Monthly Reflections (#9) ~ September!

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

My goals for September were...

☑To read 10 books:
☑2 eBook
1 Nonfiction book

In September I...

Read 16 books! Including:
3 eBooks
Almost finished a nonfiction book, but wasn't able to complete it in September. :(

Books read:

Reviews:

Love's Reckoning by Laura Frantz (5 stars + Favorite)
Opening Moves by Steven James (5 stars)
Proof by Jordyn Redwood (5 stars)
A Passion Most Pure by Julie Lessman (5 stars)
Lily by Diane T. Ashley and Aaron McCarver (3.5 stars)
Unending Devotion by Jody Hedlund (5 stars)
Shadows of Suspicion by Ashley Dawn (3.5 stars)
The Missing Monarch by Rachelle McCalla (5 stars)
The Captain's Courtship by Regina Scott (4 stars)
Lady Outlaw by Stacy Henrie (4.5 stars)
With Every Letter by Sarah Sundin (4.5 stars)
Love on the Range by Jessica Nelson (3 stars)
A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman (5 stars)
A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman (5 stars + Favorite)

Reviews posted on Goodreads that I don't plan on posting here yet:

The Long Way Home (The Homelanders #2) by Andrew Klavan (4.5 stars)
Shades of Truth by Sandra Orchard (5 stars)

Interviews:

Laura Frantz
Julie Lessman
Jessica Nelson
Rachelle McCalla

Special Posts:




Amber Garza stopped by with a guest post for her Prowl Trilogy Blog Tour! Click here to read that post.




MaryLu Tyndall stopped by for Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19). Click here to read the guest post.



We discussed Submerged by Dani Pettrey for the quarterly book discussion. If you've read the book, you are more than welcome to share your thoughts. Click here to view that post.



I'm participating in the Fall Into Reading Challenge. Click here to read my post and find out my goal.

My thoughts on this month:

I've very happy with the amount of books I read in September! I read way more than I had anticipated! I enjoyed all of the "special" posts this month and am looking forward to seeing what October holds. :)

Looking ahead:

Here is what I hope to accomplish in October:

Read a total of 12 books or more.
2 eBooks
1-2 Non-fiction

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!

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

Review: A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman

A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman

The Daughters of Boston series: Book Three

Revell / 2009

Find on: Amazon, Christianbook, Goodreads

About the book:

Has she fallen in love with a man who cannot love her back?
Elizabeth O'Connor has been like the little sister John Brady always wanted, sharing his love of literature and his thirst for God. But in the throes of the reckless Roaring Twenties, Lizzie has grown up. Suddenly she wants more from the man who has been her friend since she was a child. When this shy little bookworm blossoms into a beautiful young woman bent on loving John, she discovers that his past won't let him return that love. But Lizzie refuses to give up--until his shocking secrets push her away.

Can true love survive the betrayal and deceitful of a painful past . . . or will it be shattered like the fairy-tale dreams of a girl in love?

Brimming with romance, longing, and redemption, A Passion Denied, will quicken your pulse and gladden your heart with a riveting story of the true power of love.

My rating:

My thoughts:

This is the third book I've read by Julie Lessman and, while I loved A Passion Most Pure and A Passion Redeemed, A Passion Denied is my favorite in the series! I just loved the characters in this book so much! While I loved a lot of the characters, my favorite was probably John Brady in this book. He had intrigued me from the previous book(s) so getting to know his character more and reading his story was great.

Another thing that I loved about A Passion Denied is that throughout the book we got to see more of Faith's and Charity's lives and how things are with them. Some things Charity said/did were so funny and just made me laugh! Katie O'Connor (Charity's sister) was similar in that I couldn't help chuckling sometimes because of the way she acted (especially regarding Cluny).

Forgiveness was a HUGE aspect of A Passion Denied and I loved that! It was so powerful to read and even made me tear-up a little bit. I loved all of the Bible passages that were in this book and how faith was a major part of the characters' lives.

While A Passion Denied had a lot of "passion" in it, it didn't bother me that much because most of it was between married couples and I even found it sweet (although a few times it was a little much for me). Because of that I would only recommend this book for mature readers who don't mind some slightly heated scenes.

A Passion Denied took me on a very entertaining ride and the book was really hard to put down! If you enjoy historical books with romance then I recommend the Daughters of Boston series, of which A Passion Denied is book three (make sure you read them in order). It's one of my favorites - I just loved the entire book! :) I am looking forward to reading A Hope Undaunted very soon.

