Saturday, April 15, 2006

BookLoons Updates

Here are my most recent BookLoons Reviews:

House

A Girl's Best Friend

Pink

Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle


I'm currently reading Waking Lazarus by TL Hines. It's a very interesting Christian thriller about a man who has come back from the dead three times and a race to find a serial killer. Creepy but engrossing. Next up I have Night Light by Terri Blackstock.

It's been an interesting reading month!

Happy Easter to everyone. Thank you so much Jesus for all you have done for me.

Wednesday, April 12, 2006

New Review

I have been busily writing reviews today. Didn't even get halfway through, but I did get quite a few written. I will probably get one more done tonight before everyone gets home from church.

New review posted:

Magic Hour

I am currently reading Uncharted by Angela Hunt. I have to say that she's becoming one of my favorite authors. This book has grabbed me from the start--it's a combo of Lost, The Big Chill, and Castaway according the the cover, and I'm not disagreeing!

Back to my review writing, gotta spend the day working on the yellow house tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Busy but Reading

I have been really busy...hopefully we can get this house finished soon so I can get back to my regularly scheduled life. I am pretty tired of it and ready to be done.

I'm reading The Notebook Girls which is a (supposedly) true notebook passed around by four girls during their high school years. It's a fun format and a lot of it rings very true, but you know how skeptical we all are about "true" stories these days. It's kind of interesting though, because I'm still listening to Prep, and both books are about teenage girls and their high school experiences. I'm drowning in teenagers! LOL

Watched The Apple Dumpling Gang last week. How cute...brings back total memories and it was as good as I remembered it. The kids really enjoyed it too. Last night we watched Where the Truth Lies, which was a decent mystery with lots of twists and turns, but...pretty graphic sex.

Sunday, April 09, 2006

I'm back!

Home from vacation! It was fun, but a long, long week. Too much togetherness sometimes.

On Friday night (the 31st) we left after LeeRoy got off work. Which was about 5:30. We hadn't eaten, so we stopped at the Spaghetti Factory in Vancouver. Long wait for a table, by the time we got out of there it was after 8. Then we drove to Newport, we got there after 11. Kids were exhausted, we were tired.

Saturday through Wednesday we spent at the beach. We did a lot of walking, went to the outlet mall, went to the aquarium, read a lot of books. Went to see Ice Age The Meltdown (cute). Thursday morning we did massive laundry and cleaned the house and then headed to California at noon. We got to Redding about 7:30, which was pretty good timing. Hung out with Kimber for awhile and went out to dinner, then took her back to her dorm and went to the hotel and went to bed.

Friday we went to the Sundial bridge, shopping, and just hung out most of the day. Went out to dinner for her birthday. We left there around 6:30 and drove to Medford, got there around 9. Yesterday we drove to Salem and picked up the dog and then drove home. Lots and lots of time in the car! LeeRoy went to church today but we all skipped, I just couldn't make it out of bed in time.

I have a tonnnnnn of reviews to write up, I don't know exactly when I'm going to carve out the time to do it. Maybe today for some, who knows.

Recent reviews posted:

Rekindled

Akimbo and the Crocodile Man


Here's a fun quiz to discover what type of reader you are:
http://www.bookbrowse.com/quiz/

Off to the shower (finally!) and maybe I'll get some typing time in today.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Current Read

I'm currently reading The Butterfly Farm by Diane Noble and still listening to Prep. This week I still need to read Everything's Coming Up Josey by Susan May Warren andA Vow to Cherish by Deborah Raney (a re-release)

Feeling tons better

Now that I'm on antibiotics I am feeling a zillion times better. Strep is just running rampant everywhere! I'm trying to get my Romantic Times books finished up and all of my other reviews written so we can leave on vacation on Friday. We're headed to Newport for a couple of days and then to Redding to visit Kimber. It will be a long drive for such a short time, but it's her birthday next week.

New reviews posted:

Babymouse: Our Hero

House: A Memoir

The Essential Walker's Journal

Grace in Thine Eyes

I have many reviews ready to write and three books that need to be read before Friday. On to read!

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

New Reviews

I've had strep throat for the past week so I've been feeling pretty awful. Now that I'm on antibiotics I'm actually feeling like I can sit at the computer for more than five minutes without feeling like I'm going to pass out. Grace has the same thing and she had to stay home from school today which did not make her happy at all.

New reviews posted:
Red Velvet: Friends for a Season
The Art of Undressing

I should have more next week...fortunately that's one thing about being sick, I have had time to read quite a few books!

I'm currently reading Magic Hour by Kristin Hannah and listening to Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Well, back to writing up some reviews while I still feel halfway decent. I'll need to take another nap here in a bit.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

I'm a poor updater

I've been very poor about updating this lately. The house flipping is taking all of my time and energy, I'm very behind in all of my reading (oh, what else is new with that!)
I haven't even had any new reviews posted because last month was a heavy one for Romantic Times. This month I haven't even started on my RT books and I really need to get busy.

