Tree Swing Reading

Part 4 book winners

Congrats to the following book winners:

Eye for Glory to Vader's Mom

Southern Fried Sushi to Lace.

Thanks for entering!

Christy Award Nominees Giveaway Part 7: Suspense

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 JULY 15, winners announced on July 16.

3. Respond within 10 days should you receive an email indicating you 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: "Suspense" and the books are:

Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

Description:

Torn from the front lines of medical debate and the author's own experience with Lyme Disease, Over the Edge is riveting fiction, full of twists and turns—and powerful truths about today's medical field.

Janessa McNeil’s husband, Dr. Brock McNeil, a researcher and professor at Stanford University's Department of Medicine, specializes in tick-borne diseases—especially Lyme. For years he has insisted that Chronic Lyme Disease doesn't exist. Even as patients across the country are getting sicker, the committee Brock chairs is about to announce its latest findings—which will further seal the door shut for Lyme treatment.

One embittered man sets out to prove Dr. McNeil wrong by giving him a close-up view of the very disease he denies. The man infects Janessa with Lyme, then states his demand: convince her husband to publicly reverse his stand on Lyme—or their young daughter will be next.

But Janessa's marriage is already rocky. She's so sick she can hardly move or think. And her husband denies she has Lyme at all.

Welcome to the Lyme wars, Janessa.

My Thoughts:

Definately suspenseful! This was very creepy, but good. Collins' books always grab me right away and this one captured my attention from the beginning.  Quite an interesting premise and very exciting!

Pattern of Wounds by Mark Bertrand

Description:

For Detective Roland March, his latest case has become personal. March doesn't know the young female who was stabbed to death, but he thinks he recognizes the crime scene. Nearly ten years ago, March gained national fame as the subject of a true-crime book. But now this crime scene bears eerie similarities to that one. And whispers begin to emerge that March may have put the wrong man behind bars.

Worse, Houston may now have a serial killer on the loose. As more cases emerge that seem connected, and threats against March and those closest to him build, he must solve the case--rescuing not only the city but his own reputation as a homicide cop.

My Thoughts:

It took me a bit to get into this series, but once I did I really liked them.  March is in a difficult and sad place in this book, and that was hard for me at times, but I sense hope for him coming soon in his future and can't wait to see where it goes in the next book.  Even though this is part of a series, it can be read alone and the suspense is gripping.

The Queen by Steven James

Description:

While investigating a double homicide in an isolated northern Wisconsin town, FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers uncovers a high-tech conspiracy that twists through long-buried Cold War secrets and targets present-day tensions in the Middle East. In his most explosive thriller yet, bestselling author Steven James delivers a multi-layered storytelling tour de force that not only delivers pulse-pounding suspense but also deftly explores the rippling effects of the choices we make. The Queen is a techno-thriller that will leave you breathless, offered by the author Publishers Weekly calls a "master storyteller at the peak of his game."

My Thoughts:

It's no secret that I love Steven James' books!  Every single time his books grap ahold of me and won't let go until I turn the last page. I can't get enough of Patrick Bowers. Fast-paced action that never lets up.

 

My pick for this category: THE QUEEN

Christy Award Nominees Giveaway Part 6: Historical Romance

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 JULY 10, winners announced on July 11.

3. Respond within 10 days should you receive an email indicating you 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: "Historical Romance" and the books are:

A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander

Description:

A fake. A forger. More than anything, Claire Laurent longs for the chance to live an authentic life, to become the woman she wants to be. And she'll be given that choice. But will it come at too costly a price?

Claire Laurent's greatest aspiration is to paint something that will bring her acclaim. Yet her father insists she work as a copyist. A forger. When she's forced to flee from New Orleans to Nashville only a year after the War Between the States has ended, her path collides with attorney Sutton Monroe. She considers him a godsend for not turning her in to the authorities. But after he later refuses to come to her aid, Claire fears she's sorely misjudged the man. Finding herself among the elite of Nashville's society, Claire believes her dream to create a lasting impression in the world of art is within reach--but only if her fraudulent past remains hidden.

The Federal Army has destroyed Sutton's home and confiscated his land, and threatens to destroy his family's honor. His determination to reclaim what belongs to him and to right a grievous wrong reveals a truth that may cost him more than he ever imagined--as well as the woman he loves.Set at Nashville's historic Belmont Mansion, a stunning antebellum manor built by Mrs. Adelicia Acklen, A Lasting Impression is a sweeping love story about a nation mending after war, the redemption of those wounded, and the courage of a man and woman to see themselves--and each other--for who they really are.

