Divine Appointments - Charlene Ann Baumbich

Divine Appointments by Charlene Ann Baumbich was a tough read for me. I really wanted to like it because I like most books I read published by WaterBrook Multnomah, but I just couldn't do it with Divine Appointments.

Josie Brooks is single, nearly 50, and thinks she's got it made. A series of events happen that turn her life upside down and she is left trying to figure out her next steps and her life. Her coworkers are dealing with issues in their lives as well, and added together, everyone is faced with decisions to make.

I typically read a book in one sitting, but it took me about three days to finally finish this book. I didn't particularly like Josie's character, nor the other main characters. I found one character's attempts at a novel to be ridiculous; there had to be a better way for this character to express her emotions.

Although I really wanted to like this novel, I really just ended up ploughing through it mindlessly bored.

Thank you anyway, WaterBrook Multnomah, for the review copy. My opinions are my own honest ramblings.

The Lightkeeper's Ball - Colleen Coble

I first fell in love with the cover of Colleen Coble's newest novel The Lightkeeper's Ball. From there, it only got better!

Olivia Stewart's sister is killed under mysterious circumstances while out west. Olivia has to get to the bottom of it and along the way gets to know the suspected murderer. With lots of twists and turns, this book kept me on my toes and guessing the whole time. I was sure I had it figured out toward the end (and I was close :)) but I was surprised when the truth was revealed.

It took me a few chapters to get into the story, but I really enjoyed this novel. Coble is a great writer: I enjoyed her descriptions and her character development. I have not read either of the two other books in the series, but The Lightkeeper's Ball was a good stand alone novel. I could tell that there were references to the other two books but the story wasn't lost on me due to that. Overall, an interesting read!

Thanks, Thomas Nelson, for a review copy. The opinions above are my honest opinions.

Journey to Riverbend - Henry McLaughlin

I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about Henry McLaughlin's Journey to Riverbend. My skepticism mostly came from the cheesy cover. I even got made fun of by my sweet cousin while on the plane to Hawaii.

"You are reading that book? From the cover, I thought that was a book that Grandma brought with her."

I agreed with her that it was a dumb cover, and that I was a little hesitant to read it. The description on the back cover and the pictures on the front cover made me feel like I was being set up to read a cheesy Christian romance.

Oh, was I wrong! This book had everything I was (secretly) hoping for: adventure, intrigue, (some) romance, growth, mystery, suspense. Michael and Rachel are both portrayed as beautiful examples of redemption, and their story carries all of the subplots throughout this lengthy novel. I was sad when it ended.

While some of the bad guys seemed all bad, with no redeemable qualities, McLaughlin carefully wove humanity through all of his characters. It was an engaging and captivating read and I appreciated the redemption emphasized.

A great debut novel; I look forward to reading more of McLaughlin's work as he continues his writing career.

I was given this book (thank you!) by Tyndale and have expressed my honest opinions in this review.

Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes - Robin Jones Gunn

I have a soft place in my heart for Robin Jones Gunn. Through her Christy Miller series, I got to know God and grew in my faith every single time I reread any of her books. That still happens when I read the Christy Miller, Sierra Jensen, Katie Weldon, or Glenbrooke series.

I recently received a review copy of Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn that I read in a span of three hours. Big type, somewhat surface, and overall a very quick read. It was interesting to read, as I enjoyed the Dutch history and culture woven throughout the two Sisterchicks' adventures.

Throughout the story, Gunn weaves a theme of overcoming fears, of both the past and the future. Summer has an abnormal test result...definitely scary. Noelle has a past that she hasn't addressed and an estranged relationship with her father. Both address their issues and their fears as they are loose in Holland and ridiculous adventures follow. I felt like this book was very surface...there were only a few parts of the story that went beyond surface level in terms of the characters and their lives and their growth.

Overall, a good, quick read. Enjoyable. I received this book for review from WaterBrook Multnomah (thank you!) and have expressed my opinion in this review.

