Wednesday, 31 October 2012

Monthly Reflections (#10) ~ October


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

My goals for October were...

☑Read a total of 12 books or more.
☑2 eBooks
☑1-2 Nonfiction

In October I...

Read 14 books!
2 eBooks (Time and Again and A Light in the Window)
1 Nonfiction book (Courageous Teens)

Books read:

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Reviews:

Courageous Teens by Michael Catt and Amy Parker (3 stars)
Entice by Amber Garza (4 stars)
Critical Condition by Sandra Orchard (5 stars)
When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason (5 stars + Favorite)
The New Recruit by Jill Williamson (4 stars)
A Love Surrendered by Julie Lessman (5 stars)
Twice Promised by Maggie Brendan (4 stars)
Unveil by Amber Garza (4 stars)
Echoes of Titanic by Mindy Starns Clark and John Campbell Clark (2.5 stars)
You Don't Know Me by Susan May Warren (4 stars)
A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller (5 stars)
Time and Again: Charlotte of Miles Station by Deborah Heal (2.5 stars)
A Light In The Window by Julie Lessman (4 stars)
A Flight of Fancy by Laurie Alice Eakes (4 stars)

Reviews posted on Goodreads that I haven't posted here yet:

The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund (5 stars + Favorite)

Interviews:

Joanne Bischof
Tamara Leigh
Heather Sutherlin
Becky Wade

My thoughts on this month:

Fall is definitely here! It is SO cold! Brrr! Time for sweaters, tea, and pumpkin muffins!! :) The only thing missing? Hockey! When is the lockout going to end?? LOL! If you have been reading this blog for a while, you probably know I'm a HUGE hockey fan and it's really sad that they're in a lockout. :(

October was a busy-ish month for me and there were a few days that I didn't get much (if any) reading time, so I'm surprised that I was able to read 14 books this month!

Looking ahead:

Here is what I hope to accomplish in November:

Read 10 books
1 "Just for Fun" book
Reread 1 book

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 October, what do you hope to accomplish in November?
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Whovember Main Page and Schedule

Oh yeah! It's November which means it's the official kick off of Whovember! In case you haven't been around, I've been hard at work getting guest posters and making posts of my own so we can have an entire month of Doctor Who. That's right. All November on this blog, you are going to see Doctor Who posts as well as regular scheduled blogging stuff. So hop in that magical blue box and get ready to take the ride of your life!

Here's a description from a previous post about this event on the types of posts you can expect on each day:
  • Sundays- Dress Like...: These posts are going to look into the world of fashion in Doctor Who and tell you how you can get the look of a certain character.
  • Mondays- A Whovian Tale in Photos: My feature A Fairy Tale in Photos is moving to Mondays for November and is going to feature pictures of different Whovian cosplayers!
  • Tuesdays- Top 5 Favorites: I'm listing my top 5 favorite on different topics. Hopefully you'll join in!
  • Wednesdays- Freebie Topics: Wednesdays are a free topic day. You might see a post of Who merchandise or some other element from Doctor Who
  • Thursdays- Men of Doctor Who: Every Thursday I'm going to be highlighting one of the men in Doctor Who. We'll be talking history and my impressions on the characters
  • Fridays- Woman of Doctor Who: Fridays turn Femme when we look at the women companions!
  • Saturdays- Discussion Topics: I'll be posting a discussion topic and asking you all to chime in.
The Schedule
11/1- Introduction post (that's this one!), Companion's Guide: 9th Doctor
11/3- Discussion Topic- Your favorite Doctor
11/7- Newbie's Guide to Doctor Who, GIVEAWAY: Doctor Who season 1 DVD 
11/23- Companion's Guide: Amy Pond
11/28- YA Books Like Doctor Who, GIVEAWAY: 1 book from this list (INTERN'L)
11/29- Companion's Guide: 11th Doctor
11/30- Companion's Guide: River Song, Ending post

*Note: guest posts from other blogs still need to be added*

See some topics you like and think you might want to add in on? Get your posts ready beforehand. Just please leave a link in the comments for that posts day and make sure to link back to the event un your post so more people can join in the fun!

I can't wait for you all to start reading the posts I've been working so hard on all last month. Let's here it for the Whovians!

Also, make sure to snag a button and spread the word! My hubby made them and I'm in love:
 I'll leave you with some pumped up GIFs! Allons-y!
Get ready for a whole month of fun!
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Wordless Wednesday: Mist


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Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Review: The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer


The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer
Zondervan / 2012
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

Every year, 30--40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides! Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love.

Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?
My rating:
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My thoughts:

The Memory Jar was a great Amish fiction read! I loved both of the main characters - Sarah Shelter and Jathan Schrock! One thing that was really interesting about Sarah was how she liked to make fancy cupcakes - I really liked learning about her different creations! Jathan, well, I felt bad for him a lot during this story and couldn't stop myself from hoping things would turn out for him.

At the end of some chapters in The Memory Jar, there were what I'll call memory scenes that showed things that had happened in the past with Sarah and her best friend, Patty. I liked those scenes more than I would have thought... it was interesting to learn about Sarah and Patty's friendship. :)

The Memory Jar is book one in Tricia Goyer's new series, Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors, and because this book was so enjoyable, I am very much looking forward to the next book!

If you enjoy Amish novels, then I think you'll enjoy The Memory Jar! It was great and I recommend it! :)

*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.*


Check out the book trailer!



Celebrate with Tricia by entering her Amish Kindle Gift Pack Giveaway and RSVPing to her Facebook party on November 7th. (And be sure to catch the fun video trailer or try your hand at one of the simple, keepsake crafts Tricia has put together on her website.) 


One fortunate winners will receive:
  • A brand new Kindle Fire
  • Custom-made Memory Jar Kindle Cover
  • Amish-made decorative items {Wall hanging, horse/buggy and Amish houses}
  • The Memory Jar {Be swept away by this captivating series.}
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 6th. Winner will be announced at the "Memory Jar Author Chat Party on 11/7. Connect with Tricia for an evening of book chat, Amish trivia, and a live video chat! There will also be a chance to win gift certificates, books, and other fun prizes!

So grab your copy of The Memory Jar and join Tricia on the evening of the November 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!

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Top Ten Tuesday: Kick-Ass Heroines


Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish. Every week, they post a subject and the goal is to answer the question with your top ten picks. Once you've done it, link back to The Broke and the Bookish and check out what other bloggers have to say!
Top Ten Kick-Ass Heroines
I suspect a lot of people are going to list similar ones to my first two which is completely awesome! Check out my list of awesome ladies!

1) Katniss from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins-I have to include her! In my mind, Katniss is the original bad ass and no list is complete without her. Heck, she was tough enough to survive The Hunger Games twice and a war.

2) Tris from Divergent by Veronica Roth- Tris grew from this meek little person with a fire raging inside her to full fledged warrior in one of the best books I've ever read. I was addicted to this novel partly because of how emotionally complex Tris was and how I really connected with her reasoning. Love her!

3) Anna from Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendare Blake- Anna's been though a whole hell of a lot. She got killed an awful way and is forced to do things after that she really doesn't want to do. Yet she stays strong and hopeful.

4) Riley from The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver- Riley finds herself in a man's world where they look down on woman for doing the same thing they do. But Riley knows she's good enough to trap demons and proves it to everyone with each mission. She is always getting stronger and wiser.

5) Gwen from Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep- Gwen has had to be alone most of her school life because she isn't like the others. Yet, she is hardly bitter and it has allowed her to see what others can't. I love her sense of adventure and that she is wise enough to run when the time arises.

6) Gemma from A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray- I think it takes a hero to live in Victorian era anyways with all the rules and restrictive clothing. But Gemma is also dealing with being a witch and an ancient evil hunting her down. I love how she has all of that and still works to carve a place for herself, polite society be damned.

7) Calla from Nightshade by Andrea Cremer- Calla really is one of those girls that has everything together. What's more is she's the head of her own pack of shifters which I love. You don't see woman being in charge of supernatural creatures much any more. I love that Calla has the attitude and the skill to back it up!

8) Mara from The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin- This girl has gone through quite an ordeal. Her mind has been playing some nasty tricks on her and if I was in her position I would have already snapped. Takes some major kick-assery.

9) Yelena from Poison Study by Maria N Synder-Talk about resourceful, Yelena is probably the most capable heroine I've met yat. With all odds against her, she some how manages to escape her captivity with her head and carve out a new life.

10) Violet from The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting- Yay for the normal gal! Well, normal accept for the fact that she can find dead bodies. But Violet is mostly a normal girl going through awful circumstances and still finding her own. Gotta respect a girl like that!

Which heroines made your list?
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Halloween Giveaway Winners

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my Halloween giveaway! I gave away three awesome packs thanks to HarperCollins. Here are the winners:

  • Lyssa Anne
  • Noel Kinciad
  • Erin PreFontaine
An email has already been sent to the winners. Again thanks so much everyone and I hope you have a spooktacular Halloween! Stay safe and eat lots of candy.
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Monday, 29 October 2012

Interview & Giveaway! Becky Wade ~ Author of My Stubborn Heart!!

