Saturday, July 11, 2009
Jane Austen Challenge
You may or may not know that I am Jane Austen's #1 fan and have been since I was about 15 or 16 years old. That's when I picked up a copy of Emma at my school library and started reading. Next I read Pride and Prejudice, and my literary life would never be the same!
I just heard about this other blogger who has started something called the Everything Austen Challenge on her blog. The contest runs from July 1 until Jan. 1, 2010. You must choose 6 things Jane Austen-related to do. You can watch Jane Austen movies. (I've seen most of them--I'll work on seeing them all!) You can read one of the MANY fan-fiction books that are out there these days--books about Jane Austen's characters, taking them places Jane Austen herself never dreamed of. I believe there's even a book about Mr. Darcy as a vampire. Oy vey! I tried to read one of these Jane Austen-inspired novels, one that had gotten good reviews, from Darcy's point of view. I didn't get very far. I just couldn't stand reading things coming out of Darcy's mouth that I'm quite sure Jane never intended! Don't mess with Jane's characters, that was my reaction. So I think that option is out for me. Instead, I think I'd like to read all her novels again, one by one.
So there you have it. That's my plan. I'm going to read Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Persuasion, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park. Can I do it? Can I read six Jane Austen novels in six months, even though they're written in language a bit dated from our respects, with a literary style that also a bit archaic by today's standards? Will I change my mind about Jane Austen's books, since it's been a lot of years since I've read most of them? Or will I fall in love with her characters all over again? Well, stay tuned to find out!
And here's my friend, Tina Russo's blog on the Everything Austen Challenge. Dive in and enjoy the challenge!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
July's New Releases
1. A Promise Kept, Heartsong Presents Historical Ohio Book 1 , by Cara C. Putman from Heartsong Present. Newleyweds Josie & Art must choose whether to honor the promises they've made when their relationship experiences the fire of pain.
2. Blackmail, sixth and final book in the Bayou Series, by Robin Carroll from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. The sixth and final book in Robin Carroll's romantic suspense bayou series.
3. Cranberry Hearts, by Lena Nelson Dooley, Beth Goddard and Lisa Harris from Barbour Publishing. What will happen when three Massachusetts women find their journeys home lead them down dangerous paths?
4. Deadly Intent, by Camy Tang from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Massage therapist Naomi Grant must prove her innocence when her client is murdered in her family's Sonoma day spa.
5. Gripped By Fear, The Chicago Warriors Series, by John M. Wills from TotalRecall. Two Chicago Detectives struggle to capture a serial rapist.
6. Hometown Courtship, by Diann Hunt from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A carpenter and a hair stylist work to build a house together--but are they building much more?
7. Lonestar Secrets, Lonestar Series Book 2, by Colleen Coble from Thomas Nelson. A young veterinarian returns to her childhood home and finds the man who humiliated her may be in custody of a daughter she thought had died.
8. Love's Rescue, The Sierra Chronicles Book One, by Tammy Barley from Whitaker House. A headstrong Southern woman falls for her kidnapper, a Western cattleman she blames for the loss of her family.
9. Maggie Rose, Second in The Daughters of Jacob Kane series , by Sharlene MacLaren from Whitaker House. Mission-minded Maggie Rose takes a job at an orphanage in New York City, never expecting to fall in love with a hardnosed newspaper reporter.
10. Menu for Romance, Brides of Bonneterre Series Book #2, by Kaye Dacus from Barbour Publishing. The Chef and the Party Planner Each Seek the Kind of Love that Requires No Reservations.
11. Montana Rose, by Mary Connealy from Barbour Publishing. Love Comes Softy, with mayhem, comedy and gunfire.
12. Ransome's Honor, Book 1 The Ransome Trilogy, by Kaye Dacus from Harvest House PUblishers. Once Youthful Sweethearts—Can Their Love Be Renewed?
13. Rose of the Adriatic, Sequel to Jewel of the Adriatic , by K.M. Daughters from The Wild Rose Press. Messages of hope and peace for the world from Our Lady of Medjugorje woven into a prayerful, fictional love story.
