Follow My Blog Friday

What was my favorite subject in school?

Holy cow.  That was SOOOOO long ago.  I actually have my 20th high school reunion coming up this summer. Um, yeah.  I totally just admitted how old I really am.  I guess I'd go with English or Language Arts as they call it now.  I loved reading and writing.  I still do.

Having a giveaway this week so if you are interested, check it out!

Shadow of the Sun by Laura Kreitzer and a GIVEAWAY!

I would have given this book a yummy love rating if all the swearing was taken out. Because that's just the kind of girl I am. Me = no swearing. Instead I'll say I liked the book a lot.

Here's what I liked about this book. It was thick. A good, long book is happy to me. The story moved along quickly and had action, emotion and romance. I liked the good angel/bad angel thing going on. It was a really fun story.

I finished the book but I'm still left with so many questions. SO MANY! And if I'm picking a team? It's going to be Joseph. Sorry, but I know there is more to that dude than was explained. He's a stud! Things are going to get tricky... I can just feel it.

And what's with the no resolution ending? I hate to be left hanging. Hate it.

My favorite line from this book was, "Life would be so much easier if some things, including facets of my brain, came with an off button." I totally agree.

My thanks to the author, Laura Kreitzer, for sending me a signed copy of this book. It's her debut novel and I think she's off to a great start.

I'm going to send this book on to somebody else to read and enjoy. Might as well be you, right? Just leave me a comment along with your email address and I'll be in touch. I'd love for you to follow my blog too. But I won't make you. Giveaway ends Friday the 4th of Feb. :)

Tiger's Curse by Colleen Houck

Wowza, what a fun book!

Kelsey never imagined when she accepted a job working at the traveling circus as a temp that she would end up in India trying to break the curse of Indian prince trapped in tiger form. And not just any prince; a hundreds of years old, rich, handsome prince! The way is enveloped in magic, adventure and romance. With the help of the Indian Goddess, Durga, Kelsey sets out, determined to help Prince Ren return to his rightful life as a man, not a tiger.

I loved this book. It was a great story, full of adventure and magic. I enjoyed the romp through India in the process. Mythology in any culture is interesting, but somehow the world Houck created with the Gods and Goddesses of India was especially fascinating to me. I really appreciated that this book was free of the bad language and profanity that I so frequently find in young adult fiction. There was no sex or crass sexual language. This was just a great, clean book. I won this book in a Goodreads First Read contest and I’m so happy I did. It’s one of the best YA books I’ve read in awhile. Target audience for this book is YA, ages 15-25. I would agree. (Although I did let my 13 year old read this and she LOVED it too.)

If you want the full review for content, you can check it out over at The Literate Mother.
http://www.theliteratemother.org/tigers-curse

Follow My Blog Friday

This is my very first attempt at something like this. I'm excited and just a wee bit scared. I have no idea if I'm doing this right or how it will turn out. I'd really like to meet some new book blog friends though, so fingers crossed! :) Welcome to my new blog.

Who do you cheer for?

That would depend on who is playing! If I have no emotional attachment to either side, I cheer for the underdog. My husband is a basketball fan, so I watch A LOT of Utah Jazz games. Go Jazz! But, being a California girl, my heart belongs to the home team. I'm a baseball fan and grew up attending the Oakland A's with my family. I'll admit to swooning over the "Bash Brothers"! Wherever we go though, I love catching a baseball game. Last summer we watched the Colorado Rockies. My favorite stadium is the San Francisco Giants. I love it. You can't beat sitting on the bay, eating peanuts and watching baseball. Sigh. Now I'm homesick.

A Billion Reasons Why

Katie McKenna has been in love before.  Madly, passionately in love.  And then it burned her.  Now, eight years later, Katie has everything she has worked for.  A fulfilling job teaching autistic children and a steady, dependable man, Dexter, who she is planning to marry.  Life is going along just as she wants it.  Safely.

Then Luc DeForges waltzes back into her life, literally.  With him comes all those memories of love from before.  Things have changed though, for them both.  Luc is a multi-millionaire and used to a life of luxury and attention.  Work has been his life.  Katie is determined to stay the safe course and avoid being hurt again.  Katie agrees to accompany Luc to his brother’s wedding to sing, traveling back home to New Orleans to see her mother and face head on the memories that have haunted her for years.  Katie’s attraction to Luc is like a magnet pulling her towards him and that’s exactly when Dexter decides to show up.

This was a spunky, fun, romantic read.  It had all the romantic tension that I love with some quick wit and a dashingly handsome rich man after the fiery Irish red head. This was a book I didn’t want to put down because I really wanted to get to the happily ever after ending.  I wasn’t disappointed.  A yummy good read.

Life Without Limits

Nick Vijicic was born without arms or legs.  His life has been dedicated to overcoming his disabilities to achieve independence, freedom and happiness.  He has devoted himself to sharing his love for God by speaking to people throughout the world about his experiences and trials. God and his family have been a source of strength and happiness throughout his life.  Nick shares stories and pieces of his life in the hopes that others will find that strength to overcome their difficulties and lead a positive, fulfilling life.

I really enjoyed reading through this book.  There is nothing like gaining some perspective when you think you’ve got something that is challenging.  Many times throughout the week as I was reading this book I would find myself complaining about something that I found hard or frustrating and then I would think to myself, “well, at least you have arms and legs to make this frustration easier!  And if Nick can do it, so can you.”  Nick is surely an inspiration and a good example to any who hear his story.  I have related parts of Nick’s story to my children at various times because again, it’s that perspective.  I am grateful for Nick’s life and message of hope and faith.  He has made his life something that God would be proud of.  Something that can bless all of God’s children.