Spring Reading Thing, 2009, Wrap Up

Katrina at Callapidder Days was the host for Spring Reading Thing, 2009. Many lovers of reading were facilitated by Katrina's organized set-up of Mr. Linky. I appreciate her efforts. Here are her questions with my answers.

Did you finish reading all the books on your spring reading list?

I completed everything on my list as well as everything that came my way. Since I review books, my reading schedule is somewhat preset and quite intense. I love to read, so that is no problem for me. Each book I read, I review and all of my reviews can be found at Book Critiques, on the sidebar of my book blog.

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

Salty Like Blood by Harry Kraus, M.D. was such a good read that I stated in my review: "What a great novel this is; it may be my all-time favorite!" Please click to read my many reasons for holding this book in such a high regard.

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

Obviously, I'd like to read anything Harry Kraus has written or will write. Ooo, I loved that book!

In addition, I've read quite a few other new authors and will enjoy reading them again.

What was your favorite thing about the challenge?

I loved watching my list of books grow and grow, I enjoyed linking in my reviews with other readers, and I love the pretty little button that I get to keep in my sidebar!

Here's my completed list:

1. A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher
2. Salty Like Blood by Harry Kraus, M.D.
3. The Marriage Turnaround by Mitch Temple
4. Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace
5. Fatal Illusions by Adam Blumer
6. The House in Grosvenor Square by Linore Rose Burkard
7. Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers
8. My Son, John by Kathi Macias
9. Deadlock by Robert Liparulo
10. Nothing But Trouble: A PJ Sugar Novel by Susan May Warren
11. Unquiet Bones by Mel Starr
12. If Tomorrow Never Comes by Marlo Schalesky
13. New York Debut (Carter House Girls, Book 6) by Melody Carlson
14. How Can I Run A Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons? by Kathi Macias
15. Always Watching by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins
16. Blood Bayou by Karen Young
17. The Moment Between by Nicole Baart
18. The Real Enemy by Kathy Herman
19. A Sister's Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter
20. I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse by Michae Franzese
21. The Voice by Bill Myers
22. Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace
23. Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn
24. Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein
25. Bobbi Brown Living Beauty by Bobbi Brown
26. How Not to Look Old by Charla Krupp
27. According to Their Deeds by Paul Robertson
28. The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love by Angela Elwell Hunt
29. Ruby Unscripted by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma
30. Lucy's Perfect Summer by Nancy Rue
31. Jillian Dare by Melanie M. Jeschke
32. Right on the Money by Pat Robertson
33. The G-Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck
34. Success Kills: Sidestep the Snares that Will Steal Your Dreams by Wayde Goodall
35. Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl with April Henry
36. The Ghostwriter by Travis Thrasher
37. A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman
38. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt
39. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke
40. Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove
41. The Shepherd's Fall by Wanda Dyson
42. Morningsong by Shelly Beach

FINISHED!

Christian Readers Challenge Wrap Up

Miz B hosted a Christian Readers Challenge.

This challenge asked you to:

* create a list of Christian books that you’d like to read
* titles can be fiction, nonfiction, or a mixture of both
* read these between January 1st - April 30th, 2009
* overlaps with other challenges ARE allowed
* eBooks and Audiobooks ARE allowed

Here's my list:

