Tag Archives: Top 10 Tuesday

Top 10 Tuedsay — New Books in The TBR Pile

8 Nov

Books, books and more books! That’s what my life looks like! I am always on the lookout for my next great read, even when I have 10s 100s 1000s waiting in the wings! This week the folks at The Broke And The Bookish have challenged us to list our most recently added books to the old TBR list. I will limit my list to just 10, although I could probably go on and on. To find out what other bloggers are looking forward to reading, click HERE.

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I think I have a good mix of books to read in the upcoming weeks — history, mystery, romance, Christmas-themed and Indie-published novels. Eclectic, but that’s how I like it.

Top 10 Recently Added Books on The TBR List

 

Another Day, Another Dali by Sandra Orchard

A Christmas to Remember by Linda Brooks Davis

Dressed for Death by Julianna Deering

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The End of The Roadie by Elizabeth Flynn

Finding Riley by Dan Walsh

Lucifer’s Harvest by Mel Starr

The Most Wonderful Time of The Year by Ace Collins

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O Little Town of Bethany by Rene Guttering and Cheryl McKay

The Princes of Albion by Jon and Thomas Hopkins

Truth Be Told by J J Hemmestad

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What are some of the books you are reading next?

 

 

Top 10 Tuesday — Characters and Cats

18 Oct

Do you have a favorite character you would name your dog, cat or child after? Well that’s the theme of this week’s Top 10 Tuesday! My future daughter-in-love just got a cute Boston Terrier puppy she named Yossarian — after the main character in her favorite book, Catch-22. At my house, we have named animals after TV, literary, and Biblical characters. We had a doberman named Mr. Spock (it was the ears!), a feisty Jack Russell named Higgins from Magnum PI, and a beloved cat named Jezebel who was nothing like her namesake. My sweet little orange tabby is named Stella and I have to tell you I have fun calling her! 😉

This week I decided to take character names from my most recent reads and find cats to match them, because what good is being a crazy book lady without adding a bit of cat insanity to the mix! To find out what other bloggers are naming their pets and their kids, click HERE.

 

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Top 10 Cat Character Names

Arianna is a blue-eyed, platinum blond beauty from Cindy Woodsmall‘s The Amish of Summer Grove series. She is as sweet as she is pretty.

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Brother Thomas has been a favorite character of mine throughout the 9-book series, The Hawk And The Dove, by Penelope Wilcock. You just have to name a cat after this faithful monk!

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Charlie Lionheart is the name of the main character in Joanne Bischoff‘s novel, The Lady And The Lionheart. Isn’t that just the best name for a sweet orange tabby?!

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Finn is the sweet and hunky former Navy SEAL in Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon. Is it too ironic to name a cat Finn?

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My husband and I love listening to Agatha Christie audiobooks featuring Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. This very proper black and white kitten would be the perfect Hercule.

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Inspector Jago from Mike Hollow‘s Blitz Detective series has seen a lot in his life — from the trenches of WWI to the bombing of London in WWII. Here’s a cat who has been around!

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Mama Bliss is from Mike Nappa‘s novel The Raven. Mama was world weary as she sought to make up for the wrongs in her family’s life.

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Nicolette (Nicki to her friends) is a fresh, young PI who speaks her mind. She is also is very curious! She is the main character in Mary Ellis‘ book, Midnight on The Mississippi.

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The Raven is the title character from Mike Nappa‘s novel of the same name. He is a deception artist, but gets into lots of trouble with the Ukranian mob in Atlanta. Here’s a jet black kitten to match that name.

 

Last, but certainly not least there is Vandergriff from Amy Matayos‘ rom-com, The Thirteenth Chance. This cocky kitten matches the cocky baseball player he is named after.

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Top 10 Tuesday — Merrie Olde England

16 Aug

Thanks to the folks at The Broke And The Bookish for hosting Top 10 Tuesday! This week bloggers are discussing their favorite settings. You can find out more by clicking HERE.

