Friday Fun - May 26, 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 read In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse for one of my reading challenges. I needed a book that included exploration or pioneering.

       

I'm currently reading A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson. I decided I wanted to challenge myself to read one Christmas book each month this year, as I don't usually read Christmas books. I read The Christmas Cat by this author back in January and I really enjoyed it, so I thought I would try another of her books.

              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 In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse:

"Henry Brennan-the insufferable man-should've been dead. But he wasn't."

Sounds like someone has issues with this Henry Brennan, and I very much feared for Henry's life and wondered when he would meet his demise, especially having read the blurb on the back cover of the book.

And here is my Book Beginnings for A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson:

"Vera Swanson used to love Christmas."

Okay, so why doesn't she love Christmas anymore?

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.

In the Shadow of Denali by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse:
 

"John entered the office and saw their manager appearing grim.
Mrs. Johnson stood on the other side of the room with her hands on her hips, Cassidy to her right with her hands folded in front, and Thomas to the right of her, his head down. 'Mr. Bradley, I'm just asking for a reprieve.'"

A Quilt for Christmas by Melody Carlson:

"'I used to think I'd like to be an interior designer.' Tasha walked around the room, closely examining everything. 'My style is so out there though . . . I could only work for clients who appreciate bright colors, modern art, and eclectic furnishings.'"

To Enchant a Lady's Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher Review

To Enchant a Lady’s Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher is a novella that is a lovely introduction to the author’s The British are Coming series, the first book of which releases in the fall of 2023. The story takes place in England during the Victorian Era. Eliza Southwick’s father is insisting that a husband be found for Eliza, and he doesn’t care about her feelings in the matter. It is only important that a good deal be made. Lord Whitcombe is insistent that his son Sebastian settle down and get married and take care of their estate.

A grand party is planned at Hooke Manor, the Whitcombe estate, and Eliza and her father are invited early. However, Lord Whitcombe and Sebastian are not there when they arrive, and Eliza is greeted by Adam, the illegitimate son of Lord Whitcombe.

The reader could see that Adam and Eliza had feelings for each other, but how would they end up together when their father’s wanted to draw up a marriage contract between Eliza and Sebastian, the Viscount of Hooke Manor? There was no way Lord Southwick would allow his daughter to marry an illegitimate son of Lord Whitcombe, and Adam knew his place and didn’t want to ruin Eliza’s life.

I enjoyed getting to know Eliza, Sebastian, Adam, and Amada (Lord Whitcombe’s daughter). The story drew me in as I wanted to know if and how Eliza and Adam would end up together. I enjoyed the chaste, friendly interactions between Eliza and Adam as they got to know one another. I thought it was awesome that they both had a love for horses. And I loved that they both allowed God to guide their paths.

I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read Sebastian’s story, To Marry an English Lord.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the early reader team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton Review

 

I absolutely loved Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton. I was excited to be on the launch team for this book because I loved the author’s In the Midst series. Even though I knew this was a different genre, I wanted to give it a try, and I’m so glad I did.

Here's a look at what the book is about:

I loved that there was a dual timeline, but unlike other dual timeline books I’ve read, the characters in both timelines are the same. We get to see Ruth, Crosby, Haley and their families in the present day, but we also get to see them in their younger years as they grow up together.

The story begins with Ruth and Haley meeting, but then, in the present day timeline, we discover that “something” happened sometime in the past that destroyed their friendship. The story is told from both Ruth and Crosby’s points of view in both timelines.

I love the way details of the past are slowly revealed to help us understand what is going on in the present. There are times I get so mad at Haley, and wonder why in the world Ruth continues to remain her friend. But the biblical truths come through so well in this story. The forgiveness, the redemption, the faith in God, the growth in Christ.

My emotions were all over the place while reading this book. And yes, I was warned to have tissues handy, and I will warn you the same. Though there are some very devastating scenes, there are also heartwarming scenes, and hilarious scenes. The different relationships in the book are well shown and I love the way they evolved.

Definitely a book I highly recommend.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - May 19, 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 received an ARC of To Enchant a Lady's Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher. I'll be sharing my review shortly. The book officially releases on Monday, May 22nd, but the paperback is available now. 