1. Red, White, and Blue by Laura Hayden
2. The Perfect Match by Susan May Warren
3. Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy
4. Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter
5. Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo
6. Scrapping Plans by Rebeca Seitz
7. She's in a Better Place by Angela Hunt
8. Age before Beauty by Virginia Smith
9. Against All Odds by Irene Hannon
10. A Cry in the Night by Coleen Coble
11. Tender Grace by Jackina Stark
12. Daniel's Den by Brandt Dodson
13. God Is My Coach by Larry Julian
14. For Couples Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn
15. This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury
16. Lost in Las Vegas by Melody Carlson
17. The Rose Conspiracy by Craig Parshall
18. Against All Odds by Irene Hannon
19. Inside Story by Susan Page Davis
20. Out of Time by Paul McCusker
21. Tender Grace by Jackina Stark
22. The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason To Be Miserable) by Scott Hamilton
23. The Spring of Candy Apples by Debbie Viguie
24. This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury
25. Last Mango in Texas by Ray Blackston
26. Work in Progress by Kristin Armstrong
27. Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney
28. Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson
29. A Cousin's Promise by Wanda E. Brunstetter
30. Double Minds by Terri Blackstock
31. Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills
32. It's a Green Thing: Diary of a Teenage Girl by Melody Carlson
33. Brittan by Debra White Smith
34. Turning the Paige by Laura Jensen Walker
35. Illusions by Wanda B. Campbell
36. Journey by Angela Hunt
37. Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney
38. Salty Like Blood by Harry Kraus, M.D.
39. Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers
40. The Real Enemy by Kathy Herman
41. If Tomorrow Never Comes by Marlo Schalesky
42. How Can I Run A Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons? by Kathi Macias
43. My Son, John by Kathi Macias
44. The Marriage Turnaround by Mitch Temple
45. Deadlock by Robert Liparulo
46. A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher
47. A Sister's Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter
48. Fatal Illusions by Adam Blumer
49. I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse by Michael Franzese
50. The Unquiet Bones by Melvin R. Starr
51. The Voice by Bill Myers
52. Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace
53. Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn
54. The House at Grosvenor Square by Linore Rose Burkhard
55. Nothing But Trouble: A PJ Sugar Novel by Susan May Warren
56. New York Debut (Carter House Girls, Book 6) by Melody Carlson
FINISHED!

Whew! I have read a long list of books during this challenge, and enjoyed all but one of them. Because I choose the books that I want to review books, there are few surprises. My reviews can be found here. My children are grown, and I am retired. This is pure joy!

Spring Reading Thing, 2009

Winter's over and here comes Spring, and with it comes another reading challenge. 

Katrina at Callapidder Days is the host for this one.

To participate, here’s what you need to do:

• Create a list of some books you’d like to read or finish this spring.
  
• Feel free to set some additional reading goals (such as reading to your kids two hours per week, getting through your pile of magazines, etc.). This is completely optional.
  
• Write a blog post including the list of books you want to read and any additional goals you’ve set, and get ready to post it on your blog on March 20th. 
  
• Visit this blog on March 20th to sign up. I’ll have a Mr. Linky set up that morning, so you can submit a link to your personal Spring Reading Thing post, and it will be added to the master list.
  
• Read! Work on your goals throughout Spring 2009.
  
• Report your results. Write another blog post in June to let everyone know how you did.
  
• Have fun! Visit other participants to see what they’re reading. Write reviews if you’re so inclined. But most of all, enjoy your spring reading! 
  

It's hard for me to create an advance list of what I plan to read. This is a starter list, and I will add to it as more books come into my home.

1.  A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher
2. Salty Like Blood by Harry Kraus, M.D.
3. The Marriage Turnaround by Mitch Temple
4. Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace
5. Fatal Illusions by Adam Blumer
6. The House in Grosvenor Square by Linore Rose Burkard
7. Angel of Wrath by Bill Myers
8. My Son, John by Kathi Macias
9. Deadlock by Robert Liparulo
10. Nothing But Trouble: A PJ Sugar Novel by Susan May Warren
11. Unquiet Bones by Mel Starr
12. If Tomorrow Never Comes by Marlo Schalesky
13. New York Debut (Carter House Girls, Book 6) by Melody Carlson
14. How Can I Run A Tight Ship When I'm Surrounded by Loose Cannons? by Kathi Macias
15. Always Watching by Brandilyn and Amberly Collins
16. Blood Bayou by Karen Young
17. The Moment Between by Nicole Baart
18. The Real Enemy by Kathy Herman
19. A Sister's Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter
20. I'll Make You an Offer You Can't Refuse by Michae Franzese
21. The Voice by Bill Myers
22. Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace
23. Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn
24. Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein
25. Bobbi Brown Living Beauty by Bobbi Brown
26. How Not to Look Old by Charla Krupp
27. According to Their Deeds by Paul Robertson
28. The Note II: Taking a Chance on Love by Angela Elwell Hunt
29. Ruby Unscripted by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma
30. Lucy's Perfect Summer by Nancy Rue
31. Jillian Dare by Melanie M. Jeschke
32. Right on the Money by Pat Robertson
33. The G-Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck
34. Success Kills: Sidestep the Snares that Will Steal Your Dreams by Wayde Goodall
35. Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl with April Henry
36. The Ghostwriter by Travis Thrasher
37. A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman
38. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do by Anne Dayton & May Vanderbilt
39. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing by Allison Bottke
40. Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove
41. The Shepherd's Fall by Wanda Dyson
42. Morningsong by Shelly Beach
FINISHED!

