Fall into Reading 2009 Wrap-up

Time has run out for the fabulously famous Fall into Reading 2009 challenge hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days, so here's my wrap-up.

Did you finish reading all the books on your fall reading list? If not, why not?

A couple of things kept me from finishing my goal...library hold issues and couple of episodes of The Reading Funk. A few of the books that I had on hold did not get to me in time to read (I think everyone in town wanted to read them) and this year has a been a terrible one in that I've had so many spurts where I just have not felt like picking up a book, sometimes for days at a time. Sure hope 2010 is better.

The silver lining is that I actually read more books, number wise, than were on my original list.

Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?

Pretty much stuck to my original goal, although I added some bonus books while waiting for some of those elusive library holds. Had a couple of review books come in as well.

What was your favorite book that you read this spring? Least favorite? Why?

Favorite books are X'd below. I can't say that I had any "least favorites".

Did you discover a new author or genre this fall? Did you love them? Not love them?

No new genres, but Susan Page Davis was a new author for me. I really enjoyed the first book of her The Ladies' Shooting Club series, and consider it one of my favorite books this year.

Did you learn something new because of Fall Into Reading 2009 – something about reading, about yourself, or about a topic you read about?

Didn't really learn anything "new", but did enjoy reading about the Secret Service and the story of Flight 1549 that landed in the Hudson River.

What was your favorite thing about the challenge?

Just getting to see all the books that the other participants read, and finding new books to add to my TBR list.

How'd I do?

Original List:

*The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin
*A Little Help from My Friends by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt
*The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall
XThe Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren
*Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh
*The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson
*The Christmas Lamp by Lori Copeland
XThe Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis
*The Missing by Beverly Lewis
*three weddings and a bar mitzvah by Melody Carlson
*An Amish Christmas by Wiseman, Fuller, & Cameron
*Just Between You and Me by Jenny B Jones
*Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart
*Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson
*Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman

Bonus Books:

*Extraordinary by John Bevere
*Ruby's Diary by Ruby Gettinger and Sheryl Berk
*Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur
*In the President's Secret Service by Ronald Kessler
*Highest Duty by Chesley B. Sullenberger & Jeffrey Zaslow
*Treasured by Leigh McLeroy
XThe Christmas Glass by Marci Alborghetti
XCreede of Old Montana by Stephen Bly

*Bold denotes book has been read*

A big thanks to Katrina for all she does to make these challenges a success. I look forward to joining in the next challenge come springtime.

The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Sheriff’s Surrender
(Barbour Books - December 1, 2009)
by
Susan Page Davis


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books. My young adult novel, Sarah's Long Ride, also spotlights horses and the rugged sport of endurance riding, as does the contemporary romance Trail to Justice. I took a vocational course in horseshoeing after earning a bachelor's degree in history. I don't shoe horses anymore, but the experience has come in handy in writing my books.

Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters

For many years I worked for the Central Maine Morning Sentinel as a freelancer, covering local government, school board meetings, business news, fires, auto accidents, and other local events, including a murder trial. I've also written many profiles and features for the newspaper and its special sections. This experience was a great help in developing fictional characters and writing realistic scenes. I also published nonfiction articles in several magazines and had several short stories appear in Woman's World, Grit, and Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine.

My husband, Jim, and I moved to his birth state, Oregon, for a while after we were married, but decided to move back to Maine and be near my family. We're so glad we did. It allowed our six children to grow up feeling close to their cousins and grandparents, and some of Jim's family have even moved to Maine!



ABOUT THE BOOK:

Gert Dooley can shoot the tail feathers off a jay at a hundred yards, but she wants Ethan Chapman to see she's more than a crack shot with a firearm. When the sheriff of Fergus, Idaho, is murdered and Ethan is named his replacement, Gert decides she has to do whatever she can to help him protect the citizenry. So she starts the Ladies Shooting Club. But when one of their numbers is murdered, these ladies are called on for more than target shooting and praying. Can Gert and the ladies of Fergus find the murderer before he strikes again?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Sheriff’s Surrender , go HERE.

My thoughts:

I really, really, REALLY liked this book. I'm counting this as one of my favorite books of 2009. If you like historical fiction with a light touch of mystery, humor, and romance, then this is a book you need to read.