*I borrowed this book. I was not required to review it, I chose to. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click yes on Amazon. Thank you so much for stopping by! :)

In My Mailbox 95

In my mailbox is a weekly meme created by The Story Siren that encourages other book bloggers to share what they bought, won, begged for or borrowed. It is usually held on Sundays!

From Amazon:

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: V 7: Twilight by Joss Whedon
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8: V 8: Last Gleaming by Joss Whedon
• Spike Omnibus by Peter David

From Books-A-Million:

• Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter
• Ten by Gretchen McNeil

I'm super excited about the books I got this week. I'm ready to finish Buffy Season 8 and I had to get Alice in Zombieland!

What did you get in your mailbox?

Review: A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman

A Passion Redeemed by Julie Lessman

The Daughters of Boston series: Book Two

Revell / 2008

Find on: Amazon, Christianbook, Goodreads

About the book:

No man can resist her charms. Or so she thought.

Charity O'Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. Her stunning beauty and flirtatious ways have always succeeded with men. Until Mitch Dennehy, that is. Brilliant and dangerously handsome, Mitch is a no-nonsense newspaperman who wants nothing to do with her. Charity burned him once, destroying his engagement to the only woman he ever truly loved. He won't play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants--one way or another.

Or does she? Will her best-laid schemes win his love? Or will her seductive ways drive him away forever?

Book 2 in the Daughters of Boston series, A Passion Redeemed will captivate your heart and stir your soul with a story of faith and redemption rising from the ashes of temptation, desire, and shame.

My rating:

My thoughts:

Well, A Passion Redeemed definitely changed my opinion of Charity and Mitch. I had liked both characters from reading A Passion Most Pure (yes, even Charity, though she could be really frustrating at times), but it wasn't until reading this book that they both became favorites of mine... along with Brady. :)

Julie Lessman definitely knows how to weave a gripping tale! I found myself "on-the-edge" of my seat wondering what was going to happen throughout this book, and even though I thought I knew who (if anyone) Charity would end up with, I found myself second guessing. There was so much in this story I did NOT see coming and it definitely showed Charity (and why she acted the way she did) in a new light.

I LOVED the redemption story in A Passion Redeemed! I even got a little teary-eyed while reading because it was so powerful! Also, Charity made me laugh really hard a few times during this book (especially during one scene that shall remain nameless here)...which is just another reason I loved this book!

There was really only one thing I didn't personally care for and that was when characters heard a voice or thought in their head and it seemed to be from God. While most of the time it was just scripture, there were a few times it wasn't and that just is a pet-peeve of mine.

Still, I loved A Passion Redeemed so much and am giving it 5 stars (it was sooo close to becoming a favorite!). Same as with the first book, I would only recommend A Passion Redeemed to mature readers who enjoy romantic/historical books because there is a lot of passionate scenes and things mentioned that wouldn't be appropriate for young readers. If this book sounds like something for you, then I encourage you to try it, BUT make sure you read A Passion Most Pure first, because otherwise many things will be spoiled for you. This is definitely a series best read in order. :)

*I borrowed a copy of this book. I was not required to write a review, but chose to. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Thank you!

Where I've Been...

...I don't know if any of you have noticed but lately I've been really bad at getting back to you all in the comments and checking out your blogs. And I'm honestly really, really sorry about that. I love blogging and one of my most favorite things is connecting with other bloggers.

So what's my excuse? I've been pushing full throttle to finish up this first draft of a novel I've been working on and I'm proud to say that I accomplished my goal of completing it yesterday. This in no way, shape, or form means it's done but finishing a first draft is a mini-victory and one that I'm taking. This will be the fifth novel I've written and I can't wait to make it as strong as possible.

But because of this push, blogging has fallen to the wayside. Now that I've finished and I have to let the story bake, I should have plenty of time to visit each of you and get back to your comments! Thanks for sticking around folks and I hope to see more of your lovely faces.

Look for more gab, more posts and more awesomeness coming from Down The Rabbit Hole (oh yes I did, girlfriend!).

Review: Love on the Range by Jessica Nelson

Love on the Range by Jessica Nelson

Love Inspired Suspense / 2012

Find on: Amazon, Christianbook, Goodreads

About the book:

Any other socialite would view being packed off to a remote

Oregon ranch as a punishment. But Gracelyn Riley knows

that this is her opportunity to become a real reporter. If she

can make her name through an interview with the elusive hero

known as Striker, then she’ll never have to depend on anyone

ever again.

