Tree Swing Reading

Fall Into Reading 2011: Begins Today, Hooray!

Fall Into Reading 2011 hosted by Callapidder Days starts today! I'm so excited by this event this year! Go to the Callapidder Days blog to join in!

Last year at this time I was busy painting all the rooms inside my house, so I didn't join in. This year I am so excited to READ!

I hope I get the time to read all these on my list. I have a mix of new books, non-fiction, and older fiction from my TBR pile. Here's my list:

New Fiction:

 

Courageous by Randy Alcorn

River's Song by Melody Carlson

Forbidden by Ted Dekker and Tosca Lee

The First Gardener by Denise Hildreth

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones

Sketchy Behavior by Erynn Mangum

Unexpected Dismounts by Nancy Rue

Sweet sanctuary by Sheila Walsh and Cindy Martiunsen-Coloma

She Makes it Look Easy by Mary Beth Whalen

NON-FICTION:

Grace for the Good Girl by Emily Freeman

Weird by Craig Groeshel

31 Days to Clean by Sarah Mae

OTHER FICTION:

As I Have Loved You by Nikki Arana

The Moment Between by Nicole Baart

Code Triage by Candace Calvert

Distant Echoes, Black sands, Dangerous Depths, and Midnight Sea by Colleen Coble

Less Than Dead, Ends of the Earth, and Nick of Time by Tim Downs

Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas

Grace at Low Tide by Beth Webb Hart

Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig

Deliver Me From Evil and More Than Conquerors by Kathi Macias

White Picket Fences by Susan Meissner

Long Time Coming by Vanessa Miller

The Sweetgum Knitlit Socity and Knit for Love by Beth Pattillo

Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce

To Dance in the Desert by Kathleen Popa

Tristan's Gap by Nancy Rue

Club sandwich and The living end by Lisa Samson

Act Two: A Novel with Perfect Pitch, Operation Bonnet and Stretchmarks by Kimberly Stuart

Solitary by Travis Thrasher

 

I hope I can do it! :) What about you? Are you joining the Fall Into Reading challenge?

 

5X5 Winners from Day 1 and 2

Here are the book winners so far:

Anita: Self Incrimination

Jenna: The Fine Art of Insincerity

Michelle G.: A Heart Most Worthy

Sandra Jensen: The Judgment

Carol M.: Under the Cajun Moon

Word Lily: While We're Far Apart

Jenna: The Mailbox

NeedANap2: They Almost Always Come Home

Carol Wong: The Heart Mender

Cindy Woolard: The Brotherhood

Thanks for entering!

Winner of "Torrent"

Congratulations to Anita Yancy!

Your name was drawn to win this book!

Thanks for entering!

Great series by Lynette Eason

"Women of Justice" series is great! A nice combination of suspense and romance. My favorite combo in a book!

Book 1: Too Close to Home

Description:

Samantha Cash is the FBI's secret weapon. Her methods are invisible, and she never stops until the case is closed. When missing teens begin turning up dead in a small Southern town, Samantha is assigned to help local chief Connor Wolfe find the killer. And he has two problems with that. There's her faith--in God and herself. And then there's the fact that she looks exactly like his late wife.As they get close to an answer, the case becomes personal. The killer seems to be taking an interest in Connor's 16-year-old daughter, who thinks her dad is getting way too protective. Can't a girl just have some fun?

Book 2: Don't Look Back

Description:

Twelve years ago, forensic anthropologist Jamie Cash survived a brutal kidnapping. After years of therapy, she's made a life for herself---and finally lets herself get close to FBI agent Dakota Richards. But when her attacker reappears, can she escape his grasp a second time? Will she ever feel safe enough to find true love?

 

Book 3: A Killer Among Us

Description:

Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. The new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case. As evidence mounts up and more victims are found, Kit and Noah realize they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The problem is, he's hunting one of them too.

 

My Thoughts:

Like I said at the top of the post, I always enjoy a good romantic suspense!  These books reminded me of Dee Henderson's romantic suspense books. The action keeps moving along and the romance part grows along with the suspense. Definately a good series to grab your attention and keep you interested until the surprise ending.

Book Bullets:

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: romantic suspense

Part of a Series: yes, Women of Justice Series 

Publication year: 2010, 2011

Publisher: Revell

Wednesday's Hodge Podge

1. Do you like chili? Red or white? Beans or no beans? Spice or no spice? Toppings?

I do not eat chili. I have never been able to handle eating those squishy, mushy beads!  I hate the texture.

2. Red-orange-gold...your favorite fall color?

I love fall! I'm kind of big on all these colors right now since I just repainted the rooms in our house in mostly fall colors: the kitchen is a yellow-orange, the family room is a terra cotta/red, and the hallway is gold.  I used to not like orange, but now that orange is my daughter's favorite color, it has definately grown on me and become one of my favorite colors!

