Back to reading...

Hmmm, now that's not correct because I HAVE been reading, just not blogging.  I don't know where the time goes.

I have fallen so far behind in keeping up with my blog and keeping up my reading spreadsheet,  So, I have decided to just 'let it go' and start from square one.  I will start a brand new spreadsheet on January 1 and will challenge myself to read at least 50 books.  The last time I challenged myself to read 100 books and I read 159 in a year's time.

I think one book a week is a good challenge and hopefully, I will exceed that :-)

I recently finished two books by Richard Paul Evans, "The Walk" and "Miles to Go".

The Walk is the story of a man, from the Seattle area, who loses EVERYTHING including the love of his life and after deciding not to end his life, he packs the bare necessities and makes a decision to walk to Key West, FL, the farthest point on his map.  Along the way, his experiences and the people he encounters and the lessons they share with him,saves his life and will encourage you.

 Miles to Go is the sequel to The Walk.  Alan makes it as far as Spokane, WA before he encounters some hoodlums that jump him and stab him multiple times.  He wakes up in a hospital not able to do the very thing he set out to do, WALK.  A mysterious woman, that he happened to help earlier, on his route, gets called by the hospital and he ends up going to her home to recover and get his strength back.

As it turns out, he ends up being used to save her life before he returns to his journey months later.

The next in the series is "The Road to Grace" which is due out in 2012.  Can't wait!!!

Enjoy your day!!!

Char

Let's Do Lunch by Roger Troy Wilson

No really, this is the title of a book I just finished.  You have to admit, the title is catchy!

The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book through BookSneeze®.

The author, Roger Troy Wilson, lost 230 pounds and has kept it off for years.  In his book, he tells you how he came to write this book and sharing the plan that was revealed to him by God.

In his book, Roger explains the plan and then gives pointers on eating at fast food restaurants, stocking your shelves, making wise choices at salad bars and parties, conquering cravings and even gives you a 14 day meal guide and a section of recipes to get you started.
I felt that he explained the program so that anyone could follow it.  Although I, personally, would miss some of the things he suggests that you go without to lose the weight, I would be eating healthier than I am now.  It certainly does make sense to eat this way for a healthier body!  It just may be the eating program that I could incorporate into my lifestyle.  No more calculating points, weighing my food and and journaling,  you have to love that.

If you would like to check it out, here is his website:  http://www.letsdolunch.com/ 
 
Happy Reading,

Char

Catching up once again

Summer is almost over and maybe I can get back into a routine of reading and posting.  I HAVE been reading, just not posting.

My Granddaughter did it...she got me to read an Amish series by Wanda Brunstetter.  I just finished my first series by Wanda Brunstetter.  It is called  "Daughters of Lancaster" series.  The first book is "The Storekeeper's Daughter", then "The Quilter's Daughter" and finally "The Bishop's Daughter".

The author does a wonderful job of introducing you to each character in the first book and then having you follow along as she unveils a little of each character's life through out the series.  Of course the books basically follow the lives of a few characters throughout the series.

I enjoyed this series immensely.  I have to admit to getting a tad impatient towards the end, though, when the 'secret' was to be revealed to everyone in Lancaster County but someone or some thing would keep interrupting that person each time he went to reveal that secret.  GRRRRR!  But, I guess it made for 'suspense'. :-)

It's been fun reading the same books as my Granddaughter and then being able to discuss them afterwards.  It was so hard for her, at times, to not give away anything since she had already read them :-)

Well it's off to start another book.  I think I'll take a break from Wanda Brunstetter and read a mystery/thriller next.

Have a wonderful day!

Back to blogging

I have been reading, just not blogging.  Our life has taken a little unexpected turn of events since last March. Things have finally sort of calmed down somewhat so now I am back to blogging once again.

I haven't done a ton of reading, but since the first of the year, some of the books that I have read include:

Fit to Die by JB Stanley

One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

Beyond Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury

I have to say that One Tuesday Morning was the first book I had ever read by Karen Kingsbury and I am SOLD on that author.   I will definitely be reading more of her books.  I loved how she intertwined the  fictional stories of several different people that had lived through 911.