Rancher Trevor Cruz can’t believe his secret identity is being

endangered by an overly chatty city girl. But if there’s one thing

he knows, it’s that Gracie’s pretty little snooping nose is bound

to get her in trouble. So he’ll use her determination to find

“Striker” to keep an eye on her…and stick close by her side. 

My rating:

My thoughts:

Love on the Range is Jessica Nelson's debut novel and I found it to be a good read! I liked the characters (especially Trevor and Gracie) and I loved the little bit of history that was in Love on the Range. 

I liked the mystery that was surrounding who Striker was - I had my guesses, but it wasn't until later in the book that I knew for SURE.

I will say, though, at times it was hard for me to follow the story and I had to reread parts to understand what was going on better. Other than that, I enjoyed Love on the Range very much and am glad I took the time to read it!

If you enjoy historical romances, then I think you might also like Love on the Range - I did! I'm looking forward to reading more of Jessica Nelson's books in the future.

*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.*

Was my review helpful? If so, please click "yes" on Amazon. Much thanks! :)

The Next Big Thing

Thanks to Gabrielle Prendergast and Ilima Todd for tagging me in The Next Big Thing! Melodie Wright told me she *will be* tagging me, so thanks in advance, Melodie, but I beat you to it. ha ha! (Two tags and one intended tag ... how could I say no?)

It was hard to pick which WiP to highlight, so I just closed my eyes and jabbed the air in front of me, pretending this action would somehow illuminate the correct choice.

What is your working title of your book?
Under Dark Water

Where did the idea come from for the book?
One evening I saw a teenager driving a student-driver car down the freeway and thought, "What if that were a stolen vehicle? What if that kid jacked it from his school and is out on a joy ride?" The novel has morphed into a completely different creature now, but that was the original inspiration. The next question was, "What kind of kid would do something like that?" That's where I got my main character, Hope Wallace.

What genre does your book fall under?
Contemporary YA

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
I hardly ever watch movies, so I have no idea! Though my MC's love interest looks a lot like the tallest kid in the "I'm Farming and I Grow It" LMFAO parody.



What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When sixteen-year-old Hope finds a suicide note from her brother, she sets out on a cross-state journey to save him, with a wanna-be skater boy and a ultra-conservative reality show star and his film crew in tow. 

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
(hopefully) represented by an agency

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
One month! I wrote it during NaNoWriMo last year. (And my good buddy Christa Desir put herself through the hell of reading it. That defines friendship right there.)

May we see an intro?
Sure! First paragraph: He ran the vacuum cleaner late last night. It should've tipped me off. Or maybe I like living in denial.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Since I haven't pitched this yet, I really haven't thought about it. #fail.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?
Lots of inspiration: the student driver I already mentioned; the ultra-conservative families who live in my area; the reality show 19 Kids and Counting; cherry orchards; long drives to Portland...

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?
My MC is half Hmong, which is an Asian ethnic group without its own country.

Now for the fun part: You're it!

Faith Elizabeth Hough
Julie DeGuia
Janet Johnson
Krista Van Dolzer
Kristin Rae

***
Rules of The Next Big Thing:

*Use this format for your post
*Answer the ten questions about your current WIP (work in progress)
*Tag five other writers/bloggers and add their links so we can hop over and meet them.

Ten Interview Questions for the Next Big Thing:

What is your working title of your book?
Where did the idea come from for the book?
What genre does your book fall under?
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? May we see an intro?
What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Who or what inspired you to write this book?
What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

Include the link of who tagged you and this explanation for the people you have tagged. Be sure to line up your five people in advance.

A Fairy Tale In Photos- The Princess and the Pea

Every Friday, I tell you a fairy tale exclusively through photos! Each week is a different theme and I search through Deviantart to find you the best of the best--whether they be pretty or spooky. All are welcome here! None of these photos are mine and you can always find a link to the proper owners underneath the photo in the caption area!

This week, I hope you aren't sleepy because this Princess hasn't slept in days. We're focusing on The Princess and the Pea!

1)

WanderingBohemian

2)

emilola

3)

krawuzi

4)

xessencex

5)

machihuahua

6)

Zonair

7)

tori-f

8)

satty-metamorph

9)

Ecaterina13

10)

Orchidhea

11)

Lauratreffers

12)

Chinese-Porcelain

13)

muwhacs

My favorite in this crowd is definitely number 5. It's the bright green of the peas and the girl's expression. It's almost like the peas are coming out of her or she's been stuffed with peas. It's all very striking to me. I also think #3 is great with her gorgeous dress and the model's expression is great. Let's not forget ador-a-kitty in 11!

Which are your favorites?