Gert Dooley, spunky gal that she is, also shows us a tender side of herself as she, along with proprietess Libby Adams, and newly arrived minister's wife, Apphia Benton, befriend ladies from all reaches of society. Under Gert's tutelage, the group becomes the Ladies' Shooting Club, who do their best to help rookie sheriff Ethan Chapman maintain law and order and sniff out crime in Fergus, Idaho.

There were parts of this book that made me laugh and parts that made me tear up. And while I did figure out who the villian was about halfway through, instead of skipping to the end to find out if my assumptions were true (or to see what the motive was), The Sheriff's Surrender was so engaging I didn't skip a page.

Another part of this book I enjoyed was the connection that Gert had with her brother Hiram, and how that connection made them able to communicate on a whole different level. I can't wait to get a hold of The Gunsmith's Gallantry (due out June 2010), because I know with the introduction to Hiram in this book, his story will be just as good as Gert's.

The Familiar Stranger by Christina Berry

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Familiar Stranger
(Moody Publishers - September 1, 2009)
by
Christina Berry


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Single mother and foster parent, Christina Berry carves time to write from her busy schedule because she must tell the stories that haunt her every waking moment. (Such is the overly dramatic description of an author's life!) She holds a BA in Literature, yet loves a good Calculus problem, as well. All that confusion must have influenced her decision to be team captain of a winning team on Family Feud.

Her debut novel, The Familiar Stranger, released from Moody in September and deals with lies, secrets, and themes of forgiveness in a troubled marriage. A moving speaker and dynamic teacher, Christina strives to Live Transparently--Forgive Extravagantly!

Her work has also appeared in The Secret Place, The Oregonian, and Daily Devotions for Writers.





ABOUT THE BOOK:

Craig Littleton's decision to end his marriage would shock his wife, Denise . . . if she knew what he was up to. When an accident lands Craig in the ICU, with fuzzy memories of his own life and plans, Denise rushes to his side, ready to care for him.

They embark on a quest to help Craig remember who he is and, in the process, they discover dark secrets. An affair? An emptied bank account? A hidden identity? An illegitimate child?

But what will she do when she realizes he's not the man she thought he was? Is this trauma a blessing in disguise, a chance for a fresh start? Or will his secrets destroy the life they built together?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Familiar Stranger, go HERE.

The Christmas Lamp by Lori Copeland

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Christmas Lamp
(Zondervan - October 1, 2009)
by
Lori Copeland


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lori Copeland has been writing for twenty-five years and has over three million copies of her books in print. She began her writing career in 1982, writing for the secular book market. In 1995, after many years of writing, Lori sensed that God was calling her to use her gift of writing to honor Him. It was at that time that she began writing for the Christian book market.

To date, she has more than 95 books published, including Now and Always, Simple Gifts, Unwrapping Christmas, and Monday Morning Faith, which was a finalist for the 2007 Christy Awards. Lori was inducted into the Springfield Writers Hall of Fame in 2000.

Lori lives in the beautiful Ozarks with her husband Lance. They have three sons, two daughter-in-laws, and five wonderful grandchildren. Lori and Lance are very involved in their church, and active in supporting mission work in Mali, West Africa.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Christmas trees, twinkling lights, skating in the park, and holiday displays are the hallmark elements for celebrating Jesus birth for the sentimental residents of Nativity, Missouri. Will fiscal responsibility replace Christmas their traditions when times are tough? Though their priorities and methods clash, Roni Elliot and Jake Brisco want the same thing, for the town to prosper. As the two get to know each other better, each begins to gain a new perspective on what the real wealth of Nativity and the season might be.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Christmas Lamp, go HERE.

My thoughts:

Two things I really enjoy reading about are Christmas and the beautiful Missouri Ozarks, so I was excited to see Lori Copeland had a Christmas novella coming out this year featuring a fictional small town set in my own backyard. I love being able to read a book and know exactly where things are...Springfield and Ava, Missouri, Branson Landing...it almost makes me feel like I'm part of the story.

A Christmas Lamp is full of all the warmth and cozyness necessary for a good Christmas read. Grab your favorite heated beverage, find a nice spot next to the fire, tuck yourself under a snuggly blanket, and enjoy!