3. Who did you idolize when you were growing up?

I idolized my h.s. English teacher. I was always trying to please her and get her attention. H.S. was a rough time for me b/c my mom had cancer, and she was the one who I turned to to help me survive it all.

 

4. When was the last time you did something 'arts and craftsy'? Share please.

I adore doing crafts!  I'm in the middle of some big organizing projects, so I haven't done much lately, but I always get into quilting and sewing in the late fall and winter. My last sewing project was some dance journals for my girls. For dance they have to write in journals to keep track of stretches to do and moves to practice. I thought they should have ones that had dance fabric, so I made these covered journals for them:

 

5. What's a place that makes you really nervous?

 

Going to the doctor. I always have a lot of anxiety going there!

 

6. Horseback riding...yay or nay (neigh?)

I have never really ridden a horse. I used to love playing with them (the Breyer ones) when I was younger, and now my daughter loves playing with my old ones.

7. What's your favorite cliche?

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! I must say this every day in reference to my oldest who acts like her dad and to my husband who acts like his mom!

 

8. Random Thought:

I'm having fun creating a meal  plan for our family! I'm trying to get more organized with family meals. But I need to stop finding new recipes and get back to decluttering our house and my other projects!

 

1000 Gifts

It is time. Time to take what I learned from this precious book and begin to apply it. One Thousand gifts...one at a time.

21. warm peach crisp with ice cream

22. my oldest asking for hugs

23. my puppy circling and circling to find just the right spot for sleeping

24. my daughter's piano playing

25. blogger friends

26. trees starting to turn color for fall

27. celebrating friends' birthdays and anniversaries on Facebook

28. discovering new Christian music to add to my ipod

29. spinach lasagne all ready for supper in the fridge

30. police officers who help overwhelmed moms walk their family across the street to school

BIG 5X5 Giveaway, Day 5

I'm giving away 5 books per day for 5 days! Today is the last day already!

Here are the rules for entering:

A. Post a comment answering the day's "top 5" question (for fun).

Today's question: "Do you watch TV? Is so, do you have 5 shows you can't wait to watch each week?"

My answer: I like "Amazing Race," "Castle," "Wipeout," "Survivor," and "Bones."

B. Let me know which books you are entering for. (Like, I want to be in the drawing for number 1, 3, and 4.) You can enter for one book or all the books, any ones you want.

C. Enter on or before the ending date for the drawing: Today's date is September 24. Winners announced September 25.

D. If you win, you'll get an email from me asking for your address for book mailing. Just reply to it with the best place to send your new book!

E. Come back to my blog again soon for more book drawings!

SO, here are the five books I'm giving away today!

1. Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry

Description:

Billy Allman is a "hillbilly genius." Folks in town say he was born with a second helping of brains and a gift for playing the mandolin---and was cut short on social skills. But there are two things they don't know---he's troubled by a brutal secret, and an angel is determined to set things right

 

 

2. Cool Beans by Erynn Mangum

Description:

Everything is going perfectly for Maya Davis. She's got a great job at a coffee shop, loving parents, and is happily single---until her best friend unknowingly starts dating Maya's high school sweetheart! Who knew she was still interested in him? A delightful faith-based retelling of Jane Austen's Persuasion.

 

 

3. Along Came a Cowboy by Chritine Lynxwiler

Description:

When Rachel Donovan, a strong-willed chiropractor with a past, meets Jack Westwood, a bull-headed cowboy looking for a future, it looks like hate at first fight. But when the dust settles, it may be love. Can the chiropractor and the cowboy bridle their growing attraction, or will love ultimately have free reign?

 

 

4. A Time to Surrender by Sally John and Gary Smalley

Description:

Jenna Beaumont Mason had her marriage all planned out. But what she didn’t plan was her husband, Kevin, unexpectedly reenlisting in the U.S. Marines--without her knowledge. When Kevin is assigned to serve in Iraq, Jenna struggles with loneliness and resentment at his lengthy absence. This is not the life she wanted.

With the support of other military wives and much prayer, Jenna tries to accept this new reality in her marriage. But when a caring, handsome--and very available--man offers Jenna the comfort she longs for, she struggles to stay faithful to far-away Kevin.

Things grow even more complicated for Jenna and her parents when a mysterious young woman named Skylar shows up at their home, the Hacienda Hideaway. When Skylar’s past finally catches up with her, she puts the Beaumonts at risk not only of broken hearts, but of something even more dangerous.

As the Beaumonts grow in their love for God and each other, they learn that sometimes the best way to reconcile relationships is by surrendering control.