       

I have also received an ARC of Rescue in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd as a part of the launch team. This book will release on June 27th. 

              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 To Enchant a Lady's Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher:

"The Blakeslee ballroom glittered as couples swirled around the dance floor."

Sounds like a joyful beginning, but I wondered. . .

And here is my Book Beginnings for Rescue in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd:

"Every fiber of William's being fought his presence in the room."

Okay, so who is William and why doesn't he want to be where he is?

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.

To Enchant a Lady's Heart by Robin Lee Hatcher:
 

"Only a few days before, she would have become lost in the labyrinth of hallways and narrow staircases. But not today.'"

Rescue in the Wilderness by Andrea Byrd:

"The three of them walked, huddled side by side, step by slow step. Just before they reached the summit, a cry rent the air. William froze and Lucinda turned her face into him at the blood-curdling sound."

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin Review

 

I loved The Sound of Light as much as I did the last two books that are connected. I know they aren't listed as a series, but When Twilight Comes and Until Leaves Fall in Paris and The Sound of Light are connected through the male main characters in each book. I always recommend reading these in order of publication if you don't want any spoilers. Granted they aren't major spoilers, but when I read books that have the same characters showing up in them, I don't want to know what happened in the others' lives.

Okay, that said, I have loved all three of these books by Sarah Sundin. I loved reading about Henrik, who goes by Hemming in the majority of the book, and Else and their work in the resistance, along with the struggles they are dealing with in their personal lives, plus seeing their relationship with each other grow. It was awesome learning more about Denmark during WWII and how Danes lived under the Nazi occupation of their country.

It was quite interesting to think of the philosophical questions brought up in the book when it came to light, and the discussion of the "sound of light" and the different meanings.

There were some intense scenes when it came to the Nazis, and some suspenseful parts as well. It definitely kept me turning the pages to see what would happen. 

Definitely a book I highly recommend.

Friday Fun - May 12, 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. 

My copy of In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer finally arrived! It's the second book in her Timeless series. I had a hard time putting it down. You can read my review here. And if you are interested, you can read my review of book one, When the Day Comes. 

       

I've been wanting to read The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin ever since I knew about it, and realized it was connected to When Twilight Breaks and Until Leaves Fall in Paris. I'm partway through and I'm also having trouble putting this book down. 

              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 In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer:

"Most days, I could pretend that my life was normal. I was a twenty-year-old woman searching for my place in the world, trying to decide my future."

Having read book one, I understood right away what she meant by pretending her life was normal. 

And here is my Book Beginnings for The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin:

"The sun rose on the first day of another year in the wasted life of Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt."

So why does Baron Henrik Ahlefeldt feel his life is being wasted. Such a depressing thought on one's birthday. 

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.

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer:
 

"'Which suggests,' he said, leaning a little closer to me as we entered the dining room, making my pulse pick up speed, 'that perhaps you're hiding more secrets than I first suspected.'"

The Sound of Light by Sarah Sundin:

"What would the connection cost? Henrik had sacrificed his lavish lifestyle to become Hemming. He'd sacrificed his voice to become the Havmand. He risked his life with every stroke of his oars, every exchange of envelopes under kneeling benches."

In This Moment by Gabrielle Meyer Review

 

I absolutely LOVED this book. Such an awesome sequel to When the Day Comes. I loved reading about Libby's daughter Maggie (or Margaret, or Meg). Instead of living in two different times like her mother did, Maggie has three paths. She lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. I loved that each of these times were such pivotal times in our countries history. The beginning of both the Civil War and World War 2, and the days leading up to 9/11.

Maggie had loving family and friends in all three time lines. I loved reading about each one, and seeing these times through her eyes. Seeing the struggles she had with her knowledge from the future time paths, but not being able to use that knowledge in the past. While her marked mother had lived in two different places, Williamsburg VA and New York City/England, Maggie lives in Washington DC in all three paths. I found it so fascinating that we got to see the differences in places throughout time. I also loved the historical figures that were actual characters in the story.