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Merrie Olde England — the phrase conjures up gallant knights, fair ladies, courtly love and, of course, Robin Hood. Perhaps more accurately it was a time of wars, disease, superstition and religious persecution. What a treasure trove for authors! For betrayal, intrigue, seductions and treachery you can’t beat the Kings and Queens of England. Here are some of my favorites, in chronological order. Some books deal directly with royalty, others are on the periphery. What novels do you like set during this time period?

Top 10 Books Set in Merrie Olde England

The Angevins

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Lionheart by Sharon Kay Penman (Richard I)

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott (Richard I/John)

Here Be Dragons by Sharon Kay Penman (John)

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The Plantagenets (York & Lancaster)

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The Queen’s Secret by Jean Plaidy (Henry V)

The Lady of The Rivers by Philippa Gregory (Henry VI)

Sunne in Splendour by Sharon Kay Penman (Edward IV/Richard III)

Daughter of Time by Josephine They (Richard III)

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The Tudors

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The Thistle And The Rose by Jean Plaidy (Henry VII/Henry VIII)

Heretic by Henry Vyner Brooks (Henry VIII)

To Die For by Sandra Byrd (Henry VIII)

The Tudor Secret by C. W. Gortner (Edward VI)

Top 10 Tuesday Rewind: Books I Just Had to Buy (And of Course Haven’t Read)

9 Aug

Thanks to the folks at The Broke And The Bookish who are giving bloggers a second chance! Today’s Top Ten Tuesday is a look at past topics. to find out what subjects bloggers are revisiting today, click HERE.

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This week I am featuring books I just had to buy. You know, those books that chanted Pick Me as I stood in front of their shelves. Oh I can’t resist a better-than-the-movie novel or a big, fat historical or a quirky title. So here are the books I just had to have. They are still chanting!

Top 10 Books I Just Had to Buy

I Like Big Books . . . 

In high school I read every James Michener novel I could get my hands on. I love big, sweeping sagas. Thick books that are filled with history. Here are four languishing on my shelves.

Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor

Oh, Kentucky by Betty Layman Receveur

The Princes of Ireland by Edward Rutherfurd

Sacajawea by Anna L. Waldo

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Because I Missed The Mini-Series

I don’t watch much TV, mostly because I read in my down time, but also because the TV is most often tuned into ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC . . . .  You get the picture. So I have to buy the books! And of course they are always better, right? Here are two that I am looking forward to.

Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson

Ross Poldark by Winston Graham

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Because I’m A Sucker for A Quirky Title

Most people are attracted by the cover art, and I really like pretty books too. But give me a great title — funny, quirky, mysterious, or intriguing. BTW, these books also have fabulous covers!

Miss Buncle’s Book by D. E. Stevenson

Miss Hazel And The Rosa Parks League by Jonathan Odell

Sidney Chambers And The Shadow of Death by James Runcie

Sweetness at The Bottom of The Pie by Alan Bradley

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Which book should I pick?

 

 

Top 10 Tuesday: Books That Made Me Want to Travel!

26 Jul

Thanks so much to the folks at The Broke And The Bookish who week after week host the fun and fabulous Top 10 Tuesday. This week’s challenge is to list the Top 10 Things Books Have Made Me Want To Do. To find out what other bloggers have learned or are inspired to do, click HERE.

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Well above all else, books make me want to travel. Now as my husband will attest, I am not much of a traveler. But the following books have really sparked my interest. Whether it is to real life places or places I can only dream about, here is my list.

Top Books That Make Me Want to Travel

 

Travel in Unique Ways

Route 66 — The Mother Road by Jennifer AlLee

Public Transportation — Harriet Beamer Takes The Bus by Joyce Magnin

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Travel to Unique Locales

Ca d’Zan Ringling Museum — The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron

Oregon Sea Stacks — Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

Shetland Islands — The Inheritance by Michael Phillips

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Travel Back in Time

Viking Days — God’s Daughter by Heather Gilbert

Medieval Period — The Abbess of Whitby by Jill Dalladay

Ashes to Ashes by Mel Starr

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Travel to Fictional Small Towns

Appleton — Lock, Stock And Over A Barrel by Melody Carlson

Bright’s Pond — The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin

Last Chance — Welcome to Last Chance by Cathleen Armstrong

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Travel Across Time/Space/Universe

The Bright Empires Series by Stephen Lawhead

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Where do you want to travel?

