Friday Fun - January 27, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have two books to share with you. 

I am reading The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis for a couple of my challenges. I read the first book last year for one of my challenges, and never had a chance to read this one. 

       

I'm also reading A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo. I am on the launch team for this book, and it will be releasing on February 14th. 

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis:

"It was the last day of July, a sweltering Friday evening, and I took my sweet time heading back from the meadow where I had been walking , trying to make sense of the day. A day like no other. "

Sounded like this was just going to be a reminder of how book one ended. 

And here is my book beginnings for A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo:

"White.

It was the most beautifully bittersweet, unwanted yet beloved gift she had ever been bestowed. Fashioned from a fabric the purest of hues, she deemed it the loveliest raiment in all existence and one worthy of a queen. At least it was in her innocent eyes. Grasping two fistfuls of its pleated skirt, she buried her oval face in the delicate cloth, wanting to revive the unique scent of the garment’s rightful owner. But it was long gone."

I wondered what fabric she had been given and who the rightful owner was. 

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis:
 

"'I know it's unsettling and will take some time to get used to, but it appears that Adeline's your father's flesh and blood.' Mamma opened the fridge yet again and set out two heads of chilled lettuce, some radishes, carrots, and tomatoes. 'And that makes Adeline yours, too, Sylvie.""

A Divine Romance by Ifeuko Ogbomo:

"When the paddles landed, she only saw one dark shade. It was the sight that had made her father curse moments ago, but in her case, it was a swift, impeccably timed answer to her desperate prayer. Not bothering to execute the winning gesture, she buried her face in her hands and heaved an audible sigh of relief."

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White Review

 

I absolutely 100% loved An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White. Book one was my favorite until I read this one. I loved all three books in the series, but this was amazing. I loved finally getting to focus on Barclay, the big brother in this family of adopted once-upon-a-time thieves. To get to see a bit more back story and learn more about what made them tick as a family. And also to see Barclay's faith in God grow and his relationship change and grow with Evelina. All while living with them during WWI in London, England. I wish I didn't have to leave this family. Definitely a sign of a 5 star book for me.

Friday Fun - January 20, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have three books to share with you. 

I received Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynette Eason for free to judge for the Selah Awards. Such a great book. And now I decided I really need to read the original Elite Guardians series by Lynette Eason, plus the rest of the Elite Guardians Collection. 

       

I'm also in the middle of Unplugged by Donna Freitas. This is a book that was chosen for me by the librarian for the Blind Date with a Book program back in December. My husband has also been reading it. This is probably not a book I would have chosen myself, but I am enjoying it so far. 

I also just started An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White. I read the first two books of the Shadows Over England series last year, and just couldn't find time to fit this book into my reading schedule. Thankfully it fit quite nicely into one of my reading challenges for January, as I needed a book set in a different country.

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynette Eason:

"Did the crazy girl want to get herself killed?

Elite Guardians Agency bodyguard Lizzie Tremaine parked her older model silver BMW out of eyeshot of the biker bar and hefted herself from the driver's seat."

The first sentence definitely grabbed my attention and then the second explained a bit more about what was going on, but there was so much more to learn. 

And here is my book beginnings for Unplugged by Donna Freitas:

"I'll never forget the day the news rang through the App World. 

It was early June and I was just another virtual girl, looking forward to unplugging on her seventeenth birthday. I couldn't wait to see my real family again, and decide if maybe, just maybe, the real me was worth hanging on to."

Okay, so, I had to know what news this was she was talking about. And of course, I wanted to find out more about how this virtual world vs real world worked. 

And finally, my book beginnings for An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White:

"Barclay Pearce shouldered his way through the mob, invisible. He'd learned over the years how to blend into any crowd, and this one was no different."

Finally! I'd been waiting so long to read this book that focuses on Barclay. But I was concerned about why he needed to be invisible, hoping he wasn't still a common thief. 

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynette Eason:
 

"'Keep telling yourself that.' The crazy man would have been out of the car, or at least tried to be, if she'd hadn't hurried around. She scanned the neighborhood. Doubtful danger lurked around the corner, but Olivia had trusted Charlie's safety to her and Lizzie refused to take the job lightly. 'You ready?'"

Unplugged by Donna Freitas:

"The iron gate at the park's entrance creaked loudly as I opened it. Sometimes the effort to make the virtual seem realistic was too well done for my taste. The metal was heavy and cold in my hands and slightly electric. A faint current ran through me until I let go."

An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White:

"The tease in his voice made that coiled spring inside tighten a bit more, made her lips want to pull up again in response. Made her wonder how easy or difficult it might be to fit into a family like this."

Friday Fun - January 13, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have one book to share with you. 