Becky Wade, author of My Stubborn Heart, is stopping by with an interview today, and has included a giveaway (details below)!

Before we get to the interview, here's an excerpt from My Stubborn Heart:

My Stubborn Heart



Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Becky!!

My sincere thanks for inviting me to join you here, Melanie.  I'm honored.

Will you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm a California girl who left home to attend Baylor University in Texas.  My mom now regrets sending me there because I ended up meeting a Texas boy, marrying him, and am currently raising her three grandchildren (12, 9, 3) in Dallas, Texas.

Let's see... breakfast is my favorite meal, I've been watching Downton Abbey since the first episode aired, I dream up romantic scenes while driving my kids around town, I hate cooking dinner, and I inherited my dad's sweet tooth.   

What is My Stubborn Heart about?

My Stubborn Heart is a contemporary Christian romance.  It's about a single girl who's been praying for a husband since childhood.  She's thirty-one and wondering where exactly her husband's been hiding and when exactly he'll be making an appearance.

It's also about an ex-pro hockey player whose wife died tragically.  He was so devastated by her loss, that he left his sport and retreated to his hometown to live as a recluse.

The single girl and the hockey player meet when they commit to renovate the same old house.  The question becomes... does God have bigger plans?

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you? 

The average reader might not know that I cry every time I watch the movie The Notebook.  Hmm?  Everyone cries when they watch The Notebook?  Ah.  In that case, the average reader might not know that I've perfected the art of reading while bobbing up and down on the elliptical machine at the gym.  How else can a person stand it?

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

At the age of twenty-two.  I'd always been a reader, but it had never occurred to me to attempt writing until the following circumstances came together:  My husband and I followed his job to a small Caribbean island.  I discovered that I had lots of free time on the island.  I possessed an imagination.  I owned a computer.  I read a book I disliked and thought, "I think I could do this better."
As it turned out, I couldn't do it better.  I have three manuscripts in my attic that are good for absolutely nothing except use as doorstops. 

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?

I never write a word until I've spent time reading the Bible, praying for God's help and guidance, and singing along to a worship song (no skill involved in the singing part).
 
Where do you like to write?

Two places. 
1) My desk at home.  It's situated in the front room of our house and faces a big and sunny window that overlooks the front yard. 
2) On Monday afternoons I take my laptop to the 'study floor' of my local library.  I always sit at a table that has a wide view of a walking path, a lake, and ducks.  Whenever I show up and find someone at "my" table, I'm miffed.  I park nearby, wait them out, then scurry over to the table the moment they leave.

LOL! I love the fact that if someone's sitting at "your" table you wait them out. :) What is the best and/or worst part about being a writer? 

Best: It's satisfying, humbling, and wonderful to do work that I feel God has called me to do, work that I love.
Worst: Receiving criticism from readers.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Tennis, pedicures, dinners out with my husband, lunches with friends, special outings with my kids.  In the evenings I enjoy bubble baths and reading but am often too tired to do anything but forage in my pantry for chocolate, lie on the sofa like a zombie, and watch TV with my husband.

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?

The Four Seasons in Bali.  I saw a picture once of one their private outdoor garden showers.  It captured my imagination and has stuck with me ever since. 

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?

At the moment my favorite song is: Always by Christian music artist Kristian Stanfill.

What is your favorite holiday?

Christmas.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? 

"You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses." Acts: 1:8a

One of the main characters in your book, My Stubborn Heart, was a hockey player. I'm a huge hockey fan and was wondering if you have any favorite teams (whether in the NHL, NFL, MLB, NBA, etc.)?

My favorite team is my hometown Dallas team: the Stars.  I'm afraid I'm a frugal fan, though.  We attend games whenever friends or clients of my husband's give us tickets. 

I'm a frugal fan, too! I've never been to a hockey game, but I hope to one day. :) A few this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms?

Thunderstorms.   

Tea or Coffee?

Hard choice, because I drink and love them both.  Coffee wins out because I can't arrive at the library on Monday without a latte in my hand.  Wouldn't be right. 

Call or Text?

Text! 

Early-bird or Night-owl?

Night owl.

Cats or Dogs?

Dogs.  If you could meet my King Charles Cavalier spaniel, you'd know why in an instant. 

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint?

Sure!  My next novel is already finished and in the pipeline at Bethany House.  It's called Undeniably Yours and it'll be out in May.  Here's a hint: it's a Texas-set romance about an heiress and a cowboy.  Double secret hint: it will kick off four connected books!