TOP 10 Tuesday — Around The World in Books!

19 Jul

This week the folks at The Broke And The Bookish are focusing on Books Set Outside The United States. To find out all the great books bloggers are recommending, click HERE.

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I’m not much of a traveler, but I have loved the places I visited in books! Because there are so many great books set outside of the US, I have included many more than 10, 25 in fact. Divided by geographic location, my list includes books set within the last 100 years so that you can easily see where you are visiting! Have fun exploring the world!

Around The World in Books

The Americas

CanadaThe Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder by Rachel McMillan.

MexicoMore Than Conquerors by Kathi Macias 

NicaraguaWater from My Heart by Charles Martin

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Europe

EnglandThe Inheritance by Michael Phillips

Maggie Bright by Tracy Groot

Secrets of A Charmed Life by Susan Meissner

FranceDefy The Night by Heather Munn and Lydia Munn

Flame of Resistance by Tracy Groot

GreeceThe Patmos Deception by Davis Bunn

Netherlands Snow on The Tulips by Liz Tolsma

Ukraine Beyond The Rapids by Evelyn Puerto

Like A River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart

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Africa

AlgeriaTwo Destinies by Elizabeth Musser

South AfricaThe Girl from The Train by Irma Joubert

No Greater Love by Kathi Macias

SudanSide by Side by Jana Kelley

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The Middle East 

AfghanistanFarewell, Four Waters by Kate McCord

Saudia Arabia People of The Book by Kathi Macias

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Asia

ChinaCity of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell

Red Ink by Kathi Macias 

Indonesia (Dutch East Indies)Thief of Glory by Sigmund Brouwer

North KoreaBeloved Daughter by Alana Terry

The PhilippinesRemember The Lilies by Liz Tolsma

VietnamYesterday’s Tomorrow by Catherine West

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Australia 

Winter in Full Bloom by Anita Higman

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Where do you want to travel?

 

Top 10 Tuesday: Most Anticipated Releases In The Upcoming Months

14 Jun

Thanks to the Broke And The Bookish who weekly host Top 10 Tuesday. This week bloggers will let you in on their Top Anticipated Releases of The Rest of 2016. To find out what bloggers are looking forward to, click HERE.

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Oh my, only 10?! There are so many great books that I am looking forward to. Here are books by favorite authors or books that continue series I am reading.

Top 10 Most Anticipated Releases

511qIBHGARL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_Child of The River by Irma Joubert — Persomi’s dreams are much bigger than the world of poverty and deprivation that surround her in the Bushveld of the 1940s and 1950s in South Africa.

Persomi is young, white and poor, born the middle child of illiterate sharecroppers on the prosperous Fourie farm. Persomi’s world is extraordinarily small. She has never been to the local village and spends her days absorbed in the rhythms of the natural world around her. Her older brother, Gerbrand, is her lifeline and her connection to the outside world. When he leaves the farm to seek work in Johannesburg, Persomi’s isolated world is blown wide open. But as her very small world falls apart, bigger dreams become open to her—dreams of an education, a profession, and of love. As Persomi navigates the changing world around her—the tragedies of WWII and the devastating racial strife of her homeland—she finally discovers who she truly is and where she belongs.

A compelling coming of age story with an unlikely and utterly memorable heroine, Persomi’s English language publication solidifies Irma Joubert’s important place in the canon of inspirational historical fiction.

51dXC1kwIDL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_The Cottage by Michael Phillips — When Loni Ford is informed that she has inherited property in the Shetland Islands, she laughs. She wants nothing more than to sell it and be done with it. But when she arrives in the North Sea enclave, she is stunned to find that “the Cottage” is not at all what she expected, nor is David Tulloch, the man most of the islanders believe to be the rightful heir.

The locals could hardly be more surprised that the heir is a woman–and an American. Loni, in turn, finds the islanders quaint and a bit behind the times. Expecting David to be as provincial as the rest of his clan, she discovers that there is far more to the man than meets the eye. And there is something about the peaceful atmosphere of the place–and the character of its most prominent citizen–that soon gets under her skin.

