Tree Swing Reading

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http://pagesandthreads.com/

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The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish - REVIEWED

Book Bullets:

• My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
• Genre: Contemporary Fiction
• Part of a Series: no
• Publication year: 2010
• Publisher: Bethany House

Description:

Seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk does not go outside. She's ruled by anxiety and only feels safe in the tiny tourist-town museum she and her mother run and call home. Yearning to live free but unable to overcome deep wounds from her past, she stays hidden away. Then the chance arrival of a woman Molly knew six years ago changes everything.

Six years ago, newly single Claire Rodriguez was an empty shell. Only in the unique friendship she strikes up with a young girl--a silent girl who'll only talk to Claire--does she see the possibility of healing. But one day the girl and her mother vanish, their house abandoned. What happened that drove them away? And how can Claire now offer Molly the same chance at finding a life anew?

My Thoughts:

Another good book by Christa Parrish. She has a way of capturing emotion and bringing it to the reader in raw and very real ways. My heart ached for for both Molly and Claire and their sorrows. It's a beautiful and powerful story about making sense of pain and finding a way to heal.

Favorites of 2013

It's time again for my favorite books from the last year.  I'm not saying these books were published in 2013, only that of all the books I read in 2013, these are my favorites.

These are in no particular order.

The King by Steven James (review coming soon)

The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer

Stones for Bread by Christa Parrish (review coming soon)

 

Undeniably Yours by Becky Wade

 Invisible by Ginny Yttrup

 Wish You Were Here by Beth K. Vogt

 

Cuts Like a Knife and Every Breath You Take by M.K. Gilroy

 

Proof and Poison by Jordyn Redwoood

If We Survive by Andrew Klavan

And my favorite non-fiction from 2013

Anything by Jennie Allen

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Here's to a wonderful new year!  Look for my list of favorite books from 2013 later this week.

merry Christmas!

Have a wonderful Christmas! I look forward to getting back to my blogging after the new year.

Is There Such a Thing as Blog Insecurity?

I've been pretty absent from this blog and I miss you.  I miss this chance to talk about one of my favorite things---Christian fiction!

The thing is, I'm feeling kind of insecure about this blog.  I don't have all the time I'd love to spend on it, but I can offer a combination of reviews on what I read, highlights of new stuff coming out, and some fun giveaways. 

What do you think?  Is that enough to bring you back on a regular basis?  Do people still want real (not digital) books to win? :)  Do people still read blogs? 

I'd love to hear from any of you who are still interested in this little corner of blog world.  You still want to win books? Find out what books I recommend?  Comments will be lifeblood for me on this and so appreciated! 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I mean it.

 

 

Review of "Misery Loves Company" by Rene Gutteridge

Book Bullets:

•         My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
•         Genre: Suspense Fiction
•         Part of a Series: no
•         Publication year: 2013
•         Publisher: Tyndale House

Description:

Don’t tell me it’s terrifying. Terrify me.

Filled with grief, Jules Belleno rarely leaves the house since her husband’s death while on duty as a police officer. Other than the reviews Jules writes on her blog, she has little contact with the outside world.

But one day when she ventures out to the local grocery store, Jules bumps into a fellow customer . . . and recognizes him as her favorite author, Patrick Reagan. Jules gushes and thoroughly embarrasses herself before Regan graciously talks with her.

And that’s the last thing she remembers—until she wakes up in a strange room with a splitting headache. She’s been kidnapped. And what she discovers will change everything she believed about her husband’s death . . . her career . . . and her faith.

My Thoughts:

I'm thinking that the reference to Stephen King's Misery book is intentional, right?

Anyway, this was a very interesting spin on that novel.  I was totally intrigued by the storyline and found the plot twists and turns very captivating.  There were parts that were a bit odd to me, like why Jules didn't feel more afraid or try harder to escape, but I  came to accept them as the story developed.  I ended up really liking this.  I'm a big fan of Gutteridge's books and was happy to get another suspense from her.

Review of "The Bridge" by Karen Kingsbury

Book Bullets:

•         My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
•         Genre: Romance Fiction
•         Part of a Series: no
•         Publication year: 2012
•         Publisher: Howard Books

Description:

Molly Allen lives alone in Portland, Oregon, but she left her heart in Tennessee with a man she adored in college, a man she forced herself to walk away from five years ago.

Nashville-based guitarist Ryan Kelly can still hear the voice of the girl he can’t have but can never forget. Time only intensifies his memories of Molly—especially of the happy hours they shared at The Bridge.

For three decades, Charlie and Donna Barton have kept the historic Franklin, Tennessee, bookstore afloat. But after a catastrophic flood, the bank pulls their lease, leaving Charlie despondent at The Bridge’s demise. Driving through a blinding snowstorm, alone with his desperate thoughts, Charlie hits black ice and crashes.

Suddenly, in the face of tragedy, miracles—and second chances—begin to unfold for those whose lives have been touched by The Bridge.

My Thoughts:

Sometimes you need a feel-good story, you know?  Kingsbury always knows how to bring about a happy ending kind of story.  This is just what I needed during a rough week--a lovely Christmas story about romance and people helping people in times of need.  A perfect read for a Sunday afternoon with a nice cup of tea in your favorite cozy reading spot.

Review of "The Judge" by Randy Singer

Book Bullets:

•     My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
•     Genre: Suspense Fiction
•     Part of a Series: no
•     Publication year: 2012
•     Publisher: Tyndale House

 

Description:

Staging the ultimate reality show, an eccentric billionaire invites representatives from the world's religions to argue their beliefs. Feisty judge Oliver Finney accepts the challenge---and realizes he's trapped in a deadly game. Will his law clerk, Nikki, be able to decipher his cryptic e-mails before he dies defending Christ? (Previously titled The Cross-Examination of Oliver Finney.)

My Thoughts:

I really like Randy Singer! A good lega-typel suspense always makes me happy.  The reality show premise is great too.  I listened to it while walking and cleaning and found myself walking further just to listen longer.  Randy Singer is a great author, who knows how to spin a good story!

Review of "The Promises She Keeps" by Erin Healy

Book Bullets:

•     My rating: 3 out of 5 stars
•     Genre: Suspense Fiction
•     Part of a Series: no
•     Publication year: 2011
•     Publisher: Thomas Nelson
  

Description:

Promise, a talented young vocalist with a terminal illness, is counting on fame to keep her memory alive after she dies. Porta is an aging witch and art collector in search of the goddess who will grant her immortality.

When Promise inexplicably survives a series of freak accidents, Porta believes that Promise is the one she seeks. But Chase, an autistic artist who falls in love with Promise and opposes Porta, comes between the women with his mysterious visions and drawings, and plunges everyone into a flesh-and-blood confrontation over the true meaning of eternal life.

My Thoughts:

This book was not my favorite.  I normally really like Erin Healy, but this was strange to me.  There was so much to it that was never explained and I felt like aspects of it made we wary and uncomfortable.  Especially the witchcraft stuff and the unexplainable freak events around Promise.  So, while the cover is awesome and some of the characters are great, the book as a whole was bizarre. Just my opinion, of course.