I also loved meeting the men in her life that became love interests and seeing how their relationships evolved. And to know she would only be able to pick one of them, only one life path to remain in. The struggles that she went through were heart wrenching at times. And there were definitely times I found myself in tears. I had been warned.

I loved this book and the twists and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Love in the Headlines by Penny Zeller Review

 

I absolutely loved this fun romantic comedy. Let’s just say, romcom is not my usual genre, but now I really want to start reading more of it. This is also my first book by Penny Zeller, and I can’t wait to read more of her books.

In this story we have four main characters. Carleigh (also known as Quirky Carleigh by Trey), and Trey (known as Trey “The Irritating” by Carleigh), plus their dogs, Sullivan Theodore IV and Jaxx. Yes, the dogs play a big part in this story. Carleigh and Trey work together for the small town newspaper and are suddenly forced to work together on just about all of their stories as they have been dubbed “The Oakville Daily Duo.” Which would be fine, if they weren’t adversaries who really can’t stand each other. And they are also neighbors as they discovered when Sullivan Theodore IV helped himself into Trey’s house via the doggie door. I found it amusing that Trey also has a nickname for Sullivan Theodore IV, “fluffy rat-dog.”

Carleigh and Trey find themselves together quite a bit, even outside of work hours, mainly because of the dogs. They have some hilarious encounters. The hijinks of the dogs had me laughing quite a bit. However, at the same time, there is something sinister going on in town. Robberies and eventually dognappings, which bring Carleigh and Trey even closer as they work on solving these mysteries, along with another that may, or may not, be related.

Now, this is a light-hearted read, not a suspense story, so the reader should know pretty early on who the bad guy is. There were times I was thinking, um, shouldn’t they be picking up on this or that by now.

If you want to find out about these mysteries and whether they are connected, and read about the hilarious hijinks of the dogs and how it affects their owners, and learn more about how Carleigh and Trey’s relationship evolves, I recommend picking up this great new release from Penny Zeller.

I received this book for free from the author as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - May 5, 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'm on the launch team for Love in the Headlines by Penny Zeller. It's a fun Christian RomCom, not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it, and may just have to start reading more romantic comedy. And I definitely have to read more books by Penny Zeller. 

       

I'm also on the launch team for Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton. This is the second launch team I have been on for one of her books. I'm just starting Neverending Mercy, so stay tuned.

              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 Love in the Headlines by Penny Zeller:

"It had been an exhausting day, and Carleigh Adams figured a hot bubble bath followed by snuggling up with a good book and a cup of tea was the perfect agenda for a Tuesday evening."

Sounds relaxing, but I had a feeling it wasn't going to happen. 

And here is my Book Beginnings for Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton:

"There was nothing memorable about the day I first met Haley Burnham."

So I had to wonder who Haley was and how they met and what kind of relationship they had after the day of meeting.

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.

Love in the Headlines by Penny Zeller:
 

"'I am still grieved by the possibility that my secret admirer is living a double life as a thief.' Lindy covered her mouth with her hand. 'How could it be?'"

Neverending Mercy by Latisha Sexton:

"My entire world shifted. Ruth was moving back? I had planned on avoiding her as much as possible for the next week until she returned to her life in Ohio. I didn't see any point in encouraging my feelings when she would be leaving."

Reading Challenges 2023: April Update

Here is what I read for my challenges in April:

I read Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black. I also read the second book in the series, The Game. 

I read The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham.

I read In the Midst of a Starry Night by Latish Sexton.

I read In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer. I also read A Very Bookish Easter which is a collection of four Easter novellas.

I read Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson. 

In January I read books that are set in the following states:

California: Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard

Ohio: Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill

Oregon: Innocent Lives and Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank

Pennsylvania: The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis 

South Carolina: Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynette Eason

Washington: The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson

In February I read books that are set in the following states:

Colorado: In the Midst of the Storm and In the Midst of the Darkest Hour by Latisha Sexton.

