Friday Fun - July 26, 2024

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

This week I have two books to share with you.

I just finished reading The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli for a few of my reading challenges.

I am currently reading The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(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.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

  The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli:

"The bell was beautiful."

I am glad the bell was beautiful. I was curious what bell she was referring to and curious as to why is was significant to the story. 

The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer:

"'Girls? Girls! Hour to open!"

I hadn't been sure when reading the blurb if we would see Birdie's story before she ended up at the "house of ill repute," but from this first line, I realized she was probably already there. As that probably isn't how a mother would wake her daughters. 

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

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 Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli:
 

"I slid from my feather mattress, crept to the window, where a sliver of moon lit the night sky. A breath trembled up my lungs. For days-and nights-I'd been attempting to summon up the courage to do what I'd vowed I must the night the mob came to the Clarke house. And night upon night, I looked out my window onto the cold streets below, Mill Creek just beyond, and allowed fear to swallow up my courage."

The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer:

"Bernice and Lucretia, both with tears staining their faces, crowded into her line of vision. Bernice said, 'You gave us a terrible scare, Mrs. Overly, falling to the floor like a rag doll. Are you all right?'"

Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun post. I also shared the link to the review of that book last week. Two weeks ago I shared a couple of books in my Friday Fun post. Here's my review:

What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker 

What We Hide by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker Review

 

 

I'm a huge fan of Colleen Coble's books, so when I learned about What We Hide, which she co-authored with Rick Acker, I knew I was going to have to read it. Rick Acker is a new-to-me author, and now I can't wait to read more of his books. I love that there was romantic suspense with legal/courtroom suspense added in. 

Savannah and Hez have been separated and are headed for divorce, though Hez would love to be able to get back together with Savannah and show her that he is a changed man. Savannah would prefer to have nothing to do with him, that is until she suddenly finds herself the main suspect in a murder that occurred on the college campus where she works. The college her ancestors helped found. 

The reader knows early on that there is smuggling of ancient artifacts taking place, but the mystery revolves around who is actually doing the smuggling, what exactly is being smuggled, and how is the murder related. As the story progresses, there are more mysteries and lots of suspense and twists, more deaths, and another suspect added into the mix. 

Savannah and Hez do end up finding themselves working together to try to solve this mystery and find the killer and clear those who have come under suspicion. But more secrets and twists keep popping up and we can't be sure who can be trusted. 

I had actually suspected the person who ends up being the murderer early on. But with all the twists, I figured maybe I was wrong. However, the authors throw in a final twist at the end along with a cliff hanger that makes me desperate to read the sequel. Which I hope isn't too long in the coming. 

One thing that frustrated me was that Savannah and Hez weren't communicating with each other when it came to their relationship. They kept assuming. It's like, just sit down and talk it out please! I understand with the tragedy they shared from their past that there were things that they had to work through. I was thinking they would benefit from some biblical marriage counseling. 

All in all, I loved this book and highly recommend it. 

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Reading Challenges 2024: June Update

Here is what I read for my challenges in June:

For the June challenge in the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction FB group I needed a book where a wedding takes place. I read Wings of the Wind by Connilynn Cossette which had a really short marriage ceremony that took place in biblical times. I'm still counting it though.

For the challenge over at Crystal Caudill's blog, I read a few books that could count. Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles has a scene where they are burying the remains of someone and  then they light a fire. The Sword in His Hand by J.J. Fischer contains a scene with a funeral pyre. And there is a funeral in The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma.

For the challenge in the Eating Our Words FB group I read The Sword in His Hand by J.J. Fischer for my June book. With this challenge, we can choose to read the book IN the month, or any time of the year, OR we can do both. So, like last year, I am choosing to try both. 

Because of You by Hannah Currie works for November. 

For the challenge in The Posse FB group, I read two books. Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles and Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse. 

I am continuing the Read Your Bookshelf challenge from Chantel Reads All Day with the Arthur Conan Doyle side of the flow chart. In June I read The Sword in His Hand by J.J. Fishcer.

I loved Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse..

One of the authors I follow, Malissa Chapin, is also doing a challenge on her FB page, Malissa Chapin's Merry Band of Book Lovers:

I had already read a book that fit the June prompt . However, a few of the books I read this month could also count. The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron is dual time line st in both WWI and WWII. Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette takes place during the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness and the capture of Jericho. And The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma takes place in 1950. I still haven't read a book that would fit April or May.

I read Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette for June's challenge in the Faith Filled Fiction group.

For the Literary Escapes Challenge here is what I read in each month. 