I've been wanting to read Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill for a while. My library system finally got it in, but I still had to wait as I was trying to get through my challenges. Thankfully, Counterfeit Love fulfills the prompts for a couple of my January reading challenges. It's a book by an author I've never read before, a book about spies, and a debut novel. 

       

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill:

"'I don't understand why we can't marry sooner. Cincinnati doesn't require your grandfather's consent.'

Not this topic again. Theresa sighed as her fiancé tilted the umbrella to shield her from falling sleet and helped her into the closed carriage."

Had to wonder if Theresa was really giving her consent. 

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

Innocent Lives by Julie Bonn Blank:
 

"'Not anymore. Chief Brooks assigned me as lead.' He withdrew official letterhead from his coat and passed it to Broderick. 'To do business with koniackers, you have to think like them, not make pals of them.'"

Friday Fun - January 6, 2023

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with two different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays and the Friday 56.

This week I have three books to share with you. 

I had participated in a Christmas gift exchange in one of my groups last month. One day I realized the person I sent gifts to, Julie Bonn Blank, was an author. I read the description for her book Innocent Lives and thought it sounded like something I would enjoy. I will say, I did enjoy it, but it is a very hard subject, and it does get a bit more descriptive than I thought it was going to get, knowing the author was a Christian. But, it wasn't overly descriptive. It is a series about trafficking, and this first book includes scenes of abuse of different kinds. 

And because she is a new-to-me author, this book counts for one of my January reading challenges. 

       

I also read the second book in the Guardians of Grace series by Julie Bonn Blank, Innocent Voices. This book didn't have as many scenes of abuse, which I was thankful for. I enjoyed being able to continue the story of characters from the first book while getting to know new characters. The bummer is, it ends on a cliffhanger and the third book isn't out yet. 

I also started another book for one of my other reading challenges. I needed a book with "a" or "the" in the title from off of my bookshelf. I had won Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard a while back and have really been wanting to read it. I'm about halfway through and it is quite fast paced and has lots of action and suspense. 

              Book Beginnings on Fridays

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

Here is my book beginnings for Innocent Lives by Julie Bonn Blank:

"They were no longer children, and finally allowed real fun. 
Thursday at 7:00PM, Cienna and Jasmine's dads, Jimmy and Ken, still wiped off the occasional sweat drop from their foreheads and Mari, Jasmine's mom, complained about her flushed cheeks as she gathered her hair into a ponytail. 'One of those days!' She grabbed a park brochure off the picnic table to fan herself. 'You should get going!' She waved at the girls. 'Back before dark, please."

Knowing what the story was going to be about, I had a feeling they weren't going to be back before dark. Sadly. 

And here is my book beginnings for Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank:

"Jem glanced at Mom on the ratty couch. Mom trembled. Thank goodness she could help. Mom sweated - her face red. Jem pulled her earbuds out and set down her book. The song became a tiny sound. 'Maybe you should lay down.'"

I was figuring this was probably a case of a mom who was a druggie and a neglected child, or something like that. I wasn't sure if Jem was going to get kidnapped like the girls in the first book or not. 

Finally, here is my book beginnings for Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard:

"Small campfires glowed in the darkness, dotting the campground as Danielle Collins drove five miles per hour along the curvy, paved road. Her window down, she listened to subdued voices murmuring here and there as she passed campsite after campsite searching for her brother's flashy Tesla, which would definitely stand out."

Seemed like a nice little outing, but from the cover and the book description I knew it wasn't going to remain nice for long.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is hosted over at Freda's Voice.

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections.

Innocent Lives by Julie Bonn Blank:
 

"Amber laughed into her pillow. 'Don't be dumb. You'll probably forget lots of things in the next few months. But really it's better to not remember too much.'

Long after Amber fell asleep, Jasmine puzzled over her roommate's words."

Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank:

"Jem felt weak and overwhelmed. She headed to a large rock near the water, within hearing distance should Jade awake. 'I just want Jade to be warm and safe. And to find Grandma.' She mumbled as she sat."

Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard:

"'Wait here,' he whispered. Though he believed the house was safe - after all, it was supposed to be a safe house - he wouldn't presume that to be truth, and he quickly cleared it, turning on lights as he went."

Reading Challenges 2023 Introduction

I'm gong to be participating in several challenges again this year. 

The first challenge again comes from the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction Facebook Group I am in.

The Unlocking the Past: Unlock the Adventure Reading Challenge is from Crystal Caudill's blog.

There is also the reading challenge from the Eating Our Words Facebook group. 

I also found a new-to-me Facebook group that is also doing a challenge, The Posse:

I'm also joining in with a new-to-me challenge this year:

I'm also going to try to read a book set in each of the 50 states. I'd already decided I wanted to do this, and then I found the Literary Escapes Challenge. 

