Newest reviews:
The 310: Life as a Poser
Wiped!
Royal Koi and Kindred Spirits
The rest of the books I read in May:
77. Only You by Deborah Bedford C
78. Abomination by Colleen Coble B-
79. Notes from a Spinning Planet: Mexico by Melody Carlson B-
80. Jacob's List by Stephanie Grace Whitson B-
81. Playing With Fire by Melody Carlson B
82. Trouble in Paradise by Robin Lee Hatcher C+
Audio
9. Anybody Out There? by Marian Keyes B
Monday, June 04, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
More reviews
I'm feeling down...I am hoping that a few days at the beach will cure my depression. Things just aren't going right lately, and I can't seem to get unstuck from where I am. Kimber's not going to the beach with us because she has to work, but at least we get to go.
Newest reviews:
The Velvet Rope
I Do But I Don't: Walking Down the Aisle Without Losing Your Mind
We have our annual women's ministry board meeting next weekend. I have been brainstorming different ideas of new things to start and some things to change. I have been looking at different church websites to see things other women's ministries offer. I have been wanting to start a book discussion group for a long time, this year I'm definitely going to do it.
Newest reviews:
The Velvet Rope
I Do But I Don't: Walking Down the Aisle Without Losing Your Mind
We have our annual women's ministry board meeting next weekend. I have been brainstorming different ideas of new things to start and some things to change. I have been looking at different church websites to see things other women's ministries offer. I have been wanting to start a book discussion group for a long time, this year I'm definitely going to do it.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Books Read in 2007
I thought I'd give an update as to the books I've read so far in 2007
1. Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher A
2. The Myth of the Perfect Mother by Carla Barnhill B
3. The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott B
4. Reading Between the Lines by Rick Hamlin B-
5. Replay by Ken Grimwood B-
6. Sliver of Truth by Lisa Unger B+
7. Prints Charming by Rebeca Seitz B-
8. Tribulation House by Chris Well B
9. Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace C+
10 Beyond Reach by Melody Carlson B
11. Bittersweet by Cathy Marie Hake C
12. Coral Moon by Brandilyn Collins B
13. Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney B-
14. The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner--Anthology C+
15. Love Me if You Must by Nicole Young C+
February
16. Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman B
17. A Bigger Life by Annette Smith B
18. My Heart's in the Lowlands by Liz Curtis Higgs B-
19. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz B+
20. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield B
21. The Potluck Club by Shepherd/Everson B
22. The Potluck Club: Trouble's Brewing by Shepherd/Everson B
23. Death, Deceit and Some Smooth Jazz by Claudia Mair Burney C+
24. The Potluck Club Takes the Cake by Shepherd/Everson B
25. Finder's Fee by Alton Gansky B
26. Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury B
27. Split Ends by Kristin Billerbeck B-
28. False Witness by Randy Singer B-
29. Snitch by Rene Gutteridge B-
March
30. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling by Neta Jackson B+
31. The Invasion of the Widows' Club by Joyce Livingston C+
32. Diva Nashvegas by Rachel Hauck B-
33. Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini C
34. The Penny by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford C
35. Over Her Head by Shelley Bates B
36. Going ot the Chapel by Janet Tronstad C
37. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak A
38. Return to Me by Robin Lee Hatcher B
39. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult B
40 A Quarter Past Tuesday by Jo Kadlecek C-
41. Day by Day by Delia Parr B
42. Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin A
43. All I'll Ever Need by Harry Kraus C
44. As I Have Loved You by Nikki Arana C
45. Summer Breeze by Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman B-/C+
46. Like Always by Robert Elmer B+
April
47. These Boots Weren't Made for Walking by Melody Carlson B
48. The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall B-
49. Desperate Pastors' Wives by Ginger Kolbaba and Cindy Scanlan B
50. Reclaiming Nick by Susan May Warren B-
51. Through Every Storm by Sharlene MacLaren C
52. Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Prunty B
53. The Restitution by M.L. Tyndall B
54. Au Paris by Rachel Spencer B-
55. Give it Up by Mary Carlomagno C-
56. The Elevator by Angela Hunt B-
57. True LIght by Terri Blackstock B-
58. The Cure by Athol Dickson C
59. Moon Over Tokyo by Siri Mitchell B
60. The Scribe by Francine Rivers B
62. Echo by C.L. Kelly C+
63. The Lost Sheep by Brandt Dodson C
64. Thr3e by Ted Dekker B
May
65. Catch a Rising Star by Tracey Bateman C+
66. A Shred of Truth by Eric Wilson C+
67. Full Tilt by Creston Mapes B
68. The Road by Cormac McCarthy B
69. The Woods by Harlan Coben B
70. Knocked Up by Rebecca Eckler B-
71. Wiped by Rebecca Eckler B-
72. Madame Mirabou's School of Love by Barbara Samuel B
73. Marley and Me by John Grogan A
74. Summer by Karen Kingsbury B+
75. All in One Place by Carolyne Aarsen C
76. Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume Anthology B
Audio Books
1. Brother Odd by Dean Koontz B
2. The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett B
3. The Men I Didn't Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnburger C+
4. Red River by Lalita Tademy B-
5. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian B
6. Mommies Who Drink by Brett Paesel B
7. Ricochet by Sandra Brown C
8. Body Surfing by Anita Shreve B
From now on, I will just update as I finish them.
1. Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher A
2. The Myth of the Perfect Mother by Carla Barnhill B
3. The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott B
4. Reading Between the Lines by Rick Hamlin B-
5. Replay by Ken Grimwood B-
6. Sliver of Truth by Lisa Unger B+
7. Prints Charming by Rebeca Seitz B-
8. Tribulation House by Chris Well B
9. Ransomed Dreams by Amy Wallace C+
10 Beyond Reach by Melody Carlson B
11. Bittersweet by Cathy Marie Hake C
12. Coral Moon by Brandilyn Collins B
13. Remember to Forget by Deborah Raney B-
14. The Spinster Brides of Cactus Corner--Anthology C+
15. Love Me if You Must by Nicole Young C+
February
16. Ever Present Danger by Kathy Herman B
17. A Bigger Life by Annette Smith B
18. My Heart's in the Lowlands by Liz Curtis Higgs B-
19. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz B+
20. The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield B
21. The Potluck Club by Shepherd/Everson B
22. The Potluck Club: Trouble's Brewing by Shepherd/Everson B
23. Death, Deceit and Some Smooth Jazz by Claudia Mair Burney C+
24. The Potluck Club Takes the Cake by Shepherd/Everson B
25. Finder's Fee by Alton Gansky B
26. Sunrise by Karen Kingsbury B
27. Split Ends by Kristin Billerbeck B-
28. False Witness by Randy Singer B-
29. Snitch by Rene Gutteridge B-
March
30. The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Rolling by Neta Jackson B+
31. The Invasion of the Widows' Club by Joyce Livingston C+
32. Diva Nashvegas by Rachel Hauck B-
33. Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini C
34. The Penny by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford C
35. Over Her Head by Shelley Bates B
36. Going ot the Chapel by Janet Tronstad C
37. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak A
38. Return to Me by Robin Lee Hatcher B
39. Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult B
40 A Quarter Past Tuesday by Jo Kadlecek C-
41. Day by Day by Delia Parr B
42. Chasing Fireflies by Charles Martin A
43. All I'll Ever Need by Harry Kraus C
44. As I Have Loved You by Nikki Arana C
45. Summer Breeze by Catherine Palmer and Gary Chapman B-/C+
46. Like Always by Robert Elmer B+
April
47. These Boots Weren't Made for Walking by Melody Carlson B
48. The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall B-
49. Desperate Pastors' Wives by Ginger Kolbaba and Cindy Scanlan B
50. Reclaiming Nick by Susan May Warren B-
51. Through Every Storm by Sharlene MacLaren C
52. Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Prunty B
53. The Restitution by M.L. Tyndall B
54. Au Paris by Rachel Spencer B-
55. Give it Up by Mary Carlomagno C-
56. The Elevator by Angela Hunt B-
57. True LIght by Terri Blackstock B-
58. The Cure by Athol Dickson C
59. Moon Over Tokyo by Siri Mitchell B
60. The Scribe by Francine Rivers B
62. Echo by C.L. Kelly C+
63. The Lost Sheep by Brandt Dodson C
64. Thr3e by Ted Dekker B
May
65. Catch a Rising Star by Tracey Bateman C+
66. A Shred of Truth by Eric Wilson C+
67. Full Tilt by Creston Mapes B
68. The Road by Cormac McCarthy B
69. The Woods by Harlan Coben B
70. Knocked Up by Rebecca Eckler B-
71. Wiped by Rebecca Eckler B-
72. Madame Mirabou's School of Love by Barbara Samuel B
73. Marley and Me by John Grogan A
74. Summer by Karen Kingsbury B+
75. All in One Place by Carolyne Aarsen C
76. Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume Anthology B
Audio Books
1. Brother Odd by Dean Koontz B
2. The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett B
3. The Men I Didn't Marry by Janice Kaplan and Lynn Schnurnburger C+
4. Red River by Lalita Tademy B-
5. The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian B
6. Mommies Who Drink by Brett Paesel B
7. Ricochet by Sandra Brown C
8. Body Surfing by Anita Shreve B
From now on, I will just update as I finish them.