In January I read books set in the following states:

Alaska: 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse 
Arkansas: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer
Illinois: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer 
Missouri: The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

Oregon: Huband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong
South Carolina: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble 
Wyoming:  Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black 

And I traveled to England with If I Were You by Lynn Austin

In February I read books set in the following states:

Kentucky: Reverence in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd 
New Mexico: One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

Ohio: Assaulted Caramel by Ameanda Flower 

Tenessee: Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

Wisconsin: The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright

And I traveled to Ireland with The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

In March I read books set in the following new states (though I did also return to Wyoming):

Colorado: Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton and Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse

Connecticut: When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir

Idaho: Levi's Vow by Penny Zeller
North Carolina: Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

And I traveled back to England with The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan.

In April I read books set in the following new states (though I did also return to Colorado, Missouri, and North Carolina):

Iowa: A Surefire Love by Emily Conrad
Minnesota: Lethal Danger by Jerusha Agen
Virginia: The Vanished by Cara Putman

And I traveled back to England again with The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano.

In May I read a book set in the following new state (though I did also return to Kentucky, North Carolina, and Colorado):

Massachusetts: For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

And I traveled to Germany with The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann, Iran with Protector by Megan Schaulis and somewhere in the Middle East with  The Esther Paradigm by Sarah Monzon, plus returned to England with The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder.

In June I read books set in the following new states (though I did also return to Kentucky, Alaska, and Idaho):

California: Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse
Florida: The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma 

And I traveled back to England again with The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron. I also traveled to Thailand with Because of You by Hannah Currie, a fantasy land inside the Bermuda Triangle with The Sword in His Hand by J.J. Fischer, and the area in eastern Egypt and around Israel/ancient Canaan with Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette.

Here is what I've read for the Alphabet Soup Challenge:

January: 

D: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer, The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

F: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble, Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black 
H: Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong 
I: If I Were You by Lynn Austin 

T: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer
U: An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey 

February: 

A: Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower 
C: The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson and The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep

E: Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

O: One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey (mini challenge)

R: Reverence in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd and The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright

March:

L: Levi's Vow by Penny Zeller and Love's Promise by Penny Zeller
M: The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan
N: Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn
S: Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse and Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton
W: When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir (mini challenge)

April:

B: Braving Strange Waters by Sarah Hanks and The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckenkamp (mini challenge)

V: The Vanished by Cara Putman

May: 

C: Callie and the Pumpkin Seed by Sarah Beran (mini challenge)

G: The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder and The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch

J: Justice Delayed by Sarah Hamaker
P: Protector by Megan Schaulis

June:

D: Dreams on the Horizon by Penny Zeller (already had D, but this was for the mini challenge)

Here's what I've read for the 2024 European Reading Challenge from Rose City Reader. 

In January I read a book set in the following European country:

England: If I Were You by Lynn Austin 

In February I read a book set in the following European country:

Ireland: The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel 

In March I didn't read any books that were set in any new European countries. 

In April I didn't read any books that were set in any new European countries. 

In May I read a book set in the following European country: 

Germany: The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann 

In June I didn't read any books that were set in any new European countires.

I also decided I was going to read one Christmas book each month. 

For January I started The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson; however, I haven't finished it yet.

In February I finished The Christmas Dog by Meloday Carlson, but I didn't read any other Christmas books.

In March I didn't read any Christmas books.

In April I didn't read any Christmas books either. I don't think I"m doing real well on this self-imposed challenge this year.

In May, yeah, didn't happen. I have way too many ARC's I am reading to be able to fit in another challenge. 

In June, still didn't happen. 

Also, someone in my Avid Readers of Christian Fiction group again came up with a yearly book challenge. This year we have 50 prompts:

In January, 8 of the books I read fit this challenge

In Febrary, 9 of the books I read fit this challenge

In March, 5 of the books I read fit this challenge

In April, 6 of the books I read fit this challenge

In May, 6 of the books I read fit this challenge

In June, 5 of the books I read fit this challenge

Read a book...

