Friday Fun - January 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 am on the launch team for Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black. It is the first in a series and one of her Sweet with Sizzle books. This book released today!

I'm also reading Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong. This is for one of my reading challenges. 

        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 is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

  Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black:

"'Laramie, hurry up! The airport shuttle is here.'"

What's so important about the airport shuttle? Were they going somewhere? 

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

"I hated My Best Friend's Wedding"

That was confusing at first.

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 is my Friday 56 selection.

Fake Relationship at the Triple Z by Cali Black:
 

"Laramie's heart contracted with affection for Ridge's sister. 'Ridge worries about you, you know? You should tell him some of these things. I think he'd worry less if he knew what you were thinking.'"

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

"I flip to the page on 'Getting Him to Commit,' sincerely hoping Luke never watches our YouTube channel and sees me doing this. 'Here it is. When Luke comes to pick me up, you can film me not talking about having children with him, not discussing politics, and not letting him see my age on my driver's license.'"

Reviews:

Last week I shared one book in my Friday Fun post. Two weeks ago I had shared three books, but I hadn't finished all of them to share my reviews last week. If you would like to read my reviews, I invite you to click on the links below.

If I Were You by Lynn Austin

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey

An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey Review

 

An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey was a wonderful historical romance novel set in 1905 during the early days of the automobile and early auto racing. Flora Montfort is a widow who used to race with her husband until he died in an accident. Jensen Gable is an auto mechanic who wants nothing to do with the dangerous contraptions anymore, ever since his as-close-as-a-brother friend also died in an accident. The two meet in Philadelphia while there for a wedding and don’t quite hit it off at first. Yet they are thrust together to participate in the 10-day Glidden Tour that will take them from NYC through New England and back.

The story alternates between both their points of view. I love Flora’s independent spirit and tenacity as she competes as a pioneer female automobile racer, one who isn’t afraid to take risks. Which of course is a huge obstacle to Jensen, who is all about safety. So, you know, put them together in a race and things are bound to end up tense. There are dangers and obstacles to deal with, along with intrigue and sabotage. And that is just in the race. The relationship between Flora and Jensen has its own barriers to break through. I found myself rooting for them and wanting to yell at them more than once as they dealt with their issues. The importance of being truthful and not hiding things is seen, right along with learning to trust in God and remembering to go to Him and realizing He is so much greater than our problems.

One thing that really surprised me was that other people could ride along during this race. I enjoyed learning more about early automobiles and racing. And we got to see two different kinds of races in the story.

Definitely a book I 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.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold Review

 

I loved The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold. I loved her first book and couldn’t wait to read this newest novel. 

This story is told from the viewpoints of two characters, Nikki and her uncle Wes. Nikki is devastated when her parents divorce and her father remarries. On top of that things are not going the best with her fiance. Her world feels like it is shattering and she ends up running off. Not really with any plans, but ends up at her uncle’s farm, her father’s family’s farm. Her Uncle Wes welcomes her, though sort of finds himself in the middle, between Nikki and her estranged father. 

It’s summer vacation and her drifting self finds an anchor at the farm, helping her uncle spruce up the farm house for future plans of renting it. It’s here that she discovers her heritage and truths from her ancestors in the form of some books found in storage. I loved the notebook she found included not just German recipes, but proverbs and wisdom. As she creates these recipes she finds herself opening up to stories from the past and is realizing everyone has a story, events in their lives that shaped what they have become. 

Oh, and I mentioned the notebook included recipes that she tries, well the recipes are printed in the book and as she is making the recipes, with help from a friend, there are little nuggets or tips to help with the recipes. 

And yes, through his time with his niece, Wes is learning things as well. And he himself is seeking wisdom from HIS aunt. 

I loved the sense of family and learning about one’s heritage. I loved the relationship that Nikki and her uncle developed. Forgiveness was a big part of this story, and being open to understanding others. 

Definitely a book I recommend. 

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. 

Friday Fun - January 19, 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 one book to share with you.

I am on the launch team for An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey and I just started reading. It releases in a little over a month, on February 27th. Stay tuned for my review of this historical romance.

        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 is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

  An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey:

"'Couldn't you make it a few more blocks?'"

Definitely some frustration going on here. 

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 is my Friday 56 selection.

An Uncertain Road by Abbey Downey:
 

"She was all fire and fervor now. How was he going to get her calmed down enough before this race started to drive sensibly? 'It doesn't have anything to do with you. This race is inherently dangerous. One look at the road snaking up that mountain and anyone could see it. All those tight turns, narrow stretches, and sheer drop-offs are asking for trouble.'"

