as the editor of The Barret Banner in elementary school and has kept a journal since she was nine (and still has all of them). She likes strolling around flea markets, walking in the park near her North Louisiana home and visiting friends and family on her vintage green Kitchen Couch. Her most recent books are Downtown Green, fifth in the Green series, and “Hurry Less Worry Less for Moms.” For more information, see www.judychristie.com

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook.com | Abingdon Press

About Downtown Green 

When the highway bypass around Green opens with much fanfare, downtown dries up faster than cement on the roadway. Businesses close and the hospital becomes a clinic. While the road is progress to some, it seems to be leading Green toward a national trend–a town that is merely a shadow of itself.

With the town going backwards, Lois Barker Craig is determined to save Green while juggling life as a new mom and owner of The Green News-Item. But can her plan rescue the town from the path it’s on? And what about Dr. Kevin and her son, Mayor Eva, Coach Chris and other familiar Green faces? How does this affect them?

My rating:

My thoughts:

Downtown Green is the first book I've read by Judy Christie and the fifth book in her "Green" series. While some things were slightly confusing at first (like the characters), I did end up enjoying the novel and didn't feel too lost.

There were two things I personally didn't like in Downtown Green. The first thing was how the preacher was a woman - I believe a woman shouldn't be the pastor of a church (i.e. 1 Timothy 2:12). The other thing was how some scenes seemed to abruptly end - that happened a lot and was slightly annoying.

That said, there was a lot I did enjoy. I grew to really like the unique people from Green, Louisiana. Lois, Chris, Katy, and Tammy were some of my favorites!

I liked the little articles from the Green News-Item that were at the beginning of each chapter - some of them were really funny!

I don't know if there is going to be another "Green" novel, but if there is, I would probably want to read it. I'm curious if I'm right about something (not going to say what, but read the last page and you'll probably guess what I'm talking about).

Downtown Green was a good read that I enjoyed. If you've read the first four "Green" novels, then you will probably want to read this continuation. If you haven't read those, then I'd probably suggest you do first because that might lessen the confusion I had when reading Downtown Green.

*I received this book for free for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Weekend Report (#23) and Giveaway Winner

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Weekend Report is where I share what I accomplished (book-wise) the previous week! Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Report on your blog/site. If you do, please leave the URL in a comment below.

What I'm currently reading:

What I've read this week:




YES! I think I'm over my reading slump... I'm so happy with the amount of books I read this week! :)

What I plan on reading soon:

Reviews posted this week:

Missing by Shelley Shepard Gray

The Chase by DiAnn Mills

Current Giveaways!

Enter to win Where Wildflowers Bloom by Ann Shorey ~ US and Canada! Enter here.



Enter to win Words Spoken True by Ann H. Gabhart ~ Open Internationally! Enter here.

Giveaway winner!



The winner of To Dance Once More by Sherri Wilson Johnson is...

Brenda!


Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your book!

~

Thank you all for your feedback on the last Weekend Report! :)

So that's what I accomplished (book-wise) this week, what about you?

Swoon Thursday (12): Forgiven by Jana Oliver

The ladies over at YA Bound created a sexy meme where you share what made you tingle in your current read. If you want to join in, here is what you do:From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering. Shout it out on Twitter with the hashtag #YABound, link up at YA Bound, or grab the adorable button above and share it on your blog!

My swoon comes from one of my favorite couples in YA literature. Beck and Riley are just begging to get together through out The Demon Trappers novels so I was so happy to finally see some action between these two! Check it out!

His hand shook where it touched her cheek. He's nervous. She was too. Trying to let him know it was all right, Riley put her hand over his. Closing her own eyes, she waited for their lips to touch.

--Pg. 245 of "Forgiven" by Jana Oliver

I finished this book and I have to say, these novels keep getting better. I can't wait to see where the final installment of this story goes!

The Time Will Come (37): The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The Time Will Come is a weekly meme started by Books for Company which spotlights books that have been sitting unread on our shelves for too long.

Want to join in?:
- Pick a book you have been meaning to read
- Do a post telling us about the book
- Link the post up in the linky at Books for Company
- Visit the other blogs!

The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London, it's the start of a new life at a boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

This is another novel I know I need to get to because so many people read it and loved it. I saw it on some top 10 lists for favorite novels of last year so I know it's going to be great.

What is on your shelf?

Review: The Chase by DiAnn Mills

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Chase Zondervan (March 27, 2012) by DiAnn Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

DiAnn Mills believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” She is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels. Her books have won many awards through American Christian Fiction Writers, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005, 2007, and 2010. She was a Christy Award finalist in 2008 and a Christy winner in 2010.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and is the Craftsman Mentor for the Christian Writer’s Guild. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops.

DiAnn and her husband live in Houston, Texas. Visit her website or find her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/diannmills


ABOUT THE BOOK

To the FBI it's a cold case. To Kariss Walker it's a hot idea that could either reshape or ruin her writing career. And it's a burning mission to revisit an event she can never forget. Five years ago, an unidentified little girl was found starved to death in the woods behind a Houston apartment complex. A TV news anchor at the time, Kariss reported on the terrifying case. Today, as a New York Times bestselling author, Kariss intends to turn the unsolved mystery into a suspense novel. Enlisting the help of FBI Special Agent Tigo Harris, Kariss succeeds in getting the case reopened. But the search for the dead girl's missing mother yields a discovery that plunges the partners into a witch's brew of danger. The old crime lives on in more ways than either of them could ever imagine. Will Kariss's pursuit of her dream as a writer carry a deadly price tag? Drawing from a real-life cold case, bestselling novelist DiAnn Mills presents a taut collage of suspense, faith, and romance in The Chase.

Watch the book video!

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Chase, go HERE.

My rating:

My thoughts:


Wow! I LOVED this book! From the beginning it was interesting, entertaining, and suspenseful! Since The Chase contained some truths to an actual FBI-solved cold case, the entire story was so believable!

Kariss Walker is a New York Times bestselling author, but instead of writing another women's fiction novel, she wants to write a suspense about the cold case of "Cherished Doe." While researching for the novel, she gets in a lot of danger and might not be able to escape with her life... fiction meets real life.

I don't think I was ever bored when reading The Chase. Even when a scene didn't have a lot of suspense (which wasn't often), just the dialogue between characters or whatever else was happening was interesting.

The characters were so great! Kariss and Tigo were definitely my favorites in the book. I especially liked how Tigo cared so much about his mom... that was really sweet! :)

I am really looking forward to DiAnn Mills next Crime Scene Houston novel because I want to find out what happens in these characters' lives! This is a great story that I recommend if you enjoy a great suspenseful ride with a little romance.


*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*