5. Every Secret Thing by Ann Tatlock

Description:

When Elizabeth Gunnar accepts a teaching position at the preparatory school she attended as a girl, she is returning to more than a place--to memories, mysteries, and an old love. Once there she meets unexpected challenges--and challenging new people. She revisits ghosts of the past and old self-doubts. And through it all, God somehow takes four broken people and forms a new, complete family.

Funny Monday

A while ago I had a plan to have "funny Mondays" as a regular thing where I shared some things that make me laugh...  I'm going to give it a try again.

Tim Hawkins makes me laugh on a regular basis. The video quality isn't great, but still funny!

 

Menu Planning

So, I'm thinking a lot about menu planning these days. I've decided to set up a plan for us to follow each week. With the girls in karate, dance, swimming, and church activities in the evenings, it is hard to have meals ready each night. So I'm jumping on the slow cooker band wagon and grabbing recipes to try. That way, if we eat all all different times, we all still get a hot meal.  I'm also trying to be healthier with our eating too. Not so much on the frozen chicken nuggets and pizzas, and more with veggies and "real" foods.

Here's kind of my plan:

Sundays: soup for lunch, breakfast for dinner at night

Mondays: casseroles

Tuesdays: slow cooker

Wednesdays: slow cooker

Thursdays: leftovers

Fridays: family favorite

Saturday: wrap/panini/sandwich for lunch; dinner at church (our church has dinner offered on Saturday nights) or leftovers

Here's hoping I can stay on top of this with all we have going on!

BIG 5X5 Giveaway Day 4

I'm giving away 5 books per day for 5 days!

Here are the rules for entering:

A. Post a comment answering the day's "top 5" question (for fun).

Today's question: "Name five authors whose new books are always ones you can't wait to read"

My answer: Steven James, Erynn Mangum, Ted Dekker, Brandilyn Collins, Jenny B. Jones (There are more, but these are 5 of them)

B. Let me know which books you are entering for. (Like, I want to be in the drawing for number 1, 3, and 4.) You can enter for one book or all the books, any ones you want.

C. Enter on or before the ending date for the drawing: Today's date is September 23. Winners announced September 24.

D. If you win, you'll get an email from me asking for your address for book mailing. Just reply to it with the best place to send your new book!

E. Come back to my blog again soon for more book drawings!

SO, here are the five books I'm giving away today!

1. One Lane Bridge by Don Reid

Description:

J.D. Wickman takes a ride to the country searching for peace and quiet. But car troubles force him to seek assistance at a nearby farmhouse, where he finds an impoverished family that he vows to help. When he returns with some groceries, however, the family and house have disappeared! Is he losing his sanity?

 

 

2. Back on Murder by J. Mark Bertrand

Description:

Det. Roland March is a homicide cop on his way out. But when he's the only one at a crime scene to find evidence of a missing female victim, he's given one last chance to prove himself. Before he can crack the case, he's transferred to a new one that has grabbed the spotlight--the disappearance of a famous Houston evangelist's teen daughter. With the help of a youth pastor with a guilty conscience who navigates the world of church and faith, March is determined to find the missing girls while proving he's still one of Houston's best detectives.

3. Wounded by Claudia Burney

Description:

Poor in health but rich in faith, Gina Merritt--a young, broke, African-American single mother--sits ina pew on Ash Wednesday and has a holy vision. When it fades, her palms are bleeding. Anthony Priest, the junkie sitting beside her, instinctively touches her when she cries out, but Gina flees in shock and pain.

A prize-winning journalist before drugs destroyed his career, Anthony is flooded with a sense of well-being and knows that he is cured of his addiction. Without understanding why, Anthony follows Gina home to find some answers.

4. Wonders Never Cease by Tim Downs

Description:

When a car accident leaves a famous movie star in a coma, nurse Kemp---a medical school dropout---devises an evil plan. Manipulating her medication, he pretends to be an angel giving her messages---then dictates a "spiritual bestseller" he believes will make them both rich. But what will he do if real angels show up?

5. Tomorrow We Die by Shawn Grady

Description:

Jonathan Trestle is a paramedic who's spent the week a few steps behind the angel of death. When he responds to a call about a man sprawled on a downtown sidewalk, Trestle isn't about to lose another victim. CPR revives the man long enough for him to hand Trestle a crumpled piece of paper and say, "Give this to Martin," before being taken to the hospital. The note is a series of dashes and haphazard scribbles. Trestle tries to follow up with the patient later, but at the ICU he learns the man awoke, pulled out his IVs, and vanished, leaving only a single key behind. Jonathan tracks the key to a nearby motel where he finds the man again--this time not just dead but murdered. Unwilling to just let it drop, Jonathan is plunged into a mystery that soon threatens not only his dreams for the future but maybe even his life.