Save the Date - Jenny B. Jones

The last book I read by Jenny B. Jones (Just Between You and Me) had me, like my ten year old self, huddling with a flashlight and hoping no one would notice. And while this time it was an iPad and I was hoping my husband wouldn't notice, it felt the same to be so engrossed in a good book that I couldn't put it down. Reading Save the Date felt the same. I could NOT put it down.

Lucy needs money. Alex has money. Alex needs popularity for his election, and Lucy seems to provide it when she's near him. Let the mayhem begin. While I was a little put off by Clare and her continued presence, by the end of the book I was rooting for her and her hilarious companion.

Funny, heartwarming, and engaging...everything I hope for in Christian chick lit. I laughed aloud more times than I can remember and, at the end of it all, I really appreciated the deeper themes of trusting and abiding. Way to go, Jenny B. Jones. And, most impressive, she is a teacher! AMAZING! I can barely manage sleeping and eating, not to mention just thinking about thinking about maybe writing a chapter or a sentence. Or thinking about writing a blog post/book review for this book that I loved reading OVER two weeks ago. :)

Thank you to Thomas Nelson BookSneeze for providing a complimentary review copy of Save the Date by Jenny B. Jones. I really enjoyed it and, although I was not asked to write a good review, I can't say enough about how much I loved this book.

The Truth of the Matter - Andrew Klavan

Wow. I waited anxiously for this book after reading the second in the series, The Only Road Home. When I first saw that The Truth of the Matter by Andrew Klavan was up for review on BookSneeze, I practically squealed with joy. I really enjoyed the second book and was curious as to the truth of what really had happened to poor Charlie West. He awoke one day to find himself wanted for the murder of his best friend, on the run from a terrorist group he had once been a member of, and confused as to who the good guys were.

The Truth of the Matter begins and ends with suspense and the middle of the book is fraught with it. I read this book quickly, gobbling up the mystery and intrigue of Charlie's life. I was pleased to find out more about what had happened to Charlie and to get some answers! Finally!

Klavan writes suspense so well. While some of the plot devices seemed somewhat ridiculous (Milton 2?), this was a great read. My only issue was that I was not expecting another cliffhanger!!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing this lovely reading to me for free. This is my honest opinion about the book.

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball - Donita K. Paul

Meh. I really do not like cheesy Christmas books. While there were definitely entertaining parts to Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul, I was less than impressed with the story. I understand that Christmas books are a serious market and that many people do enjoy them. There is something magical about Christmas, and I totally get that. Unfortunately, this novella (a very quick read - only took me an hour or two) seemed to be just a little too cheesy for me. The love story between Cora and Simon seemed to be just a little bit too contrived. I was thankful that Sandy, Simon's younger sister with Downs Syndrome, was kindly portrayed. Beyond the ridiculous ending, there were a few funny scenes and some interesting moments. It was, for a light, cheesy read, just fine.

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group read and review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Where Hearts Are Free - Golden Keyes Parsons

Typically, I read a book in one sitting (thank you, Mrs. Mico-Smith, for teaching the first grade “early birds” to speed read!), even if it isn’t of great interest to me. Unfortunately, Where Hearts are Free by Golden Keyes Parsons took me just over three weeks to finish. I got through about half of the book in my first sitting; after that, I don’t entirely know what it was, but I just couldn’t bear to make myself sit down and read it. I would start, then have to stop after about five minutes when I got to the end of a chapter and couldn’t push myself to go on to the next one. I found myself frustrated with the characters and their ridiculous actions, with the inevitable plot twists that I seemed to figure out pages ahead of their occurrences, with the horrid suitor who was all bad.

Bridget Barrington, the protagonist, only becomes somewhat likeable at the end of the narrative; until then, she is portrayed as either selfish, strong willed, or weak. Unfortunately, her character wavers between the three, never fully settling on one personality. Contrary to the author’s supposed intentions, this seems to make her an unrealistic, weak character. Also, there were a few storylines that were abandoned midway.