Ohh....an heiress and a cowboy? Sounds really good! Thank you so much for being here, Becky! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web? 

I'd like to thank all the readers who have given My Stubborn Heart and its modern, funny love story/faith story a chance.  God has encouraged me again and again through your support.  My heartfelt gratitude to you!

I can be found online at:

web site: www.beckywade.com(I invite you to visit and sign up for my quarterly newsletter!)

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorbeckywade

twitter: beckywadewriter

Book giveaway!


Enter to win a copy of My Stubborn Heart! Open Internationally! Ends 11/13!


Enter via the Rafflecopter below.


a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Cured?

Wow. I didn't mean to be gone so long!

My mom and dad were here (yay!). They spoiled me rotten for a week and then we went down to my cousin's wedding in Sacramento together. Beautiful wedding and I got to see all my cousins and meet some long-lost relatives for the first time.

It was fun, but I came home sick.

I've never been sick on a plane before, but on my flight from Portland I thought I was going to lose my dinner. I was holding the barf bag and trying to keep my screaming toddler from squirming off my lap as we landed.

No barf happened, but I think the experience cured me of my Dr. Pepper habit. At least temporarily.

See, we were at the wedding. And then there was dancing. I definitely did not drink enough water after dancing and over-eating and everything else that happens during wedding festivities.

Crazy times out on the dance floor! -- my aunt Linda
The next day I traveled all day and drank two big cups of Dr. Pepper. I spent my 4-hour Portland layover at my other aunt's house and she bought me a lovely dinner, but also bought me more Dr. Pepper. I tried to drink it because she'd been so kind to buy it for me, but even the smell of it made me sick.

And then the near-barf on the plane happened. The flights were so turbulent that the flight attendants didn't come down the aisles with carts of drinks, so there was no way to get water.

I got off the plane, passed the toddler to my husband, and collapsed, panting,  "WHERE'S THE WATER FOUNTAIN." But, as I'm sure you know, water fountains are not too good for dehydration unless you attach a hose and sit there slurping for an hour. I laid the seat back in our car and slept the whole drive home.

The next day, it came time for my ritual Dr. Pepper-while-writing and ... I couldn't stand the thought of it.

It's been green tea around here this week. Which has been good because I've had a bad cold and a case of the blahs.

I wonder if I'm cured of my Dr. Pepper habit for good. We'll see....

I hope all of you on the east coast are safe and sound! Stay warm and dry, everyone. Now to visit some blogs. I've missed you all!
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Sunday, 28 October 2012

Review: A Flight of Fancy by Laurie Alice Eakes



A Flight of Fancy by Laurie Alice Eakes
The Daughters of Bainbridge House series: Book two
Revell / 2012
Find on: Amazon, Goodreads

About the book:

Her head is in the clouds. His feet are planted firmly on the ground. Can love cover the distance? 

Cassandra Bainbridge may be a bit of a bluestocking, but when Geoffrey Giles is near, love seems a fine alternative to passion for Greek and the physics of flight. With his dashing good looks and undying devotion to her, the earl of Whittaker sets Cassandra's heart racing with his very presence. It seems his only flaw is his distaste for ballooning, the obsession that consumes so much of her thoughts. 

When a terrible accident compels her to end her betrothal, Cassandra heads for the country to recover from both her injuries and her broken heart. With time on her hands and good friends to help her, she pursues her love for ballooning and envisions a future for herself as a daring aeronaut. But when Lord Whittaker slips back into her life, will she have to choose between him and her dream?

My rating:
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My review:


Prior to A Flight of Fancy, I've read two books by Laurie Alice Eakes and enjoyed both - this book was no exception, as I really liked it, too! It was a great read that kept my attention throughout, I only wish I wouldn't have had to take breaks while reading it. :)

I LOVED the characters! Geoffrey was probably my favorite character, but Cassandra was a close second - one reason being I could relate to a lot of what she was feeling. :)

The story was really good and I liked the little bit of suspense that was in A Flight of Fancy along with the romance. I found myself really caring about what was going to happen in the story and "on the edge of my seat" more than once!

A Flight of Fancy was a great historical read! I look forward to reading the next book in the "The Daughters of Bainbridge House" series when it releases! If you enjoy historical romances, then I think you'll like this book as well. Although I don't think it's necessary to read the first book in this series before reading A Fight of Fancy, you might want to because then you'll understand fully what happened earlier. :)

*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.*

“Available October 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

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