My Thoughts:

I really fell in love with Mrs. Acklen and her straightforward, no-nonsense approach to life.  I thought the storyline was interesting and enjoyable, with Claire's situation lending inteself to a good story. I always enjoy Alexander's books and this was another good one.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall by Julie Klassen

Description:

Pampered Margaret Macy flees London in disguise to escape pressure to marry a dishonorable man. With no money and nowhere else to go, she takes a position as a housemaid in the home of Nathaniel Upchurch, a suitor she once rejected in hopes of winning his dashing brother. Praying no one will recognize her, Margaret fumbles through the first real work of her life. If she can last until her next birthday, she will gain an inheritance from a spinster aunt--and sweet independence. But can she remain hidden as a servant even when prying eyes visit Fairbourne Hall?

My Thougths:

Very good book! I loved seeing the change in Margaret's character and her realization of all she had taken for granted.  The book is long, but I read it fairly quickly, as I couldn't wait to see what would happen to her. 

To Die For by Sandra Byrd

Description:

To Die For, is the story of Meg Wyatt, pledged forever as the best friend to Anne Boleyn since their childhoods on neighboring manors in Kent. When Anne’s star begins to ascend, of course she takes her best friend Meg along for the ride. Life in the court of Henry VIII is thrilling at first, but as Anne’s favor rises and falls, so does Meg’s. And though she’s pledged her loyalty to Anne no matter what the test, Meg just might lose her greatest love—and her own life—because of it.

Meg's childhood flirtation with a boy on a neighboring estate turns to true love early on. When he is called to follow the Lord and be a priest she turns her back on both the man and his God. Slowly, though, both woo her back through the heady times of the English reformation. In the midst of it, Meg finds her place in history, her own calling to the Lord that she must follow, too, with consequences of her own. Each character in the book is tested to figure out what love really means, and what, in this life, is worth dying for.

Though much of Meg’s story is fictionalized, it is drawn from known facts. The Wyatt family and the Boleyn family were neighbors and friends, and perhaps even distant cousins. Meg’s brother, Thomas Wyatt, wooed Anne Boleyn and ultimately came very close to the axe blade for it. Two Wyatt sisters attended Anne at her death, and at her death, she gave one of them her jeweled prayer book—Meg.

My Thoughts:

A fascinating peek into the life of Anne Boleyn through the eyes of her friend Meg. I was lost in the story, and, even though I knew the outcome for Anne, I was still very invested in the story until the very end.

 

My Pick for Historical Romance Favorite?  My favorite is Maid of Fairbourne Hall. 

Winners from Part 3

Congrats to these winners!

Vicky: Dry as Rain

Sandra: Promises to Keep

Alexis: Words

Thanks for entering!

Top Ten Tuesday: Things I Made with Strawberries [and links to recipes]

This weekend we went strawberry picking!  This was one of the things on our summer bucket list, so I'm really glad we found a place that still had some. Our summer has been so hot already that we don't have too many farms with berries left.

A side note about strawberry picking... Starting at age 7 and until age 18, I picked berries in the summers.  To make money for college.  I worked in berry fields, on my knees in between the rows, up to 8 hours a day, 6 days a week, for the 5-6 weeks of the berry season.  Then I would pick raspberries or work on raspberry picking machines. Those were long days, but working in the fields with my friends was fun sometimes.  We were paid by the pound of berries that we picked. And the "berry boss" made sure we did a good job. So part of the thrill of taking my family to pick them was to show them how hard I had to work, even at an age much younger than my girls are now. 

Anyway, we picked berries, and ended up with WAY more berries than we had planned to get...but it was so much fun!  So now I am looking for all kinds of things to make with strawberries, especially since they are pretty soft already. 

Here are the ten things I've made with strawberries, with links to recipes as available.

1. Strawberry freezer jam (from the SureJell recipe)

2. More strawberry freezer jam.

3. Another batch of freezer jam.

4. Strawberry Pizza (recipe below).

5. Strawberry Pie.

6. Strawberry bread.

7. Strawberry coffee cake.

8. Strawberry and chocolate crepes.

9. More jam.

10. Strawberry brownies with Strawberry mousse on top.

Whew!  Good thing I can freeze a lot of it! So far, the crepes and the coffee cake are my favorite besides the jam.

 

Here's my Strawberry Pizza Recipe

Crust: spread Pillsbury Sugar Cookie dough on 13" pizza pan (greased) and bake @ 350 for 10-12 minutes. Cool completely.

Filling Layer: Blend 8 oz cream cheese with 8 oz cool whip and spread over cooled crust.

Cover with whole berries (point up).

Glaze: 2/3 cup sugar, 2/3 cup water, 1 heaping Tablespoon cornstartch in a small saucepan.  Cook over medium-high heat until thick and clear.  Add 3 Tablespoons of strawberry gelatin. Let cool so it doesn't melt the cream cheese layer. Spoon over strawberries. Keep chilled. 

Do you like strawberries?

Book winners from Giveaway Part 2

Here are some more book winners.

The Amish Midwife: Lace

Dancing on Glass: MJ

The Touch: Arlene

Thanks for entering!