While I would say that Where Hearts Are Free was entertaining, I thought it had great potential that it did not live up to. Thank you, though, to Thomas Nelson who provided this review copy to me free of charge. My opinions are my own.

Outlive Your Life - Max Lucado

I have to confess: I judged Max Lucado. I've never been a big fan of the (what I considered) Christian "self-help" books. They were usually filled with cliches, numbered lists about how to improve your life, etc. So, when I received an opportunity to review a copy of Max Lucado's latest book, Outlive Your Life, I was hesitant to even request the book. I am thankful I did. I was pleasantly surprised, and almost feel like I should send an apology to Mr. Lucado (!). He has written a Scripture-based book that is a challenge to all Jesus lovers. I am passionate about social justice and I tend to be very compassionate. So, with that, his book spoke directly to my heart.

I sincerely hope his message penetrates the hearts of the church of America. When I read the title, I was sure the book was going to be lists of ways to get closer to God. I love that Lucado equated outliving life with loving people as they are Christ. I am looking forward to reading more of Lucado's books, and I owe him a sincere apology!

I received a review copy of this book from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program, thank you! My review is filled with my thoughts and opinions; I was asked to be honest about my experience with the book, and I was! :)

procrastination

i feel like i've been losing my mind lately. it's true, school did just start a week ago, but my brain shouldn't be gone this early in the game! i have a lot of writing to grade already (the pain of being an english teacher, ugh), but i have had absolutely NO motivation to do any of it. i know i need to: for the kids to get immediate feedback, for parents to know how their kids are doing, for my own sanity, but for some reason i just can't handle it right now. i go home and all i want to do is read a book! i've been rereading books recently instead of grading simply because it's what i'd prefer to do.

i feel like i need to have my mom standing above me checking my work, like she did when i was in sixth grade and didn't do any of the math homework for a quarter and i had to make it all up in a week. ick. my goal is this: finish grading all of the first essays by Friday by the end of my prep period (6th). i'll let you know how i did then...but for now, no books or blogging! let's do this!

Love, Charleston - Beth Webb Hart

I was amazed at how much I enjoyed Love, Charleston by Beth Webb Hart. At first, it was frustrating, mostly due to my own ridiculousness and silly assumptions...I just assumed that this book was historical fiction, and let's be honest, a lot of Charleston fiction is historical. Plus the cover just made me assume! (A reading strategy I discourage my students against but fell prey to, oops.) Anyway, I reread the first chapter after seeing mention of the Super Bowl and thinking, "wait, when was the first Super Bowl?" Oops, my bad. I ended up having to reread most of the first three or four chapters and memorizing the back cover so I could figure out who everyone was in relation to each other.

Besides my struggles at the beginning, I came to really appreciate this book for its slow action and relatable characters. I empathized with Della, a character who feels trapped by financial worries, but found peace in her resolution. I was angry with the characters who seemed to be throwing their lives away, and not altogether pleased with the story's ending as it seemed somewhat rushed; some characters seemed to be left with loose ends.

Overall, it was a pleasant read and I enjoyed the story. Thanks to booksneeze.com for the review copy. My review was honest and true to my own opinion. I appreciate the good books you publish!

relief

i am now done with one sixth of my masters program. whew. i cannot believe how agonizingly long the last five school days have been (and the weekend in between when i had to do all of the work!), but i am so thankful that it's over.

i went to the library today and got six books that i'd put on hold (i love the library!) and finished one already as i relaxed in bed until 10:30 this morning. this is the life! summer is here and life is good.

torture...

masters program

+

reading research on educational theory

+

summer

+

all day classes all week

+

fathers day weekend

+

new books on my table, unread

=

torture

Love on a Dime - Cara Lynn James

What a good pick for my first book of the summer! I just finished reading Love on a Dime by new author, Cara Lynn James. The last day of school, while amazing, is always a long day and requires extra patience. While most definitely given that supernaturally, it also came from the excitement that I had a new book waiting for me when I got home. I was not disappointed!

