Tree Swing Reading

New from Irene Hannon: That Certain Summer

This is a definite pick for my summer reading list!

Title: That Certain Summer

Author: Irene Hannon

Released:
May 2013

Publisher: Revell

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Series: no

Publisher's Description

 Karen and Val are family--yet they're anything but close. Karen has carried the burden of responsibility for her aging mother ever since her gorgeous sister left town years ago to pursue a career in theater. But Val had darker reasons for leaving town--as well as a secret to keep--and coming home has never been an option . . . until their mother suffers a stroke.

Reunited in their hometown, Karen and Val must grapple with their past mistakes, their relationship with each other, and their issues with a mother who is far from ideal. When a physical therapist raising his daughter alone and a handsome but hurting musician enter the picture, the summer takes on a whole new dimension. As their lives intersect and entwine, can each learn how to forgive, how to let go, and how to move on? And strengthened by the healing power of faith, might they also find the courage to love?

With her trademark compelling characters and heartwarming hope, fan favorite Irene Hannon offers her readers an inspiring true-to-life tale of complex family relationships, transgressions revealed and forgiven, and the complicated process of finding love.

To find out more about Irene Hannon, check out her website.

New Release from Rachel Hauck: Once Upon a Prince

Love the cover of this one!  Looks like a great summer read!

'[A] surprisingly believable royal-meets-commoner love story. With only a subtle nod to Cinderella, this modern and engaging tale follows the budding relationship of an American Southern girl and a pseudo-Brit prince . . . Hauck fans will find a gem of a tale.' --Publishers Weekly

Title: Once Upon a Prince

Released:
May 2013

Publisher: Zondervan

Genre: Romance Fiction

Series: yes, Royal Weddings Series Book 1

Publisher's Description

nce Upon a Prince, the first novel in the Royal Wedding series by best-selling author Rachel Hauck, treats you to a modern-day fairy tale. Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life. The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simons Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love. Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's an ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation. It's the ultimate choice: His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?

To find out more about Rachel Hauck, check out her website.

Work In Progress Wednesday: Handprint Classroom Quilt

I'm a big crafter.  I love sewing, quilting, knitting, crocheting, beading, paper crafts, all of it!  I have tons of projects lined up. So, to inspire me to keep working on them and to maybe even inspire some of you to work on projects of your own, I'm starting a weekly feature that I've seen on other blogs too: Work in Progress Wednesday!

I'm hoping I can share my projects as I work on them and follow up with the completed projects as well.

This week's project is a quilt.

My 5th grade daughter's teacher is having a baby this summer.  I wanted to do something special for her from her students. 

Another teacher helped me get all the class' handprints in fabric paint on fabric and wrote their names in fabric marker next to them. 

I found a print I liked for the back that coordinated with her baby room colors and bought a bunch of fat quarters to make the pieced border. I've been busily putting borders on the squares and putting the squares together.  The shower is on June 7, so I've got to get it done very soon! 

Next up, finishing the border, machine quilting it, and then putting on the binding.

Can't wait to give it to her! I love the bright, fun colors.

We are also playing some shower games in the classroom, giving her a gift from her registry, and having some cupcakes.  So far I think the kids are doing a good job keeping it a secret.  They are so excited to see the finished quilt! 

Review of Every Breath You Take by M.K. Gilroy

I downloaded this book to Audible.com and got to listen to it while I walked this spring!

Description:

When a high-profile murder is tied to an online dating service, the Chicago news media is abuzz. Someone needs to go undercover to track down the killer in the world of personal profiles---so who better than single, attractive detective Kristen Conner? First priority is to solve the case---but might she discover a soul mate as well?

My Thoughts:

Another great book from M.K. Gilroy!  I really, really like Kristen Conner.  She's very funny.  And, although it sounds strange to call a suspense book "funny," there are some very funny parts to this book.  The suspense aspect of this book was also excellent.  Loved every minute of it and can't wait to read more by this author!

Book Bullets:

• My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
• Genre: Suspense Fiction
• Part of a Series: yes, Kristen Conner Mystery Series book 2
  
• Publication year: 2012
• Publisher: Worthy Publishing

Related articles

Review of "Cuts Like a Knife" by M.K. Gilroy

Book winner

Congrats to Karen! Winner of the book Afloat.

Thanks for entering!

Don't worry, I'll be back soon!

So, dance recital week was last week!  My girls did great and danced every day for hours in preparation. But, it was a crazy week for me.  Not one spare minute to blog or think about books.

Now this week, my mom is visiting from Washington state and we are keeping very busy together!  We have just a few more days together, so I am devoting every moment I can to being with her since I don't get to see her very often.

So, I'll be back again next week!

Here's some teasers at what's coming up:

• More book reviews, of course.
• The Christy Award Nominees giveaways.
• More info on new releases.
• A "what to read this summer" preview.
• Weekly "WIP" (work in progress) posts on my sewing and crafting projects.
• And more!

Be sure to check back next week again for all this!

Love to you all!

Tami

Series winner

Congrats to Cindi! Winner of the Jocelyn Green series!

Thanks for entering!

New Release Giveaway: "Afloat" by Erin Healy

Erin Healy is a really great author!  Be sure to enter to win this book!

How to enter...

Here are the rules for the giveaway:

1. Post a comment below.

2. In the post include an answer to the random question of the week.

Today's Question in honor of Mother's Day: What's a dish your mama made, that if set in front of you today would whisk you right back to childhood?

My Answer: Grilled cheese sandwiches, roast beef, or pea soup! 

3. Be sure to leave some way for me to reach you should you win (an email preferably).

4. Closing date to enter for this book is: May 19. Winner will be announced on May 20.

Today's Book is Afloat by Erin Healy.

Dark waters are rising.

There’s sabotage lurking in the waters of Eagle’s Talon, an elite floating community designed by gifted architect Vance Nolan. There’s also something else in the water—a mysterious presence friendly to some and hostile to others. And when disaster strikes, not even the saboteur expects it to be the first in a series of crushing blows.

Stranded by a flood and surrounded by unnatural darkness, a limping band of residents, builders, and investors set their sights on escape. Single mom Danielle Clement will do whatever it takes to save her young son Simeon, but she doesn’t know who to follow: her charismatic lover and aspiring politician Tony Dean, who dotes on her and her boy, or the selfless Vance, who promises protection for everyone who stays with him—based on a vision and a faith she doesn’t share.

In this watery world where everyone's secrets will eventually come to light, survival might have more to do with uncovering the truth than with getting out alive.

I'm back to the real world!

I feel like I've been living underground.  Seriously.  Like I lost touch with reality for a good week at least.  I still fed my family and bathed and walked the dog, but other than that, I was deep into a design project.

I have now come up for air!

Can you hear me gasping for normal air again?! whew!

I got it off to the printer yesterday!  Praise God for the lifting of the burden!

Thanks for being here when I got back!

New Release Giveaway Returns Next Week!

Hi there!  I've been kind of absent this week, I know. It's a crazy week.  I'm caught up in the drama and sleeplessness of putting together a 60-page book for my daughter's class memory book.  I'm doing a huge sewing project too and costume adjustments for the girls' dance studio upcoming recital. 

Whew!  I am feeling overwhelmed, but also grateful for the opportunities to do all these things.

In the meantime, I just wanted to say a quick hello and tell you that I'll be more present again next week.

Happy Weekend!

HUGS!