Tree Swing Reading

Book winners

Congrats to the following winners:

Megan: Though the Waters Roar by Lynn Austin

Carolynn W: A Flickering Light by Jane Kilpatrick

Julia: Swiss Courier by Tricia Goyer and Mike Yorkey

Thanks for entering!

Christy Award Nominees Part 6: Visonary 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 announced June 26. Every year I make it my goal to read all the books that are nominated for the Christy Award.  I also give them away!

This year I will not give them away all at once, but 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.

2. Answer this question: what's your ranking of your order of preference (1=favorite, 6=least) of these fiction genres: historical, romance, suspense, amish, contemporary, visionary?  My order: 1. suspense, 2. contemporary, 3. romance, 4. historical, 5. visionary, 6. amish

2. Enter by the date indicated. For this category, please enter by JULY 18, winners announced on July 19.

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

4. Come back soon for the next category giveaway! 

These are books nominated in the "Visionary" category.

The books nominated in this category are:

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

Description:

Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible. 

My Thoughts:

Looking forward to reading this next!

The Enclave by Karen Hancock

Description:

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed parts of this book, but it was not my favorite. I was confused by the plot and had trouble always following the storyline. I liked the main characters, but just had difficulty keeping my mind on the long and winding plot. The action parts are exciting. But there are lots of strange creatures whose existence wasn't always clear to me. If science fiction is your thing, this may be a better book for you than for me. :)

Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik

Description:

Conner Hayden is certain he survived his near-death experience for a reason. He thinks it's to save the life-and soul-of Mitch Kent. Mitch's body remains on life support while his spirit is trapped with the old farmer Howard Bristol in the Interworld-a strange and dangerous dimension that Conner narrowly escaped during his brush with death in Pawlik's award-winning debut novel, Vanish. Meanwhile, in the Interworld, Mitch receives a warning from a mysterious stranger: Howard is not who he appears to be, and Mitch must flee immediately. Pursued by Howard and a terrifying creature, Mitch soon learns the truth about what happened to him and that his only hope of survival lies at the very edge of the Interworld.

My Thoughts:

Reading it this week! Pawlik is a fascinating author!   

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 announced June 26. Every year I make it my goal to read all the books that are nominated for the Christy Award.  I also give them away!

This year I will not give them away all at once, but 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.

2. Answer this question: what's your ranking of your order of preference (1=favorite, 6=least) of these fiction genres: historical, romance, suspense, amish, contemporary, visionary?  My order: 1. suspense, 2. contemporary, 3. romance, 4. historical, 5. visionary, 6. amish

2. Enter by the date indicated. For this category, please enter by JULY 18, winners announced on July 19.

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

4. Come back soon for the next category giveaway! 

These are books nominated in the "Visionary" category.

The books nominated in this category are:

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

Description:

Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible. 

My Thoughts:

Looking forward to reading this next!

The Enclave by Karen Hancock

Description:

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed parts of this book, but it was not my favorite. I was confused by the plot and had trouble always following the storyline. I liked the main characters, but just had difficulty keeping my mind on the long and winding plot. The action parts are exciting. But there are lots of strange creatures whose existence wasn't always clear to me. If science fiction is your thing, this may be a better book for you than for me. :)

Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik

Description:

Conner Hayden is certain he survived his near-death experience for a reason. He thinks it's to save the life-and soul-of Mitch Kent. Mitch's body remains on life support while his spirit is trapped with the old farmer Howard Bristol in the Interworld-a strange and dangerous dimension that Conner narrowly escaped during his brush with death in Pawlik's award-winning debut novel, Vanish. Meanwhile, in the Interworld, Mitch receives a warning from a mysterious stranger: Howard is not who he appears to be, and Mitch must flee immediately. Pursued by Howard and a terrifying creature, Mitch soon learns the truth about what happened to him and that his only hope of survival lies at the very edge of the Interworld.

My Thoughts:

Reading it this week! Pawlik is a fascinating author!   

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 announced June 26. Every year I make it my goal to read all the books that are nominated for the Christy Award.  I also give them away!

This year I will not give them away all at once, but 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.

2. Answer this question: what's your ranking of your order of preference (1=favorite, 6=least) of these fiction genres: historical, romance, suspense, amish, contemporary, visionary?  My order: 1. suspense, 2. contemporary, 3. romance, 4. historical, 5. visionary, 6. amish

2. Enter by the date indicated. For this category, please enter by JULY 18, winners announced on July 19.

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

4. Come back soon for the next category giveaway! 

These are books nominated in the "Visionary" category.

The books nominated in this category are:

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

Description:

Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible. 