Beneath the peaceful surface, however, change is threatening the island of Whale’s Reef. David’s cousin Hardy Tulloch, whose claim to the inheritance now in Loni’s hands was backed by oil investors, has not been deterred in his aim to control the island. But his co-conspirators have plans of their own, plans that put Loni’s very life in danger.

514brqOCxYL._SX327_BO1,204,203,200_A Day And A Life by Penelope Wilcock — The monastic rhythm of life at St. Alcuins means that all is peaceful on the surface, but beneath there are strong currents as each monk contends with his own hopes, fears, challenges, and temptations.
Not every monk is settled and secure. Sadness permeates the monastery when it is discovered early one morning that one of the novices, Brother Cedd, has disappeared. It quickly becomes clear that disturbance in the life of one can impact many. As the day goes on, the question looms: will Brother Cedd return? And what will be the consequences if he doesn’t?

In this moving conclusion to The Hawk and the Dove series, Pen Wilcock describes a single day in the life of the community weaving a deeply touching, frank, and witty tapestry of monastic life.

51RNgTEAKSL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_The Devoted by Suzanne Woods Fisher — Bright, curious, and restless, Ruthie Stoltzfus loves her family but is stuck in a sea of indecision about her future: Should she stay Amish? Or should she leave? She’s done all she can to prepare to go–passed the GED, saved her money–but she can’t quite set her journey into motion.

Patrick Kelly is a young man on a journey of his own. He’s come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to “everything Plain.” Time, to Patrick, is of the essence. Every moment is to be cherished, especially the hours he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

Ruthie’s next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock, is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong, defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back–anything–and Patrick Kelly is getting in his way.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites readers back to Stoney Ridge for a story of dreams deferred and hopes fulfilled–complete with Fisher’s signature twists that never fail to leave readers delighted.

51mwWuoXmlL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_Long Way Home by Charles Martin — At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish.

Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns to his remote home in the Colorado Mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith.

When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it.

A radical retelling of the story of the prodigal son, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.

511YKXePgnL._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_The Pattern Artist by Nancy Moser — English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York in 1911. On her own for the first time working as a Macy’s sewing department clerk, Annie catches the eye of a salesman at the Butterick Pattern Company. Through determination, hard work, and God’s leading, Annie discovers a hidden gift: she is a talented fashion designer—an artist of the highest degree. As she runs from ghosts of the past and focuses on the future, Annie enters a creative world that takes her to the fashion houses of Paris and into a life of adventure, purpose, and love.


41mXugmS0rL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_The Raven by Mike Nappa — As part of his regular street performance, a deception specialist who goes by the name The Raven picks his audience’s pockets while they watch. It’s harmless fun–until he decides to keep the spare wallet a city councilman doesn’t seem to miss, hoping for a few extra bucks. When he finds not money but compromising photos of the councilman and his “personal assistants,” The Raven hatches a plan to blackmail the man. However, he quickly finds himself in over his head with the Ukrainian Mafia and mired in a life-threatening plot code-named, “Nevermore.”

Private investigators Trudi Coffey and Samuel Hill must scramble to sort out the clues–and their complicated feelings for each other–to rescue The Raven and save hundreds of lives from a wildcard bent on revenge.

Mike Nappa snags readers from the first page of this fast-paced thriller–and he never lets go until the end.

51BahaAJvzL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_Tangled Webs by Irene Hannon — After a disastrous Middle East mission ends his six-year Army Ranger career, Finn McGregor needs some downtime. A peaceful month in the woods sounds like the perfect way to decompress. But peace isn’t on the agenda once he crosses paths with publishing executive Dana Lewis, a neighbor who is nursing wounds of her own. Someone seems bent on disrupting her stay in the lakeside cabin she inherited from her grandfather. As Finn and Dana work together to discover who is behind the disquieting pranks, the incidents begin to take on a menacing tone. And when it becomes apparent Dana’s foe may have deadly intent, Finn finds himself back in the thick of the action–ready or not.

Bestselling author Irene Hannon draws readers into a web of psychological suspense where danger lurks in dark corners . . . and keeps them captive until the very last page.

41-nsEAWyBL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck — Two women separated by decades. Both set out to help others find their dreams when their own have crumbled.