1. With a title that starts with a P

2. By an author you’ve never tried before: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer

3. Set on the coast: Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter

4. With a tree on the cover: The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep

5. By an author whose name starts with a J: Lethal Danger by Jerusha Agen

6. From a genre outside your comfort zone: A Sudden Romance by Rose Fresquez

7. With an adverb in the title: Always Think of Me by Lori Keesey

8. Featuring a character with grey hair: Love's Promise by Penny Zeller

9. That has won a Carol award: The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright

10. Published in 2024: 8 Down by Kimberley Woodhouse

11. By a debut author: When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir

12. Written by multiple authors: Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

13. With a green cover: Callie and the Pumpkin Seed by Sarah Beran

14. That is a bestseller

15. Set on a boat, train, or plane: Braving Strange Waters by Sarah Hanks

16. With an illustrated cover: Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

17. With a main character who is disabled

18. With a single mother or father: The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

19. Written by an indie author: Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black

20. Set somewhere you’ve been: If I Were You by Lynn Austin

21. Featuring law enforcement: Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

22. Published during the summer: The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma

23. Set during a holiday: The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson

24. That is considered women’s fiction 

25. Featuring a Jewish character: Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette

26. Set over 100 years ago: Reverence in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd

27. The contains Bible verses: The CEO's Companion by Rose Fresquez

28. With a teenager as a main character: A Surefire Love by Emily Conrad 

29. With a one word title: Protector by Megan Schaulis

30. A book you preordered: For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

31. With a solid colored cover

32. By an author who writes with a pen name 

33. That takes place in a national park 

34. With a title that starts with an M: The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan

35. By a male author

36. That includes pirates

37. By an author whose name starts with the letter T: The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckenkamp

38. That has been made into a movie or television show 

39. With forgiveness as a topic or theme: The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

40. Featuring a journalist: Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

41. That includes sisters: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble

42. With a midwife or doula

43. That takes place in a country you’ve never been to: The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith

44. That is lighthearted or humorous: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer

45. Set during WWII: The Sword in His Hand by J.J. Fischer

46. That you choose because of the cover: Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse

47. By an author who writes multiple genres: 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse

48. With a dual timeline: The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron

49. With a second chance romance: Secondary Target by Angela Carlisle

50. Recommended by someone you know: Assaulted Caramel by Amanda Flower

Also, I joined in with a second yearly challenge last year in the Scripture Literature-You Are What You Read group. I just never added it to my blog post. So, this year I'm adding it here, though the post is going to be so long. LOL. 

In January, 8 of the books I read fit this challenge

In Febrary, 8 of the books I read fit this challenge

In March, 6 of the books I read fit this challenge

In April, 4 of the books I read fit this challenge

In May, 10 of the books I read fit this challenge

In June, 3 of the books I read fit this challenge

So, here it is:

1- Takes place in Israel: Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette

2- Second chance: An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey

3- Not you usual genre: A Sudden Romance by Rose Fresquez

4- Significant church event

5- Well known author/lesser known book

6- Major motion picture

7- About an influential Christian

8- A Mysterious disappearance: Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley

9- Speculative Fiction: The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith

10- Protagonist has a disease/disability: Embers in the London Sky by Sarah Sundin

11- Recommended by an author: The Captive Heart by Michelle Griep

12- Includes angels: Always Think of Me by Lori Keesey

13- An inheritance: Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble 

14- Finish what you started: 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse 

15- Carol Award winner: The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright

16- A Spy: The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan

17- Forgiveness: Love's Promise by Penny Zeller

18- Redemption: When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir

19-Less than 200 pages: The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson

20. Two or More Authors: Beyond the Silence by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse

21. By your Favorite Author: For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer

22. Male Protagonist: The CEO's Companion by Rose Fresquez

23. Recommended on this Page

24. Blended Families: Callie and the Pumpkin Seed by Sarah Beran

25. Book of Devotions

26. Christian Literary Classic

27. Dystopian:Protector by Megan Schaulis

28- Mistaken Identity: Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer 

29- A Life Lesson: Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

30. Bible Retelling: The Esther Paradigm by Sarah Monzon

31.-The American Frontier: Reverence in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd

32. Features Music: Justice Delayed by Sarah Hamaker

33. Recovering from Addiction

34. Gothic Romance: The Girl from the Hidden Forest by Hannah Linder

35- Eye Catching Cover: Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer

36: Takes Place on an Island: The Garden Girls by Jessica R. Patch 

37. Spiritual Warfare

38- Protagonist Shares your Occupation: Levi's Vow by Penny Zeller

39. Written by a Famous Christian

40- Family Estrangement: The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold 

41. Tear Jerker: The Butterfly Recluse by Therese Heckenkamp

42- Treasure Hunt: The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple by Joanna Davidson Politano

43- New to You Author: The Vanished by Cara Putman 

44. Mother-Daughter Bond: Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

45. 2023 Best Seller

46. Title Includes a Color: Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles

47. Fairytale

48. On your TBR: One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

49. Alternate Reality

50. Written before 1950

51. Includes a Foreign Language: The Irish Matchmaker by Jennifer Deibel

52. Includes a Historical Monarch: If I Were You by Lynn Austin

53. Choose your own Adventure: The Crown Conspiracy by Connie Mann

My Goodreads goal is to read 110 books this year. Last year I had set it at 100 and I ended up reading 122. So far this year I have read 58 books. 

Phew, I know this seems like a lot, even more than last year, but like last year, I hope to be able to combine challenges where possible. And with the yearly challenges, I read books for the other challenges and then see where they fit in the yearly challenge lists. Also, when I pick books for the monthly challenges, I will try to choose books that take place in different states or countries. Also, I'll probably prioritize the challenges I've been doing longer if I start struggling with keeping up.