Tree Swing Reading

Christy Award Nominees Giveaway: Contemporary Romance Category

The Christy Award is a "Christian fiction award to recognize novelists and novels of excellence in several genres of Christian fiction." The nominees for this year were announced recently and the winners will be announced July 12. Every year I make it my goal to read all the books that are nominated for the Christy Award. I also give them away!

I will giveaway the books by category while I am reading the books nominated in that category.

To enter to win any/all of these books, please do the following:

1. Post a comment indicating which book/books you would like to be entered for in the featured category.

2. Enter by the date indicated. For this category, please enter by JUNE 12, winners announced on June 13.

3. Respond within 10 days should you receive an email indicating you have won a particular book.

4. To win even more books, share the links to the giveaway...tweet them, status them, email them, whatever! If I get 250 retweets and/or new Facebook likes over the next 6 weeks, I'll give away an extra copy of my top 5 favorites from the list.

5. Come back soon for the next category giveaway!

Today's category is: "Contemporary Romance."

The books nominated in this category are:

My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren

Description:

Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she's never really done either. Issy's ratings soar when it seems she's falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn't realize lives right next door.

Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast. Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host-and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?

My Thoughts:

This was a sweet and fun read for me. I've always enjoyed Warren's books, and, although I haven't read any of the other books in the "Deep Haven Series," the book was fine to read on its own too. I found the romance between Issy and Caleb was a bit predictable, but still fun to witness its growth.

 

Larkspur Cove by Lisa Wingate

Description:

Adventure is the last thing on Andrea Henderson's mind when she moves to Moses Lake. After surviving the worst year of her life, she's struggling to build a new life for herself and her son as a social worker. Perhaps in doing a job that makes a difference, she can find some sense of purpose and solace in her shattered faith.

For new Moses Lake game warden Mart McClendon, finding a sense of purpose in life isn't an issue. He took the job to get out of southwest Texas and the constant reminders of a tragedy for which he can't forgive himself.

My Thoughts:

I found myself completely cheering for Andrea right from the start. She wants to prove herself and stand out from under her past marital failures to suceed at a job that her parents disapprove of. Her romance with Mart comes on faster than I expected and grows at a nice pace, until she panics about how it will affect her 14-year-old son. I really liked the characters in this story and found myself totally engrosed in their lives and in the bits of suspense that run through the final chapters of the book. I love Andrea's Robin Hood.  I also loved to see Andrea come into her own confidence.

 

Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig

Description:

Embark upon a danger-laden mission within the pages of Ronie Kendig's riveting Wolfsbane. Demolitions expert Danielle Roark thought escaping from a brutal Venezuelan general was a challenge. Now she's charged with espionage and returned to the jungle where a new nightmare begins. Will Dani survive or become just another political pawn destined to be lost forever? Former Green Beret Canyon Metcalfe is disgusted with the suits on Capitol Hill. Still wrestling with the memories of a mission gone bad, he and Nightshade launch a mission to find Dani. Can Canyon rescue Dani, armed with nothing but raw courage?

My Thoughts:

The "Discarded Hero" series by Ronie Kendig is one not to be missed. And, while each book blends with the characters of the other, they can certainly be enjoyed on their own as well. Since I love a good suspense, this contemporary romance selection appealled greatly to me since it contains a good dose of action as well.  I love this series.

My pick to win this category if I were the only judge? This is a close one, but I lean slightly toward Larkspur Cove only because of the richness of the characters and the honestly of their experiences. All good books though!

It's time to have the annual Christy Award Nominee Giveaways!

The Christy Award is a "Christian fiction award to recognize novelists and novels of excellence in several genres of Christian fiction." The nominees for this year were announced in April and the winners will be announced July 12. Every year I make it my goal to read all the books that are nominated for the Christy Award. I also give them away!

Cool, right? 

And, if you are willing to show the love, I would love it if you could share the links to the giveaway...tweet them, status them, email them, whatever! If I get 250 retweets and/or new Facebook likes over the next 6 weeks, I'll giveaway an extra copy of my top 5 favorites from the list.

Official giveaway starts tomorrow!

 

Two Weeks Ago

Two weeks ago, I left Wisconsin and my husband and kids to return to my childhood home to be with my Mom and Dad and family while my Dad had open heart surgery. He had a heart valve replaced and two bipasses. He did well in the first few days following the surgery and we felt very hopeful. Unfortunately, he developed pneumonia. A few days later, with doctors unable to get enough oxygen into his infected lungs, he passed away.