It’s the early 1930s, but Cora Scott is walking in stride as a career woman ?after having inherited her great aunt’s wedding shop in Heart’s Bend, Tennessee, where brides come from as far away as Birmingham to experience her famed bridal treatment. Meanwhile, Cora is counting down the days until her own true love returns from the river to make her his bride. But days turn into months and months to years. All the while, Birch Good continues to woo Cora and try to show her that while he is solid and dependable, he can sweep her off her feet.

More than eighty years later, former Air Force Captain Haley Morgan has returned home to Heart’s Bend after finishing her commitment to military service. After the devastating death of her best friend, Tammy, and discovering the truth about the man she loved, Haley is searching for her place in life.

When Haley decides to reopen the romantic but abandoned wedding shop where she and Tammy played and dreamed as children, she begins a journey of courage, mystery, and love.

As Cora’s and Haley’s stories intertwine through time in the shadow of the beloved wedding shop, they both discover the power of their own dreams and the magic of everyday love.

51hCr8SxdML._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_When Death Draws Near by Carrie Stuart Parks — Gwen Marcey takes death in stride. Until she’s faced with her own mortality.

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky—a small town facing big-city crime. But before Gwen can finish her first drawing of the serial rapist who is on the loose, the latest witness vanishes. Just like all the others.

Gwen suspects a connection between the rapist and the “accidental” deaths that are happening around town, but the local sheriff has little interest in her theories. When her digitally-obsessed teenage daughter joins her there, Gwen turn her attention to a second assignment: going undercover in a serpent-handling church. She could get a handsome reward for uncovering illegal activity there—a reward she desperately needs, as it seems her breast cancer has returned. But snakes aren’t the only ones ready to kill. Can Gwen uncover the truth—and convince anyone to believe her—before she becomes a victim herself?

In a thrilling race against time, When Death Draws Near plunges us into cold-case murders, shady politics, and a den of venomous suspects.

What books are you looking forward to?

Top 10 Tuesday: Why I Love Christian Fiction

7 Jun

Thanks so much to the folks at The Broke And The Bookish who week after week challenge bloggers to think, sometimes way outside the box. This week, bloggers are sharing the Top 10 Reasons They Love X. In my case, X is Christian fiction. To find out what other bloggers love, click HERE.

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When I saw this week’s theme it got me thinking. Just what do I love in my reading life? Genres, authors, settings, bookstores, etc. Well I came up with Christian Fiction. For the last 15+ years I have been reading Christian fiction almost exclusively. Oh sure, I read the occasional general market bestseller or even a non-fiction title, but the majority of my reading is spent in the pages of inspirational fiction. What happened years ago to bring me to the point now where my shelves are brimming with CBA titles? I was diagnosed with MS after a bout with optic neuritis. I temporarily lost the sight in my left eye and then a few months later had sight deficits in my right eye. For a committed bookworm, this was devastating. The loss was indeed temporary and though I need corrective lenses due to genetics and old age maturity, I can see pretty well. My new glasses are helping a lot too! As I faced a future of uncertainty regarding my health, I decided that time was too short to fill it with books that do not encourage or inform or entertain with God in mind. My blog’s subtitle is Reviews, Discussions, Etc. . . . All In The Light of God’s Word. As I state in my About page, I choose fiction based on Philippians 4:8 — books that explore what is noble, beautiful, right, lovely and pure. Although life as seen through a Christian worldview is often as ugly, gritty, or heartbreaking as through a secular worldview, the underlying message declares that there is redemption, hope and peace through Jesus. I have the added bonus that if my preacher comes to call, I don’t have to hide the books! 😉 Seriously, though, here are the reasons I Love Christian Fiction.

Top Reasons I Love Christian Fiction

No excuses, no hiding, no guilt. I jokingly said I don’t have to hide my books if my preacher should pay me a visit. He does live across the street so it could happen! But really it goes much deeper than that. Years ago I found myself engrossed with some Scottish time-jumping books. You know the ones. I was really into them; reading each book in the series in quick succession. Well, the content, for me, was inappropriate. I said for me. I am not judging anyone else’s book choices. I just know what my weaknesses are and so does God. So He has directed me away from books that fill my mind with images I just don’t need. Christian fiction generally has none of these pitfalls. I can enjoy great fiction without regrets!