Christy Award Nominees Part 5: Historical 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 JULY 5, winners announced on July 6.

3. Respond within 10 days should you receive an email indicating you 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: "Historical" and the books are:

Forsaking All Others by Allison Pittman

Description:

Camilla Fox has been taken in by the 5th Infantry Regiment of the US Army and given over to the personal care of Captain Charles Brandon. The last thing she remembers is being lost in the snow after leaving her home to escape the Mormon faith she no longer calls her own. As she regains her strength, memories of her two children she had to leave behind come flooding back, threatening to break her heart. Camilla is determined to reunite with her daughters. But when news of her father's grave illness reaches her, she knows she must return to the family farm to reconcile with her father. As spring arrives, Camilla returns to Salt Lake City a changed woman, but nothing could prepare her for the changes to the city, to the Mormon Church, and to the family she left behind.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the "Sister Wives" Series.  I have not read the first book, and, though it would have provided some nice background information, I could follow the storyline of this book just fine. I enjoyed the book and found the storyline quite interesting. I can't imagine what it would be like to have my husband take another wife, though I did struggle with the thought that she could leave her children behind. I'm not sure I could have done that, even if was just temporary.

 

Mine is the Night by Liz Curtis Higgs

Description:

When Elisabeth and Marjory Kerr leave behind the crowded streets of Edinburgh to flee to the Borderland, they've lost their husbands, their titles, their property and nearly everything they hold dear. As supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebellion, they've been branded as traitors and outcasts. An accomplished seamstress, Elisabeth eventually finds work as a dress maker for the local gentry, which brings her into contact with Lord Jack Buchanan, an unmarried gentleman of considerable means. Will Lord jack step forward to help Elisabeth and Marjory, or will their scandalous ties to the Jacobite rebellion prove too great a risk to his reputation and wealth?

 

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 immediately was entertained by Alice and her ways and fell in love with the characters from Acorn's library too.  It was fun to watch Alice face and overcome the challenges of leaving her spoiled life and Lilie's personality was great fun as well.  Very good book!

MY PICK:  If I were a Christy Award Judge, I'd pick Wonderland Creek  for this category, though to be fair, I didn't have a chance to read Mine is the Night.

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer Bucket List

Today is the last day of school for my kiddos.  I know it sounds cliche, but I can hardly beieve the school year is over again!  Now I have an eigth grader and a fifth grader! Where does the time go?

May and June have been a whirlwind of dance recitals, soccer games, karate lessons, band and orchestra concerts, piano recitals, graduation parties, and a wedding.  Whew!  We finally got a chance to sit down last night and make our Summer Bucket List--you know, the list of things we want to do this summer.  The list has way more than 10 things on it, but my personal bucket list has about ten, so I thought I'd share those:

1. Catch up on school memory books for both girls.

2. Clean out closets and donate stuff to church's resale store.

3. Redo our family meal plans with more summer-type recipes.

4. Sew a throw-sized quilt for my daughter.

5. Read 10 non-fiction books.

6. Train for a 5K mud run in October.

7. Do a family Bible study.

8. Make pudding pops like my mom used to make.

9. Get more food from the Farmer's market.

10. Develop new items for my craft business.

How does that sound?  Our family bucket list is much longer and has more fun things on it, like going to a water park, raising caterpillars, making jam, doing tie dye shirts, making a reading fort, and helping my kids sew quilt tops.  There's a lot more too, but those are some of the things.  Today I'm trying to come up with a cute way to display our list.  Doing some looking on Pinterest...fun!

Do you have a summer bucket list?

Oh, and, here's 10 non-fiction books I want to read this summer:

1. Running for Mortals by John Bingham and Jenny Hadfield.

2. Searching for God Knows What by Donald Miller.

3. Self Talk, Soul Talk by Jennifer Rothschild.

4. Unsinkable by Abby Sunderland.

5. Lord, I Just Want to be Happy by Leslie Vernick.

6. Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma.

7. Breaking Free by Beth Moore.

8. I Thought it Was Just me, (But it Isn't) by Brene Brown.

9. Eating the Moment by Pavel G. Somov

10. Life is Hard, Food is Easy by Linda Spangle.

Christy Award Nominees Part 4: First Novel 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 27, winners announced on June 28.

3. Respond within 10 days should you receive an email indicating you 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: "First Novel" and the books are:

Eye for Glory by Karl Bacon

Description:

Michael Palmer is a good man, a family man. But honor and duty push him to leave his comfortable life and answer the call from Abraham Lincoln to fight for his country.

This "citizen soldier" learns quickly that war is more than the battle on the field. Long marches under extreme conditions, illness, and disillusionment challenge at every turn.

Faith seems lost in a blur of smoke and blood . and death. Michael's only desire is to kill as many Confederate soldiers as he can so he can go home. He coldly counts off the rebels that fall to his bullets. Until he is brought up short by a dying man holding up his Bible.