Lilly, author of (horror!) dime novels, is torn between her allegiance to her family, her long lost love, and her "obligations" to society. I enjoyed the realistic emotions Lilly felt and the ways she interacted with the people around her; I felt it was true to life when so many novels lose that reality. I did not like the portrayal of Lilly's sister-in-law, Irene, or what felt like a sudden shift in Irene's character. I was also shocked by the number of typos I found, come on, Thomas Nelson! Overall, this was an enjoyable, quick read -- nothing too heavy or thought-provoking, but a fun story to get lost in for a few hours.

This book was provided to me free of charge in exchange for a review. These views are my own. Thomas Nelson, thank you for the book!

summer is HERE!!!

what a beautiful day the last day of school always is. it was, quite literally, the most beautiful day i've seen in a long time. the sun rose and i was already awake as it crested the hill by our house. with a joyful heart, i hopped in the shower, threw on a dress (last day of school rejoicing attire), and sped on over to the high school i teach (taught) at to give fifty freshmen (now sophomores) a final exam on Romeo & Juliet. as they took their test, i frantically graded a few last essays that some (very late) students turned in. and now, at 3pm, i am DONE! i've turned in my keys at both of my schools, i'm praying that i'll be at just one school next year, and i'm ready for summer! in honor of the impending summer, i spent both last night and the night before reading books instead of grading essays. i stopped by the library yesterday and got six books (i only let myself get two normally). i'm pretty excited!

Greater Love - Robert Whitlow

Greater Love, the third novel in the Tides of Truth series by Robert Whitlow, shares the story of Tami, a new lawyer learning the ropes of the Savannah law scene. She is handed the case of Jessie, a teenage runaway with more than just the petty theft charges going on. As Tami delves into Jessie's case, she learns more about herself, God, Jessie, her friends, and life.

I was intrigued by the first chapter of Greater Love. Jessie's story grabbed me and I wanted to know what was going to happen to her and who she was going to encounter as she made her way through life. My heart dropped as I got to the second chapter and Tami and her family were introduced to the reader. I cringed at the cliched descriptions of the family. I knew before Whitlow even mentioned it that Tami was sure to have been homeschooled and could only "court" with her parents' permission. While I do not have much experience with homeschooling, I did not like the stereotypical portrayal of a devout fundamentalist homeschooling family. Tami's romantic encounters with Zach and Vince were, at best, boring and predictable.

While I enjoy legal fiction, I was disappointed that the legal world took a back burner to Tami's boooring romantic confusion. I wanted her to use her own brain to think with, and not just take her parents' decrees brainlessly. There were a few times I had to put the book down and come back to it the next day because I was so turned off by Tami's "yes ma'am" and "no, sir" with her parents.

At the end of the novel, I was happy to see all of the loose ends tied up, but it was a struggle to get through. Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing (BookSneeze) for providing this book free of charge to me to review.

Jane Austen by Peter Leithart

In all honesty, I am not a big biography fan. So, when Jane Austen by Peter Leithart showed up as my next book from Thomas Nelson's BookSneeze program (thank you, by the way), I was a little bummed. Although I am a big Jane Austen fan (my 19th century Brit Lit class was one of my favorites at college), I was not particularly interested in her life. I had essays to grade, lesson plans to prepare, books to read, and life to live...and Jane was not high on my priority list.

However...as I read more and more, the more intrigued I was with not only the life Jane led, but also Leithart's writing. Rather than a boring, play by play retelling of Austen's life, I found an interesting and attention-grabbing look at a fascinating woman. I must admit it took me until about a third of the way through before I really jumped into the text. Many interesting facts about Austen's life.

Thank you, Thomas Nelson for this book! I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

"the list"

I've just gone through my bookshelves and compiled my "I've Read in 2010" list. I smiled as I wrote certain titles down, remembering their influence/impact on my thoughts. As sad as this is for an English teacher, I'm not much of a discriminating reader. I can edit and comment on students' papers like it's nobody's business and I always find and fix typos in books, but once I get into a story, I am sucked into the world of the characters. It doesn't really matter to me if it's poorly written or not, I just love a good story. I see the value and the beauty in good literature, but for the most part, cheesy Christian fiction gets me every time.