Committed authors. I am sure that general market authors, some of them Christians, are committed to their writing craft. So are authors who write for the Christian market. I have also found, through interactions with these authors, they are committed to following the direction of God in their writing. They listen to what He says and then they try their best to communicate it through their books. I have found words aptly spoken, like apples of gold in settings of silver, that were meant just for me. Authors committed to God + committed to their craft = wonderful books for readers!

Genres galore. If it is a genre, you can find it in Christian fiction. I read everything, including cereal boxes, so I am thankful that Christian fiction has expanded over the years. Some may think that End Times or Amish are the only genres available, but I have found tons of books in many other genres. If you like light-hearted romance or deep literary fiction, or suspense, or horror (yes even horror), you can find great Christian fiction to fit the bill. Here are some examples:

Fantasy — A Cast of Stones by Patrick Carr (book 1 in a fabulous series)

Mystery — Miranda Warning by Heather Gilbert

Romance — The Discovery by Dan Walsh

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Supernatural Suspense — The Devil Walks in Mattingly by Billy Coffey

Legal Drama — Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer

Historical — The Girl from The Train by Irma Joubert

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Community. I love talking about books and I have found a great big group of others who do too. Locally, my book club, By The Book, has been discussing Christian fiction for almost 14 years. We meet every month to discuss a fiction title we have all read. We’ve learned so much about the world and ourselves in the course of reading Christian fiction. On the interwebs, I’ve also discovered a bunch of people who are passionate about reading Christian fiction — bloggers, authors and other devoted readers. If you are interested in what’s going on in the Christian book world or finding your next best read, then check out the Avid Readers of Christian Fiction FB Group.

Real life. Real stories. As I mentioned above, the books I read often have something just for me. It is rare that a book I read does not speak to something I am struggling with or an attitude I need to adjust or an insight into the world of another person. Sure Christian fiction is fiction, but when an author is following God’s leading, the stories they tell are real and relevant for their readers. One of my most recent reads was an historical novel set in a monastery in 14th century England. Relevant for today? Why, yes! Written specifically for me? I think so! Of course Jesus was the Master storyteller, and His people create in His image and produce stories that will speak to the heart of the reader. Whether I am riding the seas with a pirate, crossing the dessert on a camel or enjoying a small town visit, Christian fiction has a message for me. And please understand I am not talking about a sermon or an evangelistic tract, but a heart-warming or soul-touching tale that speaks truth while entertaining.

Well those are just 5 reasons to love Christian Fiction.

What are some of your reasons?

Top 10 Tuesday: Beach Reads!

31 May

This week the folks at The Broke And The Bookish are talking about books that are perfect for the beach, the pool or the mountain lake — anywhere where you can sit and relax and absorb a good book. To find out what other bloggers are recommending, click HERE.

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The following are books that I intend to read this summer; books that are part of my never-ending TBR List. I’m not sure if I will see sand and surf this year, so the books are those that will accompany me on my weekend road trips, vacation and time spent sitting next to my pool. What are you reading this summer, with or without sand?

Top 10 Beach Reads

The Cantaloupe Thief by Deb Richardson-Moore

Dawn of Emberwilde by Sarah Ladd

Her One And Only by Becky Wade

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Lethal Harvest by William Cutrer and Sandra Grahn

Like A River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart

Medical Judgment by Richard Mabry

My Father’s House by Rose Chandler Johnson

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The Ringmaster’s Wife by Kristy Cambron

Sea Rose Lane by Irene Hannon

Within The Veil by Brandi Vallance

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What are you reading this summer?

 

 

 

Top 10 Tuesday: Non-Book Websites

10 May

This week the folks at The Broke And The Bookish are hosting a Top 10 Tuesday that is a little different — Non-Book Related Sites on the Interwebs. Hmmm . . . . To find out where book blogger spend their time when not obsessed with books, click HERE.

toptentuesday

I first was made aware of this week’s topic by Carrie over at Reading Is My Superpower. She posted on FB about this astonishingly unique theme. How were we ever to find 10 sites we visit that are not book related? As is everything in life, all things lead either to or from books. It just is impossible to find a site that is not some way related to something bookish. Kind of like the 7 degrees of Kevin Bacon. 😉 Ok, maybe not everything is book related, but in my world I am afraid that is how it works. So here is my list of sites I have perused in the recent past that on the surface have nothing to do with books.