Whirlwind by Robert Liparulo

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Whirlwind
(Thomas Nelson - December 29, 2009)
by
Robert Liparulo


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert Liparulo is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first novel, Comes a Horseman, released to critical acclaim. Each of his subsequent thrillers—Germ, Deadfall, and Deadlock—secured his place as one of today’s most popular and daring thriller writers.

He is known for investing deep research and chillingly accurate predictions of near-future scenarios into his stories. In fact, his thorough, journalistic approach to research has resulted in his becoming an expert on the various topics he explores in his fiction, and he has appeared on such media outlets as CNN and ABC Radio.

Liparulo’s visual style of writing has caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman. were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for GERM and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall “a brilliantly crafted thriller.” March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, “best of high-octane suspense.”

Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted last year with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers, released in January, and number four, Timescape, in July. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series, Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”

With the next two Dreamhouse books “in the can,” he is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects supernatural elements into his brand of gun-blazing storytelling. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on his acclaimed short story, which appeared in James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining . . . Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.

Visit Robert Liparulo's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LiparuloFans


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Which door do you go through to save the world?

David, Xander, and Toria King never know where the mysterious portals in their house will take them: past, present, or future. They have battled gladiators and the German army, dodged soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, and jumped from the sinking Titanic. They've also seen the stark future that awaits if they can't do something to change it--a destroyed city filled with mutant creatures.

And they've still got to find a way to bring Mom back and keep Taksidian from getting them out of the house. The dangers are hitting them like a whirlwind . . . but the answers are becoming apparent as well.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Whirlwind, go HERE.

Raising Rain by Debbie Fuller Thomas

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Raising Rain
(Moody Publishers - September 1, 2009)
by
Debbie Fuller Thomas


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Debbie writes contemporary fiction from an historic Gold Rush town in Northern California. By day, she manages after school and day camp programs, and she burns the midnight oil to write what she loves. Her first book Tuesday Night at the Blue Moon, is a Christy finalist. Raising Rain, her second book became available September 2009.

Debbie has contributed to story collections such as Chicken Soup for the Bride's Soul, and Lord, I Was Happy Shallow, along with articles in Coping With Cancer magazine.

She has two teenagers and her husband is the executive pastor on Sonrise Church with 1,000 members. Debbie is a manager at Auburn Area Parks and Recreation.



ABOUT THE BOOK:


Raised to be a 'new woman' by her mother and three college roommates in
the 70's amid anti-war protests, feminist rallies, and finals, Rain
Rasmussen discovers that putting her career first has left her overdrawn
at the egg-bank, and her baby fever has now driven off her significant
other.

When her terminally ill mother demands a Celebration of Life before she
dies; they all confront ghosts from the past on a 'stormy' weekend in
Monterey. Bebe, the roommate closest to Rain's heart, revisits choices
that have impacted Rain the most, raising doubts about God's—and her
own—willingness to forgive and to be forgiven.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Raising Rain, go HERE.

Blog Tour: Treasured & God Gave Us Love/God Gave Us Christmas

About Treasured:

Cigar boxes. Refrigerator doors. Scrapbooks and sock drawers and top shelves. These are the places we store our treasures–the keepsakes that tell the story of whom and what we’ve loved, how we’ve lived, and what matters most to us.

God is a collector, too, whose treasures are tucked securely into the pages of his book: a golden bell here, an olive leaf there, a scarlet thread, a blood-stained cloth, a few grains of barley. Each of these saved artifacts reveals a facet of his heart and tells the story of a Father whose most precious possession is…us.

In Treasured, Leigh McLeroy considers tangible reminders of God’s active presence and guides us in discovering evidence in our own lives of his attentive love.

About Leigh McLeroy:

She is the author of The Beautiful Ache and The Sacred Ordinary. An avid collector and recorder of everyday moments, words, and wonders, Leigh’s keen eye for God’s presence in ordinary life infuses her writing and living with a deep, insistent joy. A frequent conference and event speaker, the author makes her home in Houston, Texas.

My thoughts:

If you've ever felt under-appreciated, insignificant, or just plain overlooked, this book would be such an encouragement to you.