DVD Reviews
One of the sites I review for, www.curledup.com, has started a DVD review site www.curledupdvd.com. Since we like to watch movies almost as much as we like to read, this is a great fit for me :)
Here are my first few reviews for that site:
The Departed
Arthur and the Invisibles
Catch & Release
Thr3e
Here are my first few reviews for that site:
The Departed
Arthur and the Invisibles
Catch & Release
Thr3e
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
And new reviews again
I actually had some time this past week to type up some reviews, so here they are:
The Art of Worship
Dream: Have You Caught God's Vision?
Back to the Family
Pivot Point
I have been knocked out with strep throat the past few days, and today I'm finally feeling a little bit human again, although I'm still not feeling 100%. After I get caught up on my e-mail I have quite a few more reviews to write. Then it's on to my RT reading for the month.
The Art of Worship
Dream: Have You Caught God's Vision?
Back to the Family
Pivot Point
I have been knocked out with strep throat the past few days, and today I'm finally feeling a little bit human again, although I'm still not feeling 100%. After I get caught up on my e-mail I have quite a few more reviews to write. Then it's on to my RT reading for the month.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
I forgot three!
I forgot three books I had also read from my shelves this past month. I did really well!
I also read The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall, Desperate Pastors' Wives by Ginger Kolbaba and Cindy Scanlan, and Au Paris by Rachel Spencer.
I hope to keep the momentum next month. I do need to get to my backlogged review books from the websites, but it feels good to get to the tbr books also.
I also read The Surrogate by Judith Henry Wall, Desperate Pastors' Wives by Ginger Kolbaba and Cindy Scanlan, and Au Paris by Rachel Spencer.
I hope to keep the momentum next month. I do need to get to my backlogged review books from the websites, but it feels good to get to the tbr books also.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Two books from the TBR
Ok, at the beginning of the year, I made a goal to read some books each month from my tbr shelves. Well, with reviewing getting in the way, I haven't been doing a very good job with that, but I have been doing some reading from the shelves, just not in the order I originally planned.
In January, I read The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott.
February: I read The Potluck Club and The Potluck Club: Trouble's Brewing by Shepherd and Everson
March: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak--I don't know if this one really counts though, because it never really made it out of the pile next to my bed and onto the tbr shelf. But it was a book I own, so I guess I can count it.
April: Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Prunty and Thr3e by Ted Dekker (has been on my shelf a very, very long time!)
So I am making progress, albeit quite slowly.
I really want to keep with this for the coming months. I am doing two things to help myself with that:
1. I am cutting back on the amount of reviewing I'm doing. I cannot keep up this pace.
2. All of my books are now on shelves, I am making a point to choose from the shelves.
But books are still coming in at a much faster pace than they are going out, so I need some motivation to keep plugging away at the tbr shelves.
In January, I read The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott.
February: I read The Potluck Club and The Potluck Club: Trouble's Brewing by Shepherd and Everson
March: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak--I don't know if this one really counts though, because it never really made it out of the pile next to my bed and onto the tbr shelf. But it was a book I own, so I guess I can count it.
April: Recipes for a Perfect Marriage by Morag Prunty and Thr3e by Ted Dekker (has been on my shelf a very, very long time!)
So I am making progress, albeit quite slowly.
I really want to keep with this for the coming months. I am doing two things to help myself with that:
1. I am cutting back on the amount of reviewing I'm doing. I cannot keep up this pace.
2. All of my books are now on shelves, I am making a point to choose from the shelves.
But books are still coming in at a much faster pace than they are going out, so I need some motivation to keep plugging away at the tbr shelves.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Bunny
We have a new bunny here in our house. It's Grace's technically, but it's turning into a family bunny. She lives in the house in her hutch, and we are probably going to litter box train her. She's currently 8 weeks old:
She's a Holland Lop and Grace is now ready to join 4-H and enter her in the fair.
She's got a great personality and is getting along really well with the other animals.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Not a good reading week
I haven't had a very good reading week. Not sure why, I need to stop myself from having such high expectations of what I'm about to read.
First book I read--
Give it Up by Mary Caromagno. The premise sounds so interesting. She chooses one thing to give up for each month of the year (alcohol, cell phones, tv, eating out, etc) and then writes a chapter about it. Unfortunately for her...she learned absolutely nothing from her experiences. She just went back to the same old, same old after the month was up. And I wasted reading time for this?