I'm currently reading Grace in Thine Eyes by Liz Curtis Higgs. It's fantastic. Somewhat related to the trilogy (it contains many of the same characters) but it really stands alone because it's about Davina, the daughter of Jamie and Leana. It's taken from the story of Dinah in the book of Genesis.

I just finished listening to Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella, which was a cute and light diversion from some of the heavier things I've been reading and listening to. I'm now listening to Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld. It's all right, nothing really engrossing about it so far. We'll see, I just started today.


I'm a little disgusted that Lost has had so many repeats, and even repeats from the first season. Don't they know we want new episodes? It seems like Grey's Anatomy has had tons of new episodes and Lost has had very few. What's up? They say that they have 24 episodes over a 35 week season. So far it appears they've run 15 episodes. Which doesn't seem like all that many considering we're halfway through March. They must have a ten episode sweep coming up here soon!

Movies we've watched recently:
I finally finished all of the Sex and the City episodes. I really enjoyed this show. I was glad to watch it on DVD though, because I'm not the most patient person in the world. But if I had HBO I probably would have watched it when it was on TV.

Watched Just Like Heaven again this week. I got it from the library so LeeRoy could watch it. I saw it at the theater. It's a cute movie, I think I'm going to buy it to add to Kimber's chick lit collection.

The Thing About My Folks--Very cute and touching movie. Funny in parts and had a lot to say about our relationships with our parents. I realized how much I miss watching Paul Reiser in Mad About You!

11:14--Really interesting premise. Lots of different people all following their different storylines and how their lives all intersected in some way at 11:14 one night. Kept me interested all the way through.

Rent--I have never seen the stage production, so I enjoyed this one all right. I know that I would like it a lot better on the stage though, it just seems made for that more than for a movie. The music is fantastic and makes the movie worth watching regardless of the format.

We've got quite a few movies to watch this weekend: Junebug, A History of Violence, Proof, Lord of War, and whatever they ship next--probably Where the Truth Lies. I love Netflix.

Ok, I've got to put in some time reading while everyone's at church.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Forgot

To tell you what I was reading!
Just finished listening to If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern--very cute, I enjoyed it a lot. It's a story supposing that imaginary/invisible friends are real.

I'm reading Leaves of Hope by Catherine Palmer.

I need to find another audio book...I have quite a few lying around and tons I could request from the library. I may listen to Comes a Horseman by Robert Liparulo.

Review updates

Sorry again for lack of the updates. I have been so incredibly busy with this house we're flipping and with the new load of books for Romantic Times...I haven't been home much and when I have I haven't been on the computer.

Went to the Newport Seafood and Wine Festival this past weekend. What a blast that was. Found lots of new wines we liked and some new places for seafood. It was a relaxing weekend, just what we really needed.

Newest reviews posted:

Tales from the Crib

Babymouse, Queen of the World!

My review piles are teetering, I just need to buckle down. This house renovation is fun, but takes up a ton of my reading time.

Off to write some reviews!

Monday, February 20, 2006

President's Day

A little update for today. Kimber is home for spring break, so things are hopping around here. We close on our first house for flipping tomorrow...should be an exciting adventure!

Here are my most recent reviews:

On This Day

Showdown

I'm currently in the midst of reading a gazillion RT review books. Right now I'm reading The Hunted by Fred Stoeker and DW Smith. It's a book written for men, but it's an ok adventure in general. Still listening to If You Could See Me Now.

Kids are on a break from school...I'll be glad when Wednesday arrives and they are back in the swing of things. We're headed for the beach for the weekend to go to the Newport Seafood and Wine festival. We'll miss the last few days of Kimber's spring break, but I'm sure she'll be glad to be rid of us by then :)

Off to get the kids in the shower and read more of my book.

Monday, February 13, 2006

What's New?

Here are my most recent reviews:

The Novelist

Things We Once Held Dear

Fashionably Late

I'm currently reading Tales from the Crib by Jennifer Coburn and listening to If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern.

Was thrilled with Gray's Anatomy last night. That show just keeps getting better and better. And I'm really liking the division growing between the groups on Lost. Just what I expected to happen. Jury's still out with the new Survivor, but I always feel that way at first. We've been watching quite a bit of the Olympics too.

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

Tuesday Update

One new review posted this week. I did get through all of my RT books...even a day early!

Leigh

I'm currently finishing up Things We Once Held Dear by Ann Tatlock. It's excellent so far and I can't wait to get back to it. Next up is The Novelist by Angela Hunt. I've heard great things about this one so I'm excited to read it. I'm listening to Forever Odd by Dean Koontz. It's not as good as the first one, but it's keeping my interest.

Now I'm off to read...it's a short month and I have a lot to get through.