I'm also going to try to read books set in as many European countries as possible with the 2023 European Reading Challenge from Rose City Reader. 

Finally, someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group came up with a 55 book challenge:

Read a book...

1-With a pink spine

2- By an author whose name starts with an A

3- 450 pages or longer

4- Published in 2023

5- That has won a Christy award

6- With multiple people on the cover

7- With a car or truck on the cover

8- That is the third book in a series

9- That has a map inside

10- A debut novel

11- By an author you’ve never read before

12- That has food on the cover

13- Featuring a woman from the Bible

14- With flowers on the cover

15- Featuring a child or teen as the main character

16- That you got for free

17- Featuring an athlete

18- That you pick because of the cover

19- Recommended by someone you know

20- Set in a cool climate

21- Set during the Great Depression

22- Featuring friends to lovers

23- Published the month you were born

24- With a blue cover

25- With a main character with blonde hair

26- Set on an island

27- Set in a different country than you

28- That takes place more than 200 years ago

29- That features a member of the military

30- Set in South or Central America

31- By a male author

32- Written in first person POV

33- Featuring a single parent

34- With a title that starts with B

35- That is a love inspired book

36- That involves a wedding

37- With an L in the title

38- By an author from a different country than you

39- With a black cover

40- With a title that has 5 or more words

41- With an illustrated cover

42- From a genre outside your comfort zone

43- Written by multiple authors

44- Set on a farm

45- By an author that has also written nonfiction

46- By an indie author

47- Published in 2012

48- With a sunset on the cover

49- That has cowboys

50- Without any people on the cover

51- By an author who uses a three part name (C.C. Warrens, Ann H. Gabhart)

52- That features a hobby or skill you’d like to learn

53- With a nanny, babysitter, or governess

54- An author with the same two initials (Colleen Coble)

55- With a pet that isn’t a dog

My Goodreads goal is to read 100 books this year. Last year I had set it at 75 and I ended up reading 115. I think I will be able to meet my 100 book goal. 

I know this seems like a lot, but like last year, I hope to be able to combine challenges where possible. And when I pick books for the monthly challenges, I will try to choose books that take place in different states or countries.

Reading Challenges 2022 Conclusion

So, I jumpstarted my blog this past March with a post about the reading challenges I decided to participate in this year. I completely all my challenges!

This first challenge came from the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction Facebook Group I am in.

These are the books I read: 

Then there was the Back Porch Reading Challenge.

These are the books I read:

The Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge was from Crystal Caudill's blog.

These are the books I read:

And then there was the reading challenge from the Eating Our Words Facebook group. 

These are the books I read:

Plus someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group came up with this challenge:

I'm so excited! I actually read all 75 books for this challenge!!

Level 1: 12 books- success!

Level 2: 25 books- success!

Level 3: 50 books- success!

Level 4: All 75!

I read 7 books in January for this challenge.

I read 7 books in February for this challenge. 

I read 9 books in March for this challenge (I can't count Keturah or Veiled in Smoke yet as I haven't finished them.)

I read 10 book in April for this challenge.

I read 8 book in May for this challenge (I can't count The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus yet as I finished it in June)

I read 7 books in June for this challenge (I can't count When Twilight Breaks as I haven't quite finished it yet.)

I read 5 books in July for this challenge. (It's getting harder to fit all the books I read each month into these different challenge categories.)

I read 11 books in August for this challenge.  (though one is an extra on the teacher/principal prompt)

I read 3 books in September for this challenge.

I read 1 book in October for this challenge.

I read 1 book in November for this challenge.

I read 5 books in December to complete this challenge! Plus I realized that a book I read this summer actually fulfilled another prompt.

Green: Read

Read a book...

1. With a verb in the title: Lost in the Land of the Midnight Sun by Christina Cattane (my thoughts)

2. With an infant or child on the cover: Then Sings My Soul by Amy K Sorrells (my thoughts)

3. With a tree on the cover: Forsaken Island by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

4. With a pink cover: The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

5. Set in the mountains: Woman in Shadow by Carrie Stuart Parks (my thoughts)

6. Set during your favorite season: Firefly Diaries by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

7. That includes your favorite holiday: Holly Jolly Christmas by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

8. With a building on the cover: Captives by Jill Williamson (my thoughts)

9. Published the month you were born: Bookshop by the Sea (my thoughts)

10. That has a dual timeline: The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jamie Jo Wright (my thoughts)

11. Recommended by an author you enjoy: The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron (my thougths)

12. With little to no romance: Crossed Off by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

13. Published in 2022: Malicious Intent by Lynn H. Blackburn (my thoughts)

14. That is a debut novel: The Stones Cry Out by Sibella Giorello (my thoughts)

15. Written in first person POV: Luminary by Krista McGee (my thoughts)

16. By a male author: Hangman's Curse by Frank Peretti (my thoughts)

17. Written by multiple authors: Cast the First Stone by David James Warren (my thoughts)

18. By an author who writes with a pen name: Sticks and Stone by David James Warren (my thoughts)

19. By an author who has multiple award winning books Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks (my thoughts)