14. Second Chance Family, Fostered by Love Series Book 4, by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Whitney and Shane, two wounded people, come together to try and help each other heal from their past through the appeal of a little boy who is autistic.
15. The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, by Liz Johnson from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Kenzie Thorn is surprised when she's kidnapped from the prison where she teaches a GED course, and even more shocking is that someone wants her dead.
16. The Last Resort, The Wanderlust Mysteries Book 2, by April Star from Five Star Gale I Cengage Learning. One woman's murder and a bottle washed ashore on the St. Anastasia beach open a Pandora's box and unleash secrets pursued by an entire camping resort . . . and the truth proves as elusive as the killer in their midst.
17. The Sacred Cipher, by Terry Brennan from Kregel Publications. An ancient, secret scroll could trigger nuclear war or world peace, four Americans are caught in the crossfire, and opposing radicals will stop at nothing to silence The Sacred Cipher.
Pick out something that sounds good and take some time this summer to read!
2. Blackmail, sixth and final book in the Bayou Series, by Robin Carroll from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. The sixth and final book in Robin Carroll's romantic suspense bayou series.
3. Cranberry Hearts, by Lena Nelson Dooley, Beth Goddard and Lisa Harris from Barbour Publishing. What will happen when three Massachusetts women find their journeys home lead them down dangerous paths?
4. Deadly Intent, by Camy Tang from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Massage therapist Naomi Grant must prove her innocence when her client is murdered in her family's Sonoma day spa.
5. Gripped By Fear, The Chicago Warriors Series, by John M. Wills from TotalRecall. Two Chicago Detectives struggle to capture a serial rapist.
6. Hometown Courtship, by Diann Hunt from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A carpenter and a hair stylist work to build a house together--but are they building much more?
7. Lonestar Secrets, Lonestar Series Book 2, by Colleen Coble from Thomas Nelson. A young veterinarian returns to her childhood home and finds the man who humiliated her may be in custody of a daughter she thought had died.
8. Love's Rescue, The Sierra Chronicles Book One, by Tammy Barley from Whitaker House. A headstrong Southern woman falls for her kidnapper, a Western cattleman she blames for the loss of her family.
9. Maggie Rose, Second in The Daughters of Jacob Kane series , by Sharlene MacLaren from Whitaker House. Mission-minded Maggie Rose takes a job at an orphanage in New York City, never expecting to fall in love with a hardnosed newspaper reporter.
10. Menu for Romance, Brides of Bonneterre Series Book #2, by Kaye Dacus from Barbour Publishing. The Chef and the Party Planner Each Seek the Kind of Love that Requires No Reservations.
11. Montana Rose, by Mary Connealy from Barbour Publishing. Love Comes Softy, with mayhem, comedy and gunfire.
12. Ransome's Honor, Book 1 The Ransome Trilogy, by Kaye Dacus from Harvest House PUblishers. Once Youthful Sweethearts—Can Their Love Be Renewed?
13. Rose of the Adriatic, Sequel to Jewel of the Adriatic , by K.M. Daughters from The Wild Rose Press. Messages of hope and peace for the world from Our Lady of Medjugorje woven into a prayerful, fictional love story.
14. Second Chance Family, Fostered by Love Series Book 4, by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Whitney and Shane, two wounded people, come together to try and help each other heal from their past through the appeal of a little boy who is autistic.
15. The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, by Liz Johnson from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Kenzie Thorn is surprised when she's kidnapped from the prison where she teaches a GED course, and even more shocking is that someone wants her dead.
16. The Last Resort, The Wanderlust Mysteries Book 2, by April Star from Five Star Gale I Cengage Learning. One woman's murder and a bottle washed ashore on the St. Anastasia beach open a Pandora's box and unleash secrets pursued by an entire camping resort . . . and the truth proves as elusive as the killer in their midst.
17. The Sacred Cipher, by Terry Brennan from Kregel Publications. An ancient, secret scroll could trigger nuclear war or world peace, four Americans are caught in the crossfire, and opposing radicals will stop at nothing to silence The Sacred Cipher.
Pick out something that sounds good and take some time this summer to read!
And the winner of The Vanishing Sculptor is ...