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Chris Tomlin

Is a very gifted man. I can't tell you how much I love the song How Great is Our God

The splendor of a King, clothed in majesty
Let all the earth rejoice All the earth rejoice
He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide
And trembles at His voice Trembles at His voice

How great is our God,
sing with me How great is our God,
and all will see How great, how great is our God

Age to age He stands
And time is in His hands
Beginning and the end Beginning and the end
The Godhead Three in One
Father Spirit Son
The Lion and the Lamb The Lion and the Lamb

Name above all names
Worthy of all praise
My heart will sing How great is our God

How great is our God,
sing with me How great is our God,
and all will see How great, how great is our God

Then Sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art
Then Sings my soul
My Savior God to Thee
How Great Thou Art, How Great Thou Art

How great is our God,
Sing with me
How great is our God
and all will see how great, how great is our God.

Monday, January 30, 2006

What I'm Reading

I'm currently reading In the Enemy's Sights by Martha Perry, and listening to The History of Love by Nicole Krauss.

I have a ton of reading to get done this week, I need to move more quickly than I'm doing.

Will update when I have some reviews to post.
Yay, Survivor starts this week and the Seahawks are in the Super Bowl!

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Sorry for the silence

I have been quiet for a very good reason--lots of reading!

I had five books to read and review for Christian Library Joural. I'm way behind, so I needed to get them done quickly. I did get four of the five done, so I guess I just have to be content with that.

This month I have more Romantic Times books to read. I'm in the process of stepping away from the series books, and I've been taking on more full length novels. I have read Carly by Lyn Cote and Fair Warning by Hannah Alexander. I interviewed Liz Curtis Higgs for an article, and that was so fun. She is wonderfully nice and very personable. Then I took on reviewing Grace in Thine Eyes too. So, before February 6, I still have to read six series romance books and the Higgs book. I am a book-reading machine right now.

I did get a book read for BookLoons, but haven't had the time to write up the review yet...it's coming.

The kids have their first gymnastics competition today, I am cautioning myself not to get too emotionally involved in their performance. It's just for fun!

Got to get to church...I'm helping with the 1st and 2nd grade Sunday School this morning while their teachers are on a cruise.

More updates to come soon, I promise!

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Another review

Another review posted today:

Cooking for Mr. Right

I'm so excited it's Lost night tonight!
Woo hoo!

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

This week's reviews

Not so many this week. Life is crazy, I just have to say. I haven't had much time to write, read, or do anything. Not sure why either. A little seasonal depression maybe. Right now I'm at a place where I don't feel like I really fit in anywhere. Everyone is totally busy, and that could be part of it, but I'm feeling blah in general, not wanting to do anything but having tons to do.

Anyway, here are the reviews I had posted this week:

Miss New York Has Everything

Finding Anna


I'm currently trying to get through my Christian Library Journal stack. I think I'm going to give up reviewing for it after I get through these. It's just too hard to keep up with everything. I'm reading Unspoken by Angela Hunt. I've got two weeks of reading before I have to get started agian on the RT books for April. I'm listening to The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. It's really good so far.

I'm off to work on my Bible study for a few minutes before I go pick up Grace.
Maybe I just need a vacation. I guess I can wait a month until we go to the beach, but I am sure it won't be long enough!

Monday, January 09, 2006

Monday News

I had a bunch of reviews posted over the weekend:

Penguin Sudoku 2006

I'm No Saint

A Virgin's Guide to Everything

Hot Flashes and Cold Cream

Leave it to Claire

The Red Hat Society's Acting Their Age

Living Under God

I Grew Up on a Farm


Finished my Romantic Times books in time and got my reviews turned in--all without having to stay up half the night. It was nice. Got to watch Desperate Housewives, which was fairly good. Some funny moments. I recorded Gray's Anatomy since it was a recap show. I am SO excited that Lost is new this week--finally!

I'm currently reading Miss New York Has Everything by Lori Jakiela. It's a memoir and moving at a good pace so far. I'm still listening to the Jane Austen Book Club, but I am having so very little time in the car, I don't know how quickly I'll finish up.

Gotta go to Winco before picking up Logan. I'm making a recipe from my new Rachael Ray book!

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Finally...an update

I have been so busy over the past few weeks I've been unable to update this as regularly as I would have liked. LeeRoy was off work for 10 days on vacation, so we did lots of fun things like playing in the snow and hanging out together. Not much computer time, that's for sure. I did get quite a bit of reading done.

Newest reviews posted:
Confessions of a Boyfriend Stealer

Sooner or Later

I have lots more both pending and pending on my desk waiting to be typed up. Hopefully I'll get at least two more done today, that's my goal at least.

I'm reading my RT books, right now I'm reading Front Porch Princess by Kathryn Springer. It seems like the Steeple Hill Cafe books are more mom lit lately than chick lit, not that I mind! I'm listening to The Jane Austen Book Club when the kids aren't in the car, which hasn't been often lately. But I think I'll be switching to The History of Love because it just came in at the library. Not sure yet.

I finished the year with 213 actual paper reads and 15 audio books. I finished the year with A Million Little Pieces which was really thought-provoking. I'm going to be participating in an essay group, writing an essay for one book per week, kind of like So Many Books, So Little Time I am thinking about posting the essays here...not sure yet, depends how personal they get!

All right, time to buckle down and start writing. Grace is at a friend's for a half hour, I should get at least two done.