I am in shock and numb with grief. I did not expect to lose my Daddy so soon. In the week that followed his passing, we planned and attended his funeral, still in shock. Now that i have returned to Wisconsin, I feel myself sliding into sadness and missing my family. There are no words right now. Only clinging to the hope of heaven and seeing him again there.

Happy Easter!

Sorry I'm a bit late, but I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! 

We had a nice family day together and enjoyed a wonderful spring break as a family!

A Little Clarity on a Tuesday

It's been a while since I've written again.  Strange how I'm beginning to accept this about myself.  I'm not so great at blogging with regularity. But it doesn't mean I don't love my blog readers or care about blogging.  It's just a fact of the way my life is right now.

But I am writing today. I find that writing helps me come to some clarity and clarity sounds like a good thing today.

First, though, an update on my husband's job situation since many of you have asked how we're doing with that.  For those who don't know, my husband's company is closing it's office here and he is being laid off.  There's really nothing new to to report.  He's sent his resume out, but no bites on it yet.  Please keep praying about that for us as it concerns me a great deal.  I really, really don't want to move.

On a happier note, we are entering birthday season in our home. Both of my girls have birthdays this week, so we are having fun celebrating and planning all kinds of fun parties. My oldest turned 13 yesterday!  So I am now the mother of a teenager!  Her friends are throwing a surprise party for her tonight, which I think is the sweetest thing ever!

As for me, well, I am happy to report an influx of web/graphic design clients!  This is a good thing most of the time, but can be difficult for me to manage because of my own self doubts combined with the health aspect of my life.

Yep, my health issues have come back with a vengence! I am struggling with stomach problems almost constantly. And my fatigue is overwhelming. It has definately made it difficult to get my craft business back up and running, since I am often too tired to sew.  I don't know if it is stress that is making my health worse, but I know it frustrates me so much. If I had any idea what to do to fix it, I would try it. But everything I've tried has only made it worse. Sometimes I feel like Paul.  Like this health stuff is the "thorn in my side" that just won't go away. Not that I handle it at all with the courage he did or that I'm really anything like him at all, but it definately is my thorn that plagues me. Feeling sick more than half of the time is really hard.

Feeling sick messes with my confidence too. How can I commit to a large or quick website project when I am struggling?  How could I even hold down a regular job?  What if my husband doesn't find work again and I need to help bring in a more regular income?  Can I even do that?  It scares me.

So, I'm in a bit of a "glass is half empty" place right now. I'm trying to look at the positives though too. Like being thankful for more work and enjoying the work I'm doing. Like my husband having time to look for work before his current job is finished. Like having really great kids that I am so proud of.  Like the early arrival of spring in Wisconsin. 

See how positive I can be when I try? :)

So, that's my bit of clarity for today.  Focus on the positive. Do my best. Count my blessings. Push through the sickness as much as I can.  Love on my great kids. Support my husband. Enjoy my work.

I knew writing about it would help!

 

PS: Congrats to Britt: winner of Over the Edge

3 book winners

Congratulations to the following book winners:

A Stitch in Time: Merry

A Slow Burn, Life in DeFiance: Heather

Wonderland Creek: Anne

Thanks for entering!

Monday Morning Blues / Book Winner

Well, we are down and out with the stomach flu!  My poor baby girl has been throwing up for hours now. I had it last week, but hearing her makes my stomach churn too.  My oldest daughter is hibernating in her room with a stomach ache too.  My husband is showing signs of it too.  I hate the flu!  Throwing up is horrible! 

I did draw a winner for the book, The Silent Order. Congrats to Nancye!  Thanks for entering!

That's it for today!  Just hanging on trying to keep up with the laundry and praying for health!

Flying Books Giveaway "Over the Edge" by Brandilyn Collins

Congrats to Cindi, winnner of the book The Missionary!

It's time to release some of the books that have been flying around my living room looking for a new home. Would you be willing to help them find new owners?

I'm having another book giveaway from now until the end of March here on this blog! There will be a whole variety of different kinds of books! I hope you'll find some books you like!

Here are the rules:

1.) To enter the drawing for a book, just answer my random question for the day in the comments of the post.

Today's question: What's the last book you read? How was it?