Come join in the fun!

Winter Reading Wrap Up

My Two Blessings is hosting The Winter Reading Challenge which runs from December 21st, 2008 through March 20, 2009.


My goal for this challenge will be two books per week, which totals twenty-six.

1. Baker's Fatal Dozen by Lisa Harris
2. 108th Street by T. David Lee
3. Blood Lines by Mel Odom
4. Finding Marie by Susan Page Davis
5. God Is My Coach: A Business Leader's Guide to Finding Clarity in an Uncertain World by Larry Julian
6. Kiss by Ted Dekker and Erin Healy
7. Ralphina, the Roly-Poly by Claudia Chandler
8. The Perfect Match by Susan May Warren
9. God Is My Coach by Larry Julian
10. The Power of Who by Bob Beaudine
11. Love in Ninety Days by Diana Kirschner, PhD.
12. Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People by Rich DeVos
13. Gatekeepers by Robert Liparulo
14. We're in This Boat Together by Camille Bishop, PhD.
15. Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter
16. Red, White, and Blue by Laura Hayden
17. She's in a Better Place by Angela Hunt
18. A Cry in the Night by Coleen Coble
19. Lost in Las Vegas by Melody Carlson
20. Scrapping Plans by Rebeca Seitz
21. The Rose Conspiracy by Craig Parshall
22. Against All Odds by Irene Hannon
23. This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury
24. Inside Story by Susan Page Davis
25. Out of Time by Paul McCusker
26. The Art of Compassion by Michael Smith
27. Tender Grace by Jackina Stark
28. The Great Eight: How to Be Happy (Even When You Have Every Reason To Be Miserable) by Scott Hamilton
29. The Spring of Candy Apples by Debbie Viguie
30. Too Tall Alice by Barbara Worton, Illus. by Dom Rodi
31. Zoe Lucky by M. Carol Coffey
32. Age before Beauty by Virginia Smith
33. This Side of Heaven by Karen Kingsbury
34. Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
35. Daniel's Den by Brandt Dodson
36. Last Mango in Texas by Ray Blackston
37. Work in Progress by Kristin Armstrong
38. Diamonds in the Shadow by Caroline B. Cooney
39. Just Another Girl by Melody Carlson
40. A Cousin's Promise by Wanda E. Brunstetter
41. Double Minds by Terri Blackstock
42. Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills
43. It's a Green Thing: Diary of a Teenage Girl by Melody Carlson
44. Brittan by Debra White Smith
45. Victoria's Rejects by Sydney Altman and Zoe Lazar
46. Mother Goose Tells the Truth About Middle Age by Sydney Altman
47. Turning the Paige by Laura Jensen Walker
48. Illusions by Wanda B. Campbell
49. Journey by Angela Hunt

With my goal of 26 books, I am amazed when I see that I've actually read and reviewed 49 books during this time. Perhaps that's why I screwed up by not linking in my reviews. I was way too busy reading! However, I did review each book, and the review may be found at Book Critiques. I have two listings located in my sidebar: one by title and the second by author.

I enjoyed participating and hope that next time I'll be able to follow all the rules.