10 Non-Related Book Sites

Fabulous Food

Some books just make me hungry! When they are filled with references to food, I start looking for recipes to satisfy my cravings. Here are some food-related sites that fit the bill.

csootk-logo-400x288Can’t Stay Out of The Kitchen — I found this blog when I was looking for a recipe for Panera’s Autumn Squash Soup. The characters in Irene Hannon’s Thin Ice kept meeting at Panera and I developed a craving for this delicious soup.

(From Teresa’s About Page) So I (Teresa) am constantly cooking, experimenting and trying new recipes. Part of that process is changing and transforming dull recipes into ones that shine. It also means creating recipes from scratch based on what you have on hand at the time. That’s a whole lot of fun. I would never classify myself as a gourmet cook or professional chef, even though I have done some catering over the years. I’m more of a down-home, southern-style kind of a cook. That doesn’t mean that I don’t experiment with dreamy desserts (because I do), but there are certain combinations and styles of cooking that I really love to cook.

sally-about-pageSally’s Baking Addiction — The yearning for a simple sprinkle donut as described in Demise in Denim by Duffy Brown led me to this wonderful blog.

(From Sally’s About Page) I’m Sally. I like to take pictures, write, and bake. Scratch that, I’m addicted to baking. The kitchen is where my creative juices flow and Sally’s Baking Addiction is where I can share it all with you. Often with a lot of sprinkles and even more exclamation points.

398-tacos_175The Santa Fe School of Cooking — All of Cathleen Armstrong‘s books in her Last Chance series feature Green Chile Stew. Where else would I go to find a recipe for this New Mexico staple.

 

 

 

toh-logo-footerOf course Taste of Home is always a good go-to site for great recipes. I got a recipe for Lemon Crumb Cake that was featured in Lisa HarrisRecipe for Murder.

 

 

 

Sensational Settings

The settings of books just naturally lead me to learn more. Here are some websites of the places I have virtually toured.

201306067_Etape-10_ville-arrivee_saint-maloSaint-Malo is the main setting of Anthony Doerr‘s All The Light We Cannot See. I was intrigued by the walled town on the Brittany coast that was almost completely destroyed by Allied bombing towards the end of WWII. I just had to visit.

 

hermaness-reserve-shetland-islands_82585_990x742The Shetlands — The rugged islands set between the Atlantic and the North Sea are the setting for Michael Phillips The Inheritance. Puffins, sheep, waves and winds are what you experience there.

 

 

 

EWG-exterior-01The Elgin/Winter Garden Theaters in Toronto were the scene of the crime for Rachel McMillan‘s The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder. The theaters are unique in that they are stacked on top of each other!

 

 

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Meanderings

Random topics crop up in the midst of my reading and I just have to stop and Google!

DSC8722ePaper Bag Floors — the crazy and creative aunts in Hope Toler Dougherty‘s Mars . . . with Venus Rising helped out a friend’s kitchen reno with a paper bag floor. Who knew?! You can find instructions to make your own at Domestic Imperfections.

According to Ashley, Domestic Imperfections is all about DIY decor, home renovation, craftiness, and real life.

 

 

 

104376-100007-medMuttville — part of the sales proceeds of Dana Mentink‘s Sit, Stay, Love goes to this Senior Dog Rescue. Love dogs? Be sure to check out their website!

 

 

 

 

dnews-files-2013-02-gus-grissom-libery-bell-670x440-130204-jpgGus Grissom and the Apollo 1 Conspiracy The Astronaut Wives Club by Lily Koppel read like a soap opera, but the Apollo 1 tragedy that was detailed led me to this website and the allegations surrounding the incident.

 

 

 

Well, there you have it. 10 Non-Book Websites that really are all about books!

What are some of your favorite sites?