Indiana: Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson

Texas: The Inheritance Games, The Hawthorne Legacy, and The Final Gambit by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

In March I read books that are set in the following states:

Illinois: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner

Michigan: Dark of Night by Colleen Coble

Tennessee: Her Darkest Secret by Jessica R. Patch

Utah: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans

Vermont: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans

In April I read books that are set in the following states:

Florida: The Prayer Garden by Kelsey Bryant (one of the novellas in the A Very Bookish Easter collection)

Iowa: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham

Montana: Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black 

In January I read books that are set in the following European Countries:

England: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White

Switzerland: Heidi by Johanna Spyri

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

In January I read The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson. 

In March I read The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans and The Mistletoe Inn also by Richard Paul Evans

In April I read The Mistletoe Secret by Richard Paul Evans 

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

In January I read 10 books for this challenge

In February I read 7 books for this challenge

In March I read 9 books for this challenge

In April I read 8 books for this challenge

Read a book...

1-With a pink spine

2- By an author whose name starts with an  A: Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson (my thoughts)

3- 450 pages or longer

4- Published in 2023: Remember Me by Tracie Peterson (my thoughts)

5- That has won a Christy award

6- With multiple people on the cover: Lethal Intentions by Jennifer Chastain (my thoughts)

7- With a car or truck on the cover

8- That is the third book in a series: An Hour Unspent by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

9- That has a map inside: A Divine Romance by Ifueko Ogbomo (my thoughts)

10- A debut novel: In the Midst of the Storm by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

11- By an author you’ve never read before: The Hope of Azure Springs by Rachel Fordham (my thoughts)

12- That has food on the cover

13- Featuring a woman from the Bible: The Prophetess: Deborah's Story by Jill Eileen Smith (my thoughts)

14- With flowers on the cover: In Her Sights by Karen Witemeyer (my thoughts)

15- Featuring a child or teen as the main character: Innocent Voices by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

16- That you got for free: 

17- Featuring an athlete

18- That you pick because of the cover: Dream of Kings by Sharon Hinck (my thoughts)

19- Recommended by someone you know: Her Deepest Secret by Jessica R. Patch (my thoughts)

20- Set in a cool climate

21- Set during the Great Depression: Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse (my thoughts)

22- Featuring friends to lovers: Impending Strike by Sami A. Abrams/Lynnette Eason (my thoughts)

23- Published the month you were born: The Game by Cali Black (my thoughts)

24- With a blue cover: Wonderland Trials by Sara Ella (my thoughts)

25- With a main character with blonde hair: Innocent Lives by Julie Bonn Blank (my thoughts)

26- Set on an island

27- Set in a different country than you: Heidi by Johanna Spyri (my thoughts)

28- That takes place more than 200 years ago: Stay With Me by Jody Hedlund (my thoughts)

29- That features a member of the military: A Battle Worth Fighting by Sarah Hanks (my thoughts)

30- Set in South or Central America

31- By a male author: The Mistletoe Promise by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

32- Written in first person POV: The Mistletoe Inn by Richard Paul Evans (my thoughts)

33- Featuring a single parent: Dark of Night by Colleen Coble (my thoughts)

34- With a title that starts with B

35- That is a love inspired book: Taken in the Night by Elizabeth Goddard (my thoughts)

36- That involves a wedding

37- With an L in the title: Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana by Melanie Dobson (my thoughts)

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: The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner (my thoughts)

41- With an illustrated cover

42- From a genre outside your comfort zone

43- Written by multiple authors: Written by multiple authors: A Very Bookish Easter by Kelsey Bryant, Abigayle Clarie, Sarah Holman, and Kate Willis (my thoughts)

44- Set on a farm: The Timepiece by Beverly Lewis (my thoughts)

45- By an author that has also written nonfiction

46- By an indie author: In the Midst of a Starry Night by Latisha Sexton (my thoughts)

47- Published in 2012

48- With a sunset on the cover

49- That has cowboys: Blue Skies, Blue Eyes by Cali Black (my thoughts)

50- Without any people on the cover

51- By an author who uses a three part name (C.C. Warrens, Ann H. Gabhart): The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White (my thoughts)

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: Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill (my thoughts)

55- With a pet that isn’t a dog: The Christmas Cat by Melody Carlson (my thoughts)

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.