It's in the heat of battle at Gettysburg and the solemn aftermath that Michael begins to understand the grave cost of the war upon his soul. Here the journey really begins as he searches for the man he was and the faith he once held so dearly. With the help of his beloved wife, Jesse Ann, he takes the final steps towards redemption and reconciliation.

Using first-hand accounts of the 14th Connecticut Infantry, Karl Bacon has crafted a detailed, genuine and compelling novel on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

My Thoughts:

This was definately an eye-opening look at the Civil War from a soldier's perspective. For those who enjoy reading about history, this is a wonderful narrative capturing the struggles of war and the hardships for the soldiers. There's a really nice flow between letters and narrative that really put the reader right into the history.

Southern Fried Sushi by Jennifer Rogers Spinola

Description:

Ride the rollercoaster of Shiloh Jacobs's life as her dreams derail, sending her on a downward spiral from the heights of an AP job in Tokyo to penniless in rural Virginia. Trapped in a world so foreign to her sensibilities and surrounded by a quirky group of friends, will she break through her hardened prejudices before she loses those who want to help her? Can she find the key to what changed her estranged mother's life so powerfully before her death that she became a different woman-and can it help Shiloh too?

My Thoughts:

I really loved this book! I read it in one sitting and couldn't wait to find out more about Shiloh and the lovely characters that surround her. I loved the descriptions of the friends that Shiloh makes and their simple but profound faith in God and His provision. I was so glad to see Shiloh's growth in her own character as she discovered what was really important wasn't status and stuff, but relationships and love.  Can't wait to read the next book in this series!

Words by Ginny Yttrupt

This book is nominated in 2 categories.  Please go to: Christy Award Nominees part 3 to enter for that book.

Christy Award Nominees Giveaway Part 3: Contemporary Standalone

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 22, winners announced on June 23.

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 Standalone" and the books are:

Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes

Description:

Like many marriages, Eric and Kyra Yoshida's has fallen apart slowly, one lost dream and misunderstanding at a time, until the ultimate betrayal finally pushes them beyond reconciliation. Just when it looks like forgive and forget is no longer an option, a car accident gives Eric the second chance of a lifetime. A concussion causes his wife to forget details of her life, including the chasm between them. No one knows when-or if-Kyra's memory will return, but Eric seizes the opportunity to win back the woman he's never stopped loving.

My Thoughts:

This was a thought-provoking storyline. Made me think about what kinds of things I would or would not want to know in my marriage. It was almost like a do-over for Eric, but he had to know it was going to come out eventually. I really liked how he came "awake" about his life and realized what was important wasn't the money or job title, but his family. Very good book.

 

Promises to Keep by Ann Tatlock

Description:

Eleven-year-old Roz (Rosalind) Anthony and her family have just moved to Mills River, Illinois, to escape an abusive situation. Only days after settling into their new home, they are surprised to find the previous owner, Tillie Monroe, on their front porch reading the newspaper. Though her sons have sold the house and sent her to a facility for the aged, she is determined to die in the place she lived her life and somehow manages to find her way "home" day after day. Feeling sympathy for the elderly woman, Roz's mother allows Tillie to move back in.

Mara Nightingale becomes Roz's first friend in Mills River. In spite of their many differences, the girls discover they have something in common that binds them together-both are hiding secrets. So they make a promise -"cross my heart and hope to die"-never to tell anyone else.

My Thoughts:

I really liked the friendship that developes here between Roz and Mara. I knew from the beginning that Roz's father would end up being trouble...and I was trying to warn Roz, but somehow she didn't  hear me...hmmm. Anyway, a very good book. I really liked how Roz came to learn of her Heavenly Father and how his part is her life was far more important than her drunk father's troubles. Tillie is a great character!

 

Words by Ginny Yttrup

Description:

Kaylee's mother is gone. And it seems she took Kaylee's voice with her. Now, ten-year old Kaylee must fend for herself with her mother's abusive boyfriend. Her days are spent collecting words she may never speak.

Sierra Dawn is alone. She has allowed the shame of her past to silence her present hopes. But on the twelth anniversary of her daughter's death, God begins wooing her back to Himself.Brought together by Divine design, the relationship between Kaylee and Sierra begins a healing process in each of them as they dare to let the Truth, Jesus Christ, set them free.

My Thoughts:

My heart ached for both Sierra and Kaylee. Such heartache for both of them! My favorite part was Sierra's "rebirth" into God's love and freedom from her past mistakes and seeing her learn to trust Him. It was hard to read of the abuse that Kaylee suffered and I was glad to see her get a chance to heal. Powerful story.  I also loved the friendship between Sierra and her college roommate (blanking on the name right now). Would love to have that kind of friend who would be there like that.

My pick for this category: Words