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

 Sarah's Key was excellent.   I just know that my heart broke for this little girl going through what she did.  I kept hoping against hope that the ending would be different than it was.

Here is an excerpt from Google
.
Just Take my Heart by Mary Higgins Clark
7th Heaven by James Patterson
8th Confession by James Patterson
And, of course, what can I say about James Patterson.  He is what he is.....an EXCELLENT author.  I have The 9th Judgment sitting on my bedside table waiting to be read, next..

Right now, I am finishing up"Hand of Fate" by Lis Wiehl.  GOOD author.  She also wrote "Face of Betrayal" which I had read prior to this one.

 AND, my 15 year old Granddaughter has found Wanda Brunstetter books and she has been reading them non stop.  In fact, we will be heading to the library when I am finished with this post.   She has yet three more of her books on hold there :-)  I am thinking I need to read them also.

So many books....so little time!!   Now that I have somewhat caught up, I can start sharing each book as I read them.

Ok, we are OFF to the library.......see ya next time!!!

Hugs,
Char

Left to Die

Oh gosh, must be on a thriller kick!! I think it's time to change genres for the next book :-)

Left to Die written by Lisa Jackson was another page turner.

A serial killer is on the loose. Four bodies have been found in the woods around Grizzly, Montana. Brutally tortured and left to die in the freezing cold...naked!

Their only clues.....the women have all been killed the exact same way with only a few clues left by the killer, himself.

One being cryptic notes that supposedly make up a phrase of which will eventually give them the clue to his identity and a star carved in the trunk above their heads.

But, the clues come sporadically, not in order.

Will the detectives find the killer before all the clues and, worse yet, victims are found?
What makes this even more exciting is the introduction of a copy cat trying to kill and have the blame fall on the original killer. But, the killer doesn't follow the serial killer's exact MO and messes up on the clues left behind.

The only thing I didn't like about the book was at the end.......you have to get the next book to find out who the serial killer is......but you do find out who the copycat killer is. But, it's been ordered from my library....so hopefully, I should find out soon! Chosen to Die is the sequel.

I'll definitely read more by Lisa Jackson.....not only because I liked her style...she's a native OREGONIAN!!!

Sworn to Silence

Linda Castillo, another new to me author. While I enjoyed this book, I don't normally read thrillers but I wanted to read something outside the norm for me.

Basically, though, I checked it out because it had an Amish theme.

Synopsis (taken from FantasticFiction.com)

Kate Burkholder, who grew up in the Amish community of Painters Mill, Ohio, before leaving for the outside world and the study of law enforcement, has recently been appointed Chief of Police in her former hometown. Her knowledge of the Amish, their language and customs, makes her the perfect candidate. When a serial killer, whose spree sixteen years before was dubbed The Slaughterhouse Murders, returns with spectacular violence, Kate is determined to catch him. But she is also desperate to keep a secret from her past: the reason she fled the Amish world is that she was the young girl the killer attacked before disappearing - and she killed him in self defense. No one knows, except her Amish father and brother who helped bury the body. So who is behind the current murders? And what is the connection to Kate's past?

It does keep you going right to the end!!

Lots of books to share

Wow, It's been a busy summer and I am so behind in blogging my books. Actually, to tell ya the truth, I didn't keep really good track this summer :-(

But, I will attempt to get myself back up to speed with the books I feel were my best reads.

This was my first time reading anything by
Jennifer Erin Valent, "Fireflies in December". I will definitely be reading more by this author.

When Jessilyn Lassiter's best friend, Gemma, loses her parents in a house fire, the Lassiter family take the girl in. The only trouble is, Gemma is black, the family is white and the year is 1932 and they live in a small Virginia town.

This author shows how one family endured the threats small and large of a prejudiced community while maintaining their moral integrity.

I give this book an A+