The Elevator by Angela Hunt. Decent book. Dont' get me wrong, I actually rated it a B. The message was good, and it did give me a lot to think about. But after her last couple of books (Uncharted, The Novelist, Unspoken) I was expecting so much more from this one.
True Light by Terri Blackstock. The first two books of this series were fascinating and I was gripped while reading them. They made me ponder what I would do if there was no more electricity or mechanical items. Could my family survive? But this one was basically a straight forward mystery with only passing notion to the fact that the world is without power. It wasn't a focal point of the story, which was disappointing.
The Cure by Athol Dickson--Just a confusing story about an alcoholic ex-pastor/missionary who ends up with a cure for alcoholism and the havoc it wreaks on his life. The plot was not told in a very straightforward way, which confused me.
I'm hoping for some better books in the coming days.
First book I read--
Give it Up by Mary Caromagno. The premise sounds so interesting. She chooses one thing to give up for each month of the year (alcohol, cell phones, tv, eating out, etc) and then writes a chapter about it. Unfortunately for her...she learned absolutely nothing from her experiences. She just went back to the same old, same old after the month was up. And I wasted reading time for this?
The Elevator by Angela Hunt. Decent book. Dont' get me wrong, I actually rated it a B. The message was good, and it did give me a lot to think about. But after her last couple of books (Uncharted, The Novelist, Unspoken) I was expecting so much more from this one.
True Light by Terri Blackstock. The first two books of this series were fascinating and I was gripped while reading them. They made me ponder what I would do if there was no more electricity or mechanical items. Could my family survive? But this one was basically a straight forward mystery with only passing notion to the fact that the world is without power. It wasn't a focal point of the story, which was disappointing.
The Cure by Athol Dickson--Just a confusing story about an alcoholic ex-pastor/missionary who ends up with a cure for alcoholism and the havoc it wreaks on his life. The plot was not told in a very straightforward way, which confused me.
I'm hoping for some better books in the coming days.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
I've been tagged
I haven't been doing many reviews except for Romantic Times, so I haven't had any links to post.
Daphne tagged me today...so I'd better get back to blogging a little more often.
10 Things You Don't Know About Me
10. I sang a solo in my 6th grade music program
9. My parents still live in the house I grew up in
8. I am an incredibly great speller, but a horrible typist. My errors are typos, not because I don't know how to spell something.
7. I have been diligent about keeping a journal since I was a young child
6. I have never been able to memorize any piano music, even after playing a song hundreds of times over.
5. I have always loved to eat ice, and I think it's genetic because my kids love to do it too. Even though it's horrible for our teeth.
4. There are four oldest children in our family of five. (Confused? Both hubby and I are oldest. Kimber is oldest from her family, Logan is the oldest born to me)
3. I really dislike gardening and working in the yard.
2. I hate making decisions, especially about where to eat out.
1. I am one of the biggest control freaks I know :)
Ok! Is everyone happy I finally posted something?
Daphne tagged me today...so I'd better get back to blogging a little more often.
10 Things You Don't Know About Me
10. I sang a solo in my 6th grade music program
9. My parents still live in the house I grew up in
8. I am an incredibly great speller, but a horrible typist. My errors are typos, not because I don't know how to spell something.
7. I have been diligent about keeping a journal since I was a young child
6. I have never been able to memorize any piano music, even after playing a song hundreds of times over.
5. I have always loved to eat ice, and I think it's genetic because my kids love to do it too. Even though it's horrible for our teeth.
4. There are four oldest children in our family of five. (Confused? Both hubby and I are oldest. Kimber is oldest from her family, Logan is the oldest born to me)
3. I really dislike gardening and working in the yard.
2. I hate making decisions, especially about where to eat out.
1. I am one of the biggest control freaks I know :)
Ok! Is everyone happy I finally posted something?
Monday, March 26, 2007
New Reviews
Wow, it's been awhile. I have been so buried doing the RT reviews that I rarely have time to write up any others.
Here are my latest though:
The Bounty Hunter and the Bride
Chocolate Beach
Hopefully there will be a few more soon! I have got to learn how to handle all of these different reviewing sites and balance with the magazine. It's difficult, because there are so many books that look so good! I just want to read them all, and it's hard because I just can't.
Here are my latest though:
The Bounty Hunter and the Bride
Chocolate Beach
Hopefully there will be a few more soon! I have got to learn how to handle all of these different reviewing sites and balance with the magazine. It's difficult, because there are so many books that look so good! I just want to read them all, and it's hard because I just can't.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Long time no see!
It has been awhile, hasn't it?