I don't watch TV. It's partially because we don't have cable, but I think it's mostly because I find my relaxation in fiction. Don't get me wrong, we love hulu and the one show we watch (Glee...April 13th can't come soon enough), but while Eric enjoys watching movies, I enjoy sitting next to him on our comfy free craigslist couch and reading a book.

Teaching can be overwhelming. There are always stressors; it's usually kids but often the politics and drama too. However, the last three weeks have been (and the next six months will be) really stressful at work. The last two years I've mostly let the budget crisis and pink slipping process roll off my back, but for some reason the last week all of the drama and fighting and stress really just got to me. I worried about whether or not I would have a job next year and I let my fears, worries, and doubts rule over me.

Because of this, I read ten books during the last week and a half. Most of them were enjoyed in the bathtub. Instead of numbing my mind with trash TV, I devoured fictional characters and their worries and fears. I guess it's times like these when I think I'm brainless for reading cheesy Christian fiction, I realize one important truth. The cheesy Christian fiction is not just fluff, it is instrumental in my life and my faith journey.

I read this evening about Caroline Fletcher, a woman caught between her love for a man, her fears, and her knowledge of the God's truth for her. The Civil War is raging right outside their door, but Eli reminds her to lean on Jesus and not fear.

As I sit in my safe, comfortable, and warm home fretting about not having a job next year, I am letting my fears win. Hearing the truth from Caroline and Eli reminds me to give up my burden and trust in the truth. It doesn't mean I'll have a job next year, but it does mean that God is replacing the fears, lies, and worries with truth. It doesn't mean the book was Pulitzer Prize material, but it does mean that God does, has, and will continue to speak to me through fiction that reveals his heart.

the joys of christmas break

What a joy it was to have two weeks off. Besides traveling a bit, reading fifty unfortunate freshmen essays (they haven't quite figured out the difference between analysis and an extended summary...it's the goal by the end of the year!), exhausting myself on the Wii Fit, and planning the next month for my two classes, I GOT TO READ!!! It was amazing to just curl up in bed or on the couch, or even just stand in the kitchen and get lost in a book. There were two things that struck me profoundly while reading the two books that I got via amazon.com 2 months ago (!). The first book, Piece de Resistance, by Sandra Byrd, was good and satisfied my longing to know what happened with Lexi and her lovely life. However, the second, Love Starts with Elle, by Rachel Hauck, just really struck me in two ways.

Elle wakes up at 7am daily to pray with an elderly lady and she learns to listen to God. I want to listen to and actually hear God. I never spend time just still before him and I so miss that and long for it. Would waking up thirty minutes early actually kill me? Probably, for the first two weeks or so. But is an extra half hour of sleep more important to me than growing with my God? Somedays, I may let myself be deceived and think so, but deep down, I know that with self-discipline, I can do it. I want to. Thanks, to both God and Rachel Hauck, for planting this desire within me again.

The second thing that struck me was Elle's love for painting. She was scared of the critics and didn't have the time. I know that I am "busy" in that I always have something else to do for school. I can always get more ready for the upcoming weeks, I can always grade a couple more papers, I can always email parents. There's always something else. But, I don't want to let my job consume me. I want to do a good job, but always doing more and more is not more important than my sanity. I want to pursue my love for writing like Elle pursues her love for painting. I think though, that with that, comes time to just let my mind relax. I need that. And I think by letting myself not become overworked that I don't have time to read and write is dangerous for me. I know that I can better manage my time and even get my reading and writing time "out of the way" before my husband gets home from work.

So those, I guess I could say, are my New Years' resolutions. My time is limited, but I want to actively choose what is important to me...God, and in many ways, seeing God in fiction while reading and writing.

Whew. It's nice to have all this out! It's time to hop in bed with The Will of Wisteria by Denise Hildreth...an oldie but a goodie. Good night :)