I was amazed at how Leigh McLeroy chose so many seemingly insignificant things in the Bible that you or I may just skip over as we read and tells a story of the higher purpose that God had in mind for them. Her own personal stories in each chapter of how God has chosen things in her life to show her how much He values her also serve as a reminder of something I've heard spoken many times...God doesn't always use the spectacular when He reveals Himself to us. He doesn't always do the things that we might expect or in the way that we might expect them when we ask Him to work in our daily lives. God knows that we're all different, and He chooses to work in our individual lives in His own way, because He loves us and wants to show us that He sees us as not only unique but treasured.


About God Gave Us Love:

As Little Cub and Grampa Bear’s fishing adventure is interrupted by mischievous otters, the young polar bear begins to question why we must love others… even the seemingly unlovable.

In answering her questions, Grampa Bear gives tender explanations that teach Little Cub about the different kinds of love that is shared between families, friends, and mamas and papas. Grampa explains that all these kinds of love come from God and that it is important to love others because…"Any time we show love, Little Cub, we’re sharing a bit of his love."

This sweet tale will warm the hearts of young children as they learn about all the different sorts of love, while the gentle explanations of each provide a valuable opportunity to encourage children to share with others a “God-sized love.”

About God Gave Us Christmas:

As Little Cub and her family prepare to celebrate the most special day of the year, the curious young polar bear begins to wonder… “Who invented Christmas?” Mama’s answer only leads to more questions like “Is God more important than Santa?” So she and Little Cub head off on a polar expedition to find God and to see how he gave them Christmas. Along the way, they find signs that God is at work all around them. Through Mama’s gentle guidance, Little Cub learns about the very first Christmas and discovers that… Jesus is the best present of all.

This enchanting tale provides the perfect opportunity to help young children celebrate the true meaning of Christmas and to discover how very much God loves them.

About Lisa Tawn Bergren:

She is the award-winning author of nearly thirty titles, totaling more than 1.5 million books in print. She writes in a broad range of genres, from adult fiction to devotional. God Gave Us Love follows in Lisa’s classic tradition of the best-selling God Gave Us You. She lives in Colorado, with her husband, Tim, and their children, Olivia, Emma, and Jack.

My thoughts:

I really enjoy Lisa Bergren's book for kids because they are so full of beautiful illustrations and the timeless truths of God's Word written at a level where young children can understand. Look for these books to become some of your children's favorites.

In God Gave Us Love, we learn that love comes from God, because God is Love. He helps us to love others because He put that love in our hearts, and when we share that love, we are sharing God's love. God loves us all, no matter what, and we can show our love to God by loving others around us - even when people do things that make it difficult to love them.

In God Gave Us Christmas, I appreciate that while the book mentions Santa, the focus of the story is on God, and the gift of His Son Jesus. So often the Christmas holidays are centered on Santa and getting gifts - and many children never know the true meaning of Christmas. Another good message in this book - God is not hard to find, and when we seek Him we will find Him.

Find out more on the web:
Leigh McLeroy
Wednesday Words Blog
Lisa Tawn Bergren
Laura J. Bryant - Illustrator
David Hohn - Illustrator

These books were generously provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

The Christmas Glass by Marci Alborghetti

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Christmas Glass
(GuidepostsBooks - October 1, 2009)
by
Marci Alborghetti


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Marci Alborghetti has been writing only slightly longer than she's been reading. In seventh grade she received her first writing prize for a zany Halloween story. The prize? A five dollar gift certificate to a local bookstore. She was hooked. The Christmas Glass is her fourteenth book, and she is currently at work on a sequel as well as a non-fiction book about service. Some of her other books include: Prayer Power: How to Pray When You Think You Can’t, A Season in the South and Twelve Strong Women of God.

She and her husband, Charlie Duffy, live in New London, Connecticut, and the San Francisco Bay area. While in New London, she facilitates the Saint James Literary Club.



ABOUT THE BOOK:

In the tradition of The Christmas Shoes and A Christmas on Jane Street, the heartwarming story of The Christmas Glass shows how, today as always, the Christmas miracle works its wonders in the human heart.

In the early days of World War II in Italy, Anna, a young widow who runs a small orphanage, carefully wraps her most cherished possessions -- a dozen hand-blown, German-made, Christmas ornaments, handed down by her mother -- and sends them to a cousin she hasn't seen in years.