20. That is also a movie or tv series: Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

21. That you choose because of the cover: Dust by Kara Swanson (my thoughts)

22. Reread a favorite: Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

23. That makes you laugh: Meet me in the Margins by Melissa Ferguson (my thoughts)

24. A genre outside your comfort zone: Counted With the Stars by Connilyn Cossette (my thoughts)

25. That has been on your tbr list for a long time: Unknown Threat by Lynn H. Blackburn (my thoughts)

26. A book with multiple POV: The Tinderbox by Beverly Lewis (my thoughts)

27. Less than 250 pages long: Tributary by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

28. Written before the year 2000: This Present Darkness by Frank Peretti (my thoughts)

29. That has a number in the title: A Hundred Crickets Singing by Cathy Gohlke (my thoughts)

30. Set in Asia or Africa: Ghost Heart by Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry (my thoughts)

31. Based on a true story or event: Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green (my thoughts)

32. That is part of a series: Revolutionary by Krista McGee (my thoughts)

33. With a title that doesn't include the word "the": Injustice for All by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

34. Set during WWII: Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin (my thoughts)

35. That is considered fantasy: Magnify by Stefanie Lozinski (my thoughts)

36. A novella of a series you enjoyed: Bourne by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

37. With a main character that is a POC: Imperfect Justice by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

38. Set somewhere you've been: A Mosaic of Wings (first part set in Ithaca NY) (my thoughts)

39. Over 400 pages long: Night Bird Calling by Cathy Gohlke (my thoughts)

40. Featuring a teacher or principal: The Souls of Lost Lake by Jaime Jo Wright (my thoughts) also Fallout by Carrie Stuart Parks (my thoughts)

41. With a main character over the age of 50: Who Murdered Mr. Malone by Hope Callaghan (my thoughts)

42. A book that could be considered scary or intimidating: The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright (my thoughts)

43. That features a game (chess, tag, board game, etc) or sport: Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury (my thoughts)

44. By an indie author: Cross the Line by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

45. With a title or story element that relates to the ocean: Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

46. Featuring a coffee shop or cafe: Happily Ever After by Susan May Warren (my thoughts)

47. With a musician, singer, or songwriter: A Song Unheard by Roseanna White (my thoughts)

48. With a dystopian or utopian theme or element: Anomaly by Krista McGee (my thoughts)

49. That is historical fiction: A Name Unknown by Roseanna M White (my thoughts)

50. With a main character that has red hair: Criss Cross by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

51. With a character that has a mental or physical disability: Cross Fire by C.C. Warrens (my thoughts)

52. A feel good book: The Dating Charade by Melissa Ferguson (my thoughts)

53. A beach read: Turtle Box Memories by Chandra Lynn Smith (my thoughts)

54. By an author who shares your last initial: Outcasts (my thoughts)

55. Featuring an artist, writer, or photographer: Fragments of Fear by Carrie Stuart Parks (my thoughts)

56. That includes dance: Hidden Current by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

57. That has your favorite color on the cover: No Unturned Stone by David James Warren (my thoughts)

58. With a rainbow or multicolored cover: The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

59. Set at a tavern, inn, or hotel: A Stranger’s Game by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

60. By an author you’ve never read before: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

61.That is a graphic novel or has illustrations: Chosen Graphic Novel by Ted Dekker

62. A book that involves a fortune or treasure: The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

63. With a fruit or vegetable on the cover: The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano (my thoughts)

64. That involves a family feud: In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh (my thoughts)

65. With the enemies to lovers trope: Raspberries and Vinegar by Valeria Comer (my thoughts)

66. A book that is a best seller: When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin (my thoughts)

67. With royal or noble characters: Princess Ever After by Rachel Hauck (my thoughts)

68. By an author who is no longer writing: Brink of Death by Brandilyn Collins (my thoughts)

69. That is considered women’s fiction: The Joy of Falling by Lindsay Harrel (my thoughts)

70. That is a tearjerker: Jennifer by Dee Henderson (my thoughts)

71. Featuring a character that is in politics: Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

72. With a women in a STEM career field: Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

73. With a sun or moon on the cover: Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren (my thoughts)

74. A book with a one word title: Rebels by Jill Williamson (my thoughts)

75. Written by a European author: Cold Dead Night by Lisa Phillips (my thoughts)