The winner is ...
Robin Johns Grant! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy this book by the very popular Donita K. Paul!
Robin Johns Grant! Congratulations! I hope you enjoy this book by the very popular Donita K. Paul!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul
As you may know, I mostly read historical romance, but I agreed to participate in this blog tour because my daughter LOVES Donita K. Paul's books. This one is no exception. So if you'd like to be entered in the drawing for this book, please leave a comment.
In the 5-book Dragon Keeper series, a world of dragons and alternative creatures mirrors our own world. The author has created another new world in her new series, which begins with The Vanishing Sculptor. My daughter says the funniest characters from the Dragon Keeper series are in this new book. And she loved it. Here is a summary.
Donita K. Paul’s 250,000-plus-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles series has attracted a wide spectrum of dedicated fans–and they’re sure to fall in love with the new characters and adventures in her latest superbly-crafted novel for all ages. It’s a mind-boggling fantasy that inhabits the same world as the DragonKeeper Chronicles, but in a different country and an earlier time, where the people know little of Wulder and nothing of Paladin.
In The Vanishing Sculptor, readers will meet Tipper, a young emerlindian who’s responsible for the upkeep of her family’s estate during her sculptor father’s absence. Tipper soon discovers that her actions have unbalanced the whole foundation of her world, and she must act quickly to undo the calamitous threat. But how can she save her father and her world on her own? The task is too huge for one person, so she gathers the help of some unlikely companions–including the nearly five-foot tall parrot Beccaroon–and eventually witnesses the loving care and miraculous resources of Wulder. Through Tipper’s breathtaking story, readers will discover the beauty of knowing and serving God.
Leave a comment if you'd like to win a copy!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Winner of Never the Bride
And the winner is ... Susan Mires! Congratulations, Susan! I'll get the book out to you soon!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Father's Day Books
The Disappearance God: Dangerous Beliefs in the New Spiritual Openness by R. Albert Mohler Jr. is a truly important book.
I just picked it up a few hours ago and finished it this afternoon. It was that compelling.
Have you considered how much your worldview has been influenced by the world? Have you considered how our culture influences what your pastor/preacher/minister preaches from the pulpit? Have you considered whether that has skewed the truth, the absolute, Biblical truth, in your own mind?
As Christians, we all want to have a Biblical worldview, to be set apart from the world and the world's beliefs. But how well are we succeeding? For instance, the author of this book brings up the issue of hell. The world says a loving God would never send someone to hell. If there is a hell, then God must be cruel. But aren't we judging God by completely human standards? And not just human standards, but post-modernism, which says to punish someone in a retributive way is wrong. But in the words of this author, p. 38:
"Our responsibility is to present the truth of the Christian faith with boldness, clarity, and courage--and defending the biblical doctrine in these times will require all three of these virtues. Hell is an assured reality, just as it is presented so clearly in the Bible. To run from this truth, to reduce the sting of sin and the threat of hell, is to pervert the gospel and to feed on lies. Hell is not up for a vote or open for revision. Will we surrender this truth to modern skeptics?"
Another slippery slope for Christians is the issue of church discipline. "The disappearance of church discipline has weakened the church and compromised Christian witness." p. 133.
On p. 139 he quotes the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 5: "...I wrote you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves."
He speaks of how the new "openness" and "tolerance" is actually just the opposite. "... a central reality of our emerging culture is the closing of the postmodern mind. Something is happening to the worldview, the mentality, and the consciousness of this age.... Tolerance is perverted into a radical secularism that is anything but tolerant. There is little openness to truth, and growing hostility to truth claims. Indeed, the postmodern mind has a fanatical, if selective, dedication to moral relativism, and an understanding that truth has no objective or absolute basis whatsoever." p. 166
"Openness becomes closedness. Freedom becomes bondage, and tolerance becomes intolerance." p. 170. Have you ever heard a more accurate assessment of popular thinking today?