Reviews:

Last week I shared three books in my Friday Fun post. I only finished the one book, and if you like you can click on the link below to read my review. 

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer 

I'll have these two books finished soon, and will then share my reviews:

If I Were You by Lynn Austin (updated to add the link as I just finished this book this afternoon)

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold

Friday Fun - January 12, 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 three books to share with you.

I am reading Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer for one of my reading challenges. I needed a book that was a debut book for an author. And I had this one on my Kindle app for a while, so I thought I would read it. I'm about a third of the way through and finding it quite amusing. 

I'm also reading If I Were You by Lynn Austin. I've been meaning to get to this book for weeks now. It's my first book by this author, and I am really enjoying it.

I was also just approved for Sara Brunsvold's newest book, The Divine Proverb of Streusel, through NetGalley. I loved her book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip and was thrilled to get a chance to read this early. Especially because it took months for my library to get The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip in.

        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 is my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selection:

  Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer:

"Henry grimaced, not sure which irritated him more-the persistent ache in his knee or the relentless voice in his ear."

Why is Henry so irritated, what happened to his knee, and who is pestering him?

If I Were You by Lynn Austin:

"Eve Dawson bolted upright in bed."

Oh no, what's wrong? Because, there is usually something wrong if someone just bolts up in bed.

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold:

"The message left little reason to believe Nikki Werner still held significance in her dad's life."

Well, that's sort of depressing.

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.

Dear Henry, Love Edith by Becca Kinzer:
 

"The man stared at his girlfriend as if he didn't recognize her-or perhaps like she was a piece of abstract art he would never understand-before shaking his head. 'I canceled. Aren't you supposed to be with Chad? I didn't expect to see you again until next week.'"

If I Were You by Lynn Austin:

"Audrey turned to her. Eve's freckles stood out against her pink cheeks. 'I'm so sorry, Eve. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I only thought. . .' What had she thought? Fussing about her wardrobe was something Mother would do, and Audrey didn't want to be like her. 'I thought we would look like sisters if we dressed the same.'"

The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold:

"They laughed together, the first time in so long. It filled Nikki in ways butter-drenched food couldn't.
Until her sister's smile drew in. 'Speaking of romance. . .'she started.
The rest of the sentence didn't need to be spoken. Nikki grabbed a throw pillow and held it to her chest. 'He hasn't returned my text.'"

Reviews:

Last week I shared three books in my Friday Fun post. If you'd like to read my reviews, I invite you to click on the links below. 

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer

Fragile Designs by Colleen Coble

Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer Review

 

Trust the Stars by Tricia Goyer is an awesome book. This story takes you from present day in the slums of Kibera, Kenya, plus a safari also in Kenya, to a royal palace in the fictional country of Allori, to the inner city of Little Rock, Arkansas, to a concentration camp in Germany during WWII. 

As the reader we get to see the story from three points of view. The first two are in present day. The first is Olivia Garza, the voice of a video docu-series which has brought her to the slums of Kenya from her home in America. The second is Prince Louis who is in Kenya to get away from the media during a time of heart break, when his ex is getting married. And the third is Princess Alessandra, a royal during the time of WWII who risks her freedom to help Jewish children escape the Nazis. We get her story in third person, and also through journal entries.

Forgiveness plays a big role in this story as Olivia is on her journey following her mother's footsteps in an effort to come to terms with the life she had been dealt because of her mother's lifestyle choices. She'd been filming this docu-series without revealing who she actually was, and planned to reveal herself at the end of her time in Kenya. That is, until she spends a delightful day on safari with a man who doesn't tell her he is a prince. However, she then feels betrayed when the truth is revealed and she never wants to see him again. But Prince Louis had recognized Olivia's voice from the docu-series, and wants to get to know her better. 

Here follows an adventure in Little Rock and also in Alloria, getting to know these characters even more and seeing their heart for those who are in need. I love seeing Olivia's and Prince Louis's relationship evolve. And I love the importance that is placed on trusting in God. 

And of course, there is are the journals of Princess Allessandra and learning the truth of what happened to her and how it connected to the present day story. 

I loved this story, and only wish we could have had more time with Princess Allessandra before she was sent to the concentration camp, and more details of her time in the camp. And I really wish this was the beginning of a series so we could see more of these characters and how their lives continue.