My Thoughts:

Looking forward to reading this next!

The Enclave by Karen Hancock

Description:

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed parts of this book, but it was not my favorite. I was confused by the plot and had trouble always following the storyline. I liked the main characters, but just had difficulty keeping my mind on the long and winding plot. The action parts are exciting. But there are lots of strange creatures whose existence wasn't always clear to me. If science fiction is your thing, this may be a better book for you than for me. :)

Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik

Description:

Conner Hayden is certain he survived his near-death experience for a reason. He thinks it's to save the life-and soul-of Mitch Kent. Mitch's body remains on life support while his spirit is trapped with the old farmer Howard Bristol in the Interworld-a strange and dangerous dimension that Conner narrowly escaped during his brush with death in Pawlik's award-winning debut novel, Vanish. Meanwhile, in the Interworld, Mitch receives a warning from a mysterious stranger: Howard is not who he appears to be, and Mitch must flee immediately. Pursued by Howard and a terrifying creature, Mitch soon learns the truth about what happened to him and that his only hope of survival lies at the very edge of the Interworld.

My Thoughts:

Reading it this week! Pawlik is a fascinating author!   

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 announced June 26. Every year I make it my goal to read all the books that are nominated for the Christy Award.  I also give them away!

This year I will not give them away all at once, but 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.

2. Answer this question: what's your ranking of your order of preference (1=favorite, 6=least) of these fiction genres: historical, romance, suspense, amish, contemporary, visionary?  My order: 1. suspense, 2. contemporary, 3. romance, 4. historical, 5. visionary, 6. amish

2. Enter by the date indicated. For this category, please enter by JULY 18, winners announced on July 19.

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

4. Come back soon for the next category giveaway! 

These are books nominated in the "Visionary" category.

The books nominated in this category are:

By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

Description:

Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible. 

My Thoughts:

Looking forward to reading this next!

The Enclave by Karen Hancock

Description:

When Lacey McHenry accepts a prestigious research fellowship at the world-renowned Kendell-Jakes Longevity Institute, she sees it as a new start on life. But a disturbing late-night encounter with an intruder leads to an unexpected cover-up by Institute authorities, and she soon realizes there's more going on than she ever imagined.

She finds a supporter in genetics researcher Cameron Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt is a favorite of the Institute's director, and she can't help wondering if he, too, is in on the cover-up. The brilliant but absentminded researcher turns out to have his own secrets, some of them dark and deadly.

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed parts of this book, but it was not my favorite. I was confused by the plot and had trouble always following the storyline. I liked the main characters, but just had difficulty keeping my mind on the long and winding plot. The action parts are exciting. But there are lots of strange creatures whose existence wasn't always clear to me. If science fiction is your thing, this may be a better book for you than for me. :)

Valley of the Shadow by Tom Pawlik

Description:

Conner Hayden is certain he survived his near-death experience for a reason. He thinks it's to save the life-and soul-of Mitch Kent. Mitch's body remains on life support while his spirit is trapped with the old farmer Howard Bristol in the Interworld-a strange and dangerous dimension that Conner narrowly escaped during his brush with death in Pawlik's award-winning debut novel, Vanish. Meanwhile, in the Interworld, Mitch receives a warning from a mysterious stranger: Howard is not who he appears to be, and Mitch must flee immediately. Pursued by Howard and a terrifying creature, Mitch soon learns the truth about what happened to him and that his only hope of survival lies at the very edge of the Interworld.

My Thoughts:

Reading it this week! Pawlik is a fascinating author!   

Review of "Stand-In Groom" by Kaye Dacus

Description:

When wedding planner Anne Hawthorne meets George Laurence, she thinks she's found the man of her dreams. But when he turns out to be a client, her "dream" quickly turns into a nightmare. Will Anne risk her heart and career on this engaging Englishman? George came to Louisiana to plan his employer's wedding and pose as the groom. But how can he feign affection for a supposed fiancee when he's so achingly attracted to the wedding planner? And what will happen when Anne discovers his role has been Stand-In Groom only? Will she ever trust George again? Can God help these two believers find a happy ending?

My Thoughts:

This was an enjoyable and pleasant read...a perfect summer's day romance to read!  I found the storyline fun and entertaining and the characters enjoyable as well.  There were some moments where I felt the story jumped ahead of itself a bit, but overall it was great for reading by the pool while my kids were swimming!

Book Bullets:

• My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
• Genre: romance
• Themes: following God's will, God's timing
• Part of a Series: yes, Brides of Bonneterre series #1
• Publication year: 2009 (paperback)