"The closing of the postmodern mind is not a pretty sight, nor is it friendly to human rights and human dignity.... Sweden, for example, already has imprisoned a Pentecostal pastor, Ake Green, for preaching a sermon in which he spoke of the sinfulness of homosexuality.... Across much of Western Europe there is legislation in which it can be considered a crime to speak of the sinfulness of any sexual lifestyle, and of homosexuality in particular." pp. 170-171.
"...In the Netherlands, the largest medical school in the country just reported that 31 percent of pediatricians have admitted to killing babies, and 45 percent of neonatologists have admitted to euthanizing infants--even without informing the parents that that is what happened to their child.... Then along comes the Christian to say, 'We have a message about the dignity and sanctity of life,' and he is told to be quiet." pp.171-172.
"In this time of shifting and sifting and shaking, we are going to be tested, and we are going to find out what we are made of.... But there is one kingdom that cannot be shaken, and that is the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ." p. 181. Amen!
If there ever was a person who hated controversy, who despised the thought of hurting someone else's feelings or causing conflict, it's me. But how can we as Christians sit back and say nothing? I will not. How can I, when I see the destruction wrought by evil thinking and evil policies being carried out even here? Our children aren't allowed to speak the name of Jesus in school, yet Christian students who believe homosexuality is a sin are being labeled "bullies" and worse. Now is the time for us to let our voice be heard. Now is the time to be courageous and to hold out the truth as the only bondage-breaking, liberating hope of every single person on this planet.
Our culture thinks of Christians as "dangerous." Even our own American government has labeled us "dangerous." Why? Because we believe the Bible as the infallible truth of God, and we strive to live by it. That's "dangerous" to them.
Lord, let it be so.
I just picked it up a few hours ago and finished it this afternoon. It was that compelling.
Have you considered how much your worldview has been influenced by the world? Have you considered how our culture influences what your pastor/preacher/minister preaches from the pulpit? Have you considered whether that has skewed the truth, the absolute, Biblical truth, in your own mind?
As Christians, we all want to have a Biblical worldview, to be set apart from the world and the world's beliefs. But how well are we succeeding? For instance, the author of this book brings up the issue of hell. The world says a loving God would never send someone to hell. If there is a hell, then God must be cruel. But aren't we judging God by completely human standards? And not just human standards, but post-modernism, which says to punish someone in a retributive way is wrong. But in the words of this author, p. 38:
"Our responsibility is to present the truth of the Christian faith with boldness, clarity, and courage--and defending the biblical doctrine in these times will require all three of these virtues. Hell is an assured reality, just as it is presented so clearly in the Bible. To run from this truth, to reduce the sting of sin and the threat of hell, is to pervert the gospel and to feed on lies. Hell is not up for a vote or open for revision. Will we surrender this truth to modern skeptics?"
Another slippery slope for Christians is the issue of church discipline. "The disappearance of church discipline has weakened the church and compromised Christian witness." p. 133.
On p. 139 he quotes the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 5: "...I wrote you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges. Remove the wicked man from among yourselves."
He speaks of how the new "openness" and "tolerance" is actually just the opposite. "... a central reality of our emerging culture is the closing of the postmodern mind. Something is happening to the worldview, the mentality, and the consciousness of this age.... Tolerance is perverted into a radical secularism that is anything but tolerant. There is little openness to truth, and growing hostility to truth claims. Indeed, the postmodern mind has a fanatical, if selective, dedication to moral relativism, and an understanding that truth has no objective or absolute basis whatsoever." p. 166
"Openness becomes closedness. Freedom becomes bondage, and tolerance becomes intolerance." p. 170. Have you ever heard a more accurate assessment of popular thinking today?
"The closing of the postmodern mind is not a pretty sight, nor is it friendly to human rights and human dignity.... Sweden, for example, already has imprisoned a Pentecostal pastor, Ake Green, for preaching a sermon in which he spoke of the sinfulness of homosexuality.... Across much of Western Europe there is legislation in which it can be considered a crime to speak of the sinfulness of any sexual lifestyle, and of homosexuality in particular." pp. 170-171.
"...In the Netherlands, the largest medical school in the country just reported that 31 percent of pediatricians have admitted to killing babies, and 45 percent of neonatologists have admitted to euthanizing infants--even without informing the parents that that is what happened to their child.... Then along comes the Christian to say, 'We have a message about the dignity and sanctity of life,' and he is told to be quiet." pp.171-172.