My Answer: I read Composing Amelia by Alison Strobel...it was very good!

2.) Be reachable by email should you win, so I can let you know.

3.) Enter by March 23, a winner will be selected the following day.

4.) Come back again!

Today's book: Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

Description:

Janessa McNeil's husband, Dr. Brock McNeil, has spent his life "proving" chronic Lyme Disease doesn't exist. Because of doctors like Brock many Lyme patients remain untreated. One embittered man--who lost his wife to the disease--has seen enough. He breaks into the mcneil's house and places an infected tick on Jannie while she sleeps. After jannie develops Lyme symptoms the man states his demand--or her daughter will be next. Jannie must convince her husband to publicly change his opinion about Lyme. But her marriage is already rocky. She's so sick she can hardly walk or think. And her husband denies that she has Lymes at all.

My Thoughts:

A pretty intense nail-biter! 

Flying Books Giveaway: "Wonderland Creek" by Lynn Austin

 

It's time to release some of the books that have been flying around my living room looking for a new home. Would you be willing to help them find new owners?

I'm having another book giveaway from now until the end of March here on this blog! There will be a whole variety of different kinds of books!  I hope you'll find some books you like!

Here are the rules:

1.) To enter the drawing for a book, just answer my random question for the day in the comments of the post.

Today's question: What's the last movie you saw? How was it?

My Answer: I am thinking of taking my girls to see "The Lorax" this afternoon. The last movie I saw was "National Treasure."  It was on TV last night.  I always like that movie!

2.) Be reachable by email should you win, so I can let you know.

3.) Enter by March 18, a winner will be selected the following day.

4.) Come back again!

Today's book: Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

Description:

Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But the happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.

Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to a library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.

My Thoughts:

I always enjoy Lynn Austin's books!  I am in the middle of this one and liking it very much!

Flying Books Giveaway: "A Slow Burn" and "Life in Defiance" by Mary DeMuth

It's time to release some of the books that have been flying around my living room looking for a new home. Would you be willing to help them find new owners?

I'm having another book giveaway from now until the end of March here on this blog! There will be a whole variety of different kinds of books!  I hope you'll find some books you like!

Here are the rules:

1.) To enter the drawing for a book, just answer my random question for the day in the comments of the post.

Today's question: What's one good thing that happened today?

My Answer: I am excited that a new client liked my logo design!

2.) Be reachable by email should you win, so I can let you know.

3.) Enter by March 13, a winner will be selected the following day.

4.) Come back again!

Today's books: Books 2 and 3 from "Defiance Texas Series" by Mary DeMuth; A Slow Burn and Life in Defiance

Description:

A Slow Burn

Burying her grief, Emory Chance is determined to find her daughter Daisy's murderer-a man she saw in a flicker of a vision. But when the investigation hits every dead end, her despair escalates. Not even the kindness of her persistent suitor Hixon can soften her heart towards the community of friends that long for her healing. And as the questions surrounding Daisy continue to mount, and Emory's safety is shattered by the tattooed man's dark pursuit, she can't shake the sickening fear that her own choices contributed to Daisy's disappearance. Will she ever experience the peace her heart longs for?

A gripping suspense novel, A Slow Burn is about courageous love, the burden of regret, and the bonds that never break. It is about the beauty and pain of telling the truth and letting God take over. Most of all, it is about the strength of forgiveness and what remains when shame no longer has power. Mary DeMuth's distinctive new voice in Christian fiction will keep readers enthralled as they ask soul-searching questions in this second book of the Defiance, Texas Trilogy.

Life in Defiance

In a town she personifies, Ouisie Pepper wrestles with her own defiance. Desperate to become the wife and mother her husband Hap demands, Ouisie pours over a simple book about womanhood, constantly falling short, but determined to improve. Through all that self-improvement, Ouisie carries a terrible secret: she knows who killed Daisy Chance. As her children inch closer to uncovering the killer's identity and Hap's rages roar louder and become increasingly violent, Ouisie has to make a decision. Will she protect her children by telling her secret? Or will Hap's violence silence them all? Set on the backdrop of Defiance, Texas, Ouisie's journey typifies the choices we all face---whether to tell the truth about secrets and fight for the truth or bury them forever and live with the violent consequences.

My Thoughts:

Mary DeMuth always grabs hold of the reader and makes them feel what the characters are feeling. Powerful stories about fascinating characters.