Here is a quote that stuck with me, "Tough I walk through the shadow of death. .  .Today, I choose to rejoice in the shadow, because for a shadow to be cast, that means there is light beyond. I must remember that light, and I must share it. For this season, I am where I do not belong, but even here, God reminds me to be a light as He is the Light-to sing a song unseen."

If you are a fan of dual timeline stories, stories that take place during WWII, and/or royal romances, you are going to want to check out this book. 

I was given this book as a part of the launch team but was not required to write a positive review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Reading Challenges 2024 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: Unlocking Ecclesiastes 3 Challenge is from Crystal Caudill's blog.

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

I'm joining in with The Posse again:

I'm again joining in with the Read Your Bookshelf Challenge from Chantel Reads All Day. For this year's challenge we are to choose a path to follow, Montgomery or Doyle, and then there are months where we could choose to switch paths. 

I'm also joining in with a "Book Club" with the Between the Pages group on Facebook. This challenge has a specific book to read and discuss each month. 

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:

And another author I follow is the admin in another FB group, and they created a challenge this year. 

I'm also going to try to read a book set in each of the 50 states with the Literary Escapes Challenge. I tried last year, but didn't get all 50 states, only 33. I'm hoping to do better this year, and plan to definitely get in the states I missed last year.

I figured I might as well also sign up for her Alphabet Soup Challenge, seeing as I had read plenty of books last year and had all but 4 of the letters covered without trying. 

I'm also going to try to read books set in as many European countries as possible with the 2024 European Reading Challenge from Rose City Reader. Last year I read books from seven different European countries. I'm hoping to increase that number this year. 

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

Read a book...

1. With a title that starts with a P

2. By an author you’ve never tried before

3. Set on the coast

4. With a tree on the cover

5. By an author whose name starts with a J

6. From a genre outside your comfort zone

7. With an adverb in the title

8. Featuring a character with grey hair

9. That has won a Carol award

10. Published in 2024

11. By a debut author

12. Written by multiple authors

13. With a green cover

14. That is a bestseller

15. Set on a boat, train, or plane

16. With an illustrated cover

17. With a main character who is disabled

18. With a single mother or father

19. Written by an indie author

20. Set somewhere you’ve been

21. Featuring law enforcement 

22. Published during the summer

23. Set during a holiday

24. That is considered women’s fiction 

25. Featuring a Jewish character

26. Set over 100 years ago

27. That contains bible verses

28. With a teenager as a main character 

29. With a one word title 

30. A book you preordered

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

35. By a male author

36. That includes pirates

37. By an author whose name starts with the letter T

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

39. With forgiveness as a topic or theme

40. Featuring a journalist 

41. That includes sisters

42. With a midwife or doula

43. That takes place in a country you’ve never been to

44. That is lighthearted or humorous 

45. Set during WWII

46. That you choose because of the cover

47. By an author who writes multiple genres

48. With a dual timeline 

49. With a second chance romance

50. Recommended by someone you know

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. 

So, here it is:

1- Takes place in Israel

2- Second chance

3- Not your usual genre

4- Significant church event

5- Well known author/lesser known book

6- Major motion picture

7- About an influential Christian

8- A Mysterious disappearance

9- Speculative Fiction

10- Protagonist has a disease/disability

11- Recommended by an author

12- Includes angels

13- An inheritance

14- Finish what you started

15- Carol Award winner

16- A Spy

17- Forgiveness

18- Redemption

19-Less than 200 pages

20. Two or More Authors

21. By your Favorite Author

22. Male Protagonist

23. Recommended on this Page

24. Blended Families

25. Book of Devotions

26. Christian Literary Classic

27. Dystopian

28. Mistaken Identity

29. A Life Lesson

30. Bible Retelling

31. The American Frontier

32. Features Music

33. Recovering from Addiction

34. Gothic Romance

35. Eye Catching Cover

36. Takes Place on an Island

37. Spiritual Warfare

38. Protagonist Shares your Occupation

39. Written by a Famous Christian

40. Family Estrangement

41. Tear Jerker

42. Treasure Hunt

43. New to you Author

44. Mother-Daughter Bond

45. 2023 Best Seller

46. Title Includes a Color

47. Fairytale

48. On your TBR

49. Alternate Reality

50. Written before 1950

51. Includes a Foreign Language

52. Includes a Historical Monarch

53. Choose your own Adventure  

My Goodreads goal is to read 110 books this year. Last year I had set it at 100 and I ended up reading 122. I think I will be able to meet my 110 book goal. 

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.