"In this time of shifting and sifting and shaking, we are going to be tested, and we are going to find out what we are made of.... But there is one kingdom that cannot be shaken, and that is the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ." p. 181. Amen!
If there ever was a person who hated controversy, who despised the thought of hurting someone else's feelings or causing conflict, it's me. But how can we as Christians sit back and say nothing? I will not. How can I, when I see the destruction wrought by evil thinking and evil policies being carried out even here? Our children aren't allowed to speak the name of Jesus in school, yet Christian students who believe homosexuality is a sin are being labeled "bullies" and worse. Now is the time for us to let our voice be heard. Now is the time to be courageous and to hold out the truth as the only bondage-breaking, liberating hope of every single person on this planet.
Our culture thinks of Christians as "dangerous." Even our own American government has labeled us "dangerous." Why? Because we believe the Bible as the infallible truth of God, and we strive to live by it. That's "dangerous" to them.
Lord, let it be so.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Never the Bride by McKay and Gutteridge
I'm giving away a copy of this book, so be sure and leave a comment if you'd like to be in the drawing!
Here's a quick summary:
Jessie Stone has spent thirty-five years fantasizing about marriage proposals, wedding dresses, and falling in love. She’s been a bridesmaid eleven times, waved dozens of couples off to sunny honeymoons, and shopped in more department stores for half-price fondue pots than she cares to remember.
But shopping in the love-of-her-life department hasn't been quite as productive. The man she thought she would marry cheated on her. The crush she has on her best friend Blake is at very best…well, crushing. And speed dating has only churned out memorable horror stories.
So when God shows up one day, in the flesh, and becomes a walking, talking part of her life, Jessie is skeptical. What will it take to convince her that God has a better love story than one of the thousands she’s cooked up in her journals? Will she trust Him with her pen when it appears her dreams of being the bride are forever lost?
A romantic comedy with a spiritual twist, Never the Bride is what it means to lose control—and getting more than any woman could ever imagine.
And the winner of Promise for Breanna is
~Ley!
Wow, this blog must be lucky for you, Ashley! But I have another giveaway, everyone, so don't despair!
Wow, this blog must be lucky for you, Ashley! But I have another giveaway, everyone, so don't despair!
Monday, June 08, 2009
Legendary hero John Stranger is back
Honestly, I haven't read much of anything lately, except some books on the history of Huntsville, Alabama! I doubt you'd want me to review those, even though they are very interesting.
So I've decided to give away a book, A Promise for Breanna by Al Lacy.
I haven't actually read any of these books about John Stranger, but I understand they have quite a following. Here's what the back cover says:
The man who broke Breanna's heart is back. But this time, he's after her life.
For certified medical nurse Breanna Baylor, the course of true love never did run smoothly. First, the coldly deceptive Frank Miller jilted her to marry another, destroying her faith in all men. Then, unable to give her heart again, Breanna foolishly sent away her one true love, legendary hero John Stranger.
Now, years later, Breanna unexpectedly crosses paths with--and draws the unbridled wrath of--her former fiance, a man accused of cold-blooded murder. Will the brutal fugitive succeed in taking her life? Or does the future still hold a promise for Breanna?
Leave a comment if you'd like to win this book.
So I've decided to give away a book, A Promise for Breanna by Al Lacy.
I haven't actually read any of these books about John Stranger, but I understand they have quite a following. Here's what the back cover says:
The man who broke Breanna's heart is back. But this time, he's after her life.
For certified medical nurse Breanna Baylor, the course of true love never did run smoothly. First, the coldly deceptive Frank Miller jilted her to marry another, destroying her faith in all men. Then, unable to give her heart again, Breanna foolishly sent away her one true love, legendary hero John Stranger.
Now, years later, Breanna unexpectedly crosses paths with--and draws the unbridled wrath of--her former fiance, a man accused of cold-blooded murder. Will the brutal fugitive succeed in taking her life? Or does the future still hold a promise for Breanna?
Leave a comment if you'd like to win this book.
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