Life has been busy, both with reviewing, coordinating reviews, and going on a cruise to Mexico :)
It was wonderful and very relaxing.
Here are the latest reviews that have been posted:
A Bigger Life
My Heart's in the Lowlands
Red River (audio book review)
Reading Between the Lines
Hopefully I will have more time to read for both my TBR challenge (which has fallen by the wayside) and for website reviews soon.
Life has been busy, both with reviewing, coordinating reviews, and going on a cruise to Mexico :)
It was wonderful and very relaxing.
Here are the latest reviews that have been posted:
A Bigger Life
My Heart's in the Lowlands
Red River (audio book review)
Reading Between the Lines
Hopefully I will have more time to read for both my TBR challenge (which has fallen by the wayside) and for website reviews soon.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Nothing new
I haven't had any new reviews posted lately. I have a couple to write up, but I have mostly been focusing on my RT books because we're leaving on a cruise in a couple of weeks.
As soon as I get something written, I will surely post!
As soon as I get something written, I will surely post!
Friday, January 05, 2007
TBR Challenge
I just completed the first book in my "Cut down the TBR Stacks" challenge. I completed The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott, which was the first book on my shelf.
I now must read another review book, Reading Between the Lines by Rick Hamlin.
The next book after that, on to a "B" author, is The Miss America Family by Julianna Baggott
Then I have to start on the April RT books. Sigh. I just finished last month and here's this month knocking at my door.
I now must read another review book, Reading Between the Lines by Rick Hamlin.
The next book after that, on to a "B" author, is The Miss America Family by Julianna Baggott
Then I have to start on the April RT books. Sigh. I just finished last month and here's this month knocking at my door.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
A New Year
I cannot believe how quickly time passes. I just wish there was a way to slow things down so I can enjoy them more.
I have had one review posted recently:
The Christmas Bus
My big news is that I have been named Senior Inspirational Reviewer for Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine. I'm thrilled...I am sorry that Bev is going, but excited for a new opportunity for me.
I am currently doing a buddy read (re-read for me) of one of my favorite books:
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. It is a comfort read, even though it is massively long. The characters are so endearing and enduring.
I have had one review posted recently:
The Christmas Bus
My big news is that I have been named Senior Inspirational Reviewer for Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine. I'm thrilled...I am sorry that Bev is going, but excited for a new opportunity for me.
I am currently doing a buddy read (re-read for me) of one of my favorite books:
Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. It is a comfort read, even though it is massively long. The characters are so endearing and enduring.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
It's almost Christmas!
Here are my newest reviews:
Hazardous Duty
The Pew
The United States of Arugula
I'm about halfway through my RT books for March (due at the beginning of January) and still getting ready for Christmas. I'm way behind this year, I can' t believe how much stuff I've left until the last minute.
Hazardous Duty
The Pew
The United States of Arugula
I'm about halfway through my RT books for March (due at the beginning of January) and still getting ready for Christmas. I'm way behind this year, I can' t believe how much stuff I've left until the last minute.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
And some more
How My Breasts Saved the World
Dial L for Loser
A couple more coming this week. I decided to start earlier on my RT books so I didn't get caught so behind this month.
Dial L for Loser
A couple more coming this week. I decided to start earlier on my RT books so I didn't get caught so behind this month.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Latest Reviews and 2007
I have been so lax here in the last quarter of the year with blogging, and even with reading. I've slowed way down and I'm not sure exactly why it's happening.
Here are my latest reviews:
A Full House of Growing Pains
Freefall
The Man with the Iron Tattoo
C'est la Vie
I have decided to do a TBR challenge for 2007 and make a point to read at least two books from my tbr shelves each month of the year. I want to read at least one book from each author's last name, and since I'm missing a couple, that should be just about right to reach my goal. So January will be my "A" and "B" author months...the books I plan to read are:
The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott and
Riggs Park by Ellyn Bache
I just picked the first book from the A's and the first book from the B's. My RT schedule for December is brutal, so hopefully it will calm a little in January so I can fit this in.
Here are my latest reviews:
A Full House of Growing Pains
Freefall
The Man with the Iron Tattoo
C'est la Vie
I have decided to do a TBR challenge for 2007 and make a point to read at least two books from my tbr shelves each month of the year. I want to read at least one book from each author's last name, and since I'm missing a couple, that should be just about right to reach my goal. So January will be my "A" and "B" author months...the books I plan to read are:
The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott and
Riggs Park by Ellyn Bache
I just picked the first book from the A's and the first book from the B's. My RT schedule for December is brutal, so hopefully it will calm a little in January so I can fit this in.
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