Anna is distressed to part with her only tangible reminder of her mother, but she worries that the ornaments will be lost or destroyed in the war, especially now that her orphanage has begun to secretly shelter Jewish children. Anna's young cousin Filomena is married with two-year-old twins when she receives the box of precious Christmas glass.

After the war, Filomena emigrates to America, where the precious ornaments are passed down through the generations. After more than forty years, twelve people come to possess a piece of Christmas glass, some intimately connected by family bonds, some connected only through the history of the ornaments.

As Christmas Day approaches, readers join each character in a journey of laughter and tears, fractures and healings, as Filomena, now an eighty-four-year-old great-grandmother, brings them all to what will be either a wondrous reunion or a disaster that may shatter them all like the precious glass they cherish.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Christmas Glass, go HERE.

My Thoughts:

It took me just a bit to get into the story, but once I did I couldn't read fast enough to see how it ended. I enjoyed seeing how the many characters with their different circumstances and troubles came together at the end to bring the pieces of the Christmas Glass back to Filomena. This is definitely a heart warming story that speaks the message of putting the past behind you and reconciling with loved ones before it's too late. I'm glad to see that Marci Alborghetti has a sequel in the works, because the last line of the book left me hanging.

Saint's Roost by Terry Burns

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Saint's Roost
(Sundowners - September 20, 2009)
by
Terry Burns


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Terry has over 30 books in print, including work in a dozen short story collections and four non-fiction books plus numerous articles and short stories.

His last book Beyond the Smoke is a 2009 winner of the Will Rogers Medallion for best youth fiction and a nominee for the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. He has a three book Mysterious Ways series out from David C Cook, and Trails of the Dime Novel from Echelon Press.

A graduate of West Texas State, he did post graduate work at Southern Methodist University. Terry plans to continue writing inspirational fiction as well as working as an agent for Hartline Literary Agency. Terry is a native Texan living in Amarillo, Texas, with his lovely wife Saundra.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Terry Burns has written a novel rich in Texan drawl and old western authenticity.

Saint’s Roost opens with a determined couple leaving a wagon train to set off on their own, only to be set upon by savages. Patrick, an eager evangelizing preacher, steps out to share the Good Book with the savages and meets an untimely demise, leaving his wife, Janie, alone on a trail to nowhere with no one to help her survive.

She makes her way across the frontier determined to follow her husband’s calling, but she doesn’t know where to begin, or even how to take care of herself. When her travels bring her into the lives of two cowhands, an ex-prostitute, a young boy and his drunken grandfather, and towns filled with cowboys waiting to be saved, she discovers there’s more than one way to spread God’s word.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Saint's Roost, go HERE.

Fall into Reading 2009

The time has come for the fabulously famous Fall into Reading 2009 challenge hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days. I hope you will join in by taking the opportunity to get some reading goals put together so we can do some serious reading between September 22 and December 20. I'll put my list of books below, but I am also including in my challenge a personal goal to read at least one hour every day...something I don't always get a chance to do. (I can already foresee some late nights in my future...*grin*) I'm also including my Bonus Books list for any books I read above and beyond my original list. Happy reading!

Original List:

*The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin
*A Little Help from My Friends by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt
*The Sound of Sleigh Bells by Cindy Woodsmall
*The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren
*Leaving Carolina by Tamara Leigh
*The Christmas Dog by Melody Carlson
*The Christmas Lamp by Lori Copeland
*The Sheriff's Surrender by Susan Page Davis
*The Missing by Beverly Lewis
*three weddings and a bar mitzvah by Melody Carlson
*An Amish Christmas by Wiseman, Fuller, & Cameron
*Just Between You and Me by Jenny B Jones
*Stretch Marks by Kimberly Stuart
*Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson
*Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman

Bonus Books:

*Extraordinary by John Bevere
*Ruby's Diary by Ruby Gettinger and Sheryl Berk
*Wisdom Hunter by Randall Arthur
*In the President's Secret Service by Ronald Kessler
*Highest Duty by Chesley B. Sullenberger & Jeffrey Zaslow
*Treasured by Leigh McLeroy
*The Christmas Glass by Marci Alborghetti

*Bold denotes book has been read*