Pennsylvania Here I Come

Tomorrow I am headed to Pennsylvania! I have never been to that part of the country so I'm looking forward to going. Plus we will be checking out Hersey, PA which means chocolate!! I'm also looking forward to going somewhere that is a lot cooler than it has been here in Texas. Hope to have a couple of book reviews to share with everyone when I get back. Reading, Chocolate and cooler weather now that is a perfect vacation. ;)

The Vanishing Sculptor Blog Tour

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 fiction 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.

Author Bio:
Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and author of numerous novellas, short stories, and eight novels, including the best-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles, a series which has sold more than a quarter million books to date. The winner of multiple awards, she lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she spends time mentoring and encouraging young writers. Visit her online at donitakpaul.com.


Angie here: I started reading this book last week but haven't had time to finish it yet. I'm on about chapter 15 or 16 atm. What I can tell you about it is that I'm enjoying it and hope to find time to finish it soon. When I finish it I will post a little review so be on the look out for that. Until then...Happy Reading!

Spring Reading Thing 2009: Wrap It Up!

I can't believe that Spring is over, although as hot as it has been I'm not surprised. Well, since summer is here that means Spring Reading Thing 2009 is over and here is my wrap up:


Did you finish reading all the books on your spring reading list? If not, why not?

Sadly, no I didn't get all my books read. Before I started the Spring Reading challenge I was in the middle of a book slump. Hate those. Was having trouble finding any books that I wanted to read even though I have a ton of books on my TBR shelf. So I think the reason I didn't finish all my books was due to the fact I picked too many and was in the middle of a book slump. I ended up reading 5 books off my original list but a total of 10 books during the Spring Reading Challenge.

Did you stick to your original goals or did you change your list as you went along?

No I didn't stick to my original list. When I made my list I forgot about a few blog tours I was participating in so I added those later. Also, I added a couple of other books because I didn't feel like reading what I had originally chosen.

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

My favorite book that I read this spring was Stealing Home by Allison Pittman. It was one of those books that once you pick it up it is so hard to put down. Loved it.

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

Stealing Home was the first book I have ever read by Allison Pittman and I'm looking forward to checking out her other books.

What was your favorite thing about the challenge?

I think my favorite thing about the challenge was it helped me get out of my book slump! ;)

Otter Half

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

18. The Cat, The Quilt, and the Corpse: Cats in Trouble Mystery Series

Last week I was browsing books online and stumbled upon this book. Since I enjoy cozy mysteries and I'm a cat lover I thought I would check it out. I'm so glad I did. The Cat, The Quilt, and the Corpse was a nice, enjoyable read. In this first book of the Cats in Trouble Mystery series we meet Jillian who comes home from a business trip to discover her house has been broken into and one of her cats is missing. On her quest to find her missing cat she ends up finding a dead body and finds herself in the middle of a cat mystery.

If you love cats and enjoy cozy mysteries then I highly recommend this book. If you don't love cats but do like cozy mysteries then I still recommend the book although I can't imagine anyone not loving cats. ;)

So I'm giving The Cat, The Quilt, and the Corpse four out of five stars.

Father's Day Blog Tour

The Disappearance of God

More faulty information about God swirls around us today than ever before. No wonder so many followers of Christ are unsure of what they really believe in the face of the new spiritual openness attempting to alter unchanging truth.

For centuries the church has taught and guarded the core Christian beliefs that make up the essential foundations of the faith. But in our postmodern age, sloppy teaching and outright lies create rampant confusion, and many Christians are free-falling for “feel-good” theology.

We need to know the truth to save ourselves from errors that will derail our faith.

As biblical scholar, author, and president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dr. Albert Mohler, writes, “The entire structure of Christian truth is now under attack.” With wit and wisdom he tackles the most important aspects of these modern issues:

Is God changing His mind about sin?
Why is hell off limits for many pastors?
What’s good or bad about the “dangerous” emergent movement?
Have Christians stopped seeing God as God?
Is the social justice movement misguided?
Could the role of beauty be critical to our theology?
Is liberal faith any less destructive than atheism?
Are churches pandering to their members to survive?

In the age-old battle to preserve the foundations of faith, it's up to a new generation to confront and disarm the contemporary shams and fight for the truth. Dr. Mohler provides the scriptural answers to show you how.

Sir Dalton and the Shadow Heart

Sir Dalton, a knight in training, seems to have everything going for him. Young, well-liked, and a natural leader, he has earned the respect and admiration of his fellow knights, and especially the beautiful Lady Brynn.

But something is amiss at the training camp. Their new trainer is popular but lacks the passion to inspire them to true service to the King and the Prince. Besides this, the knights are too busy enjoying a season of good times to be concerned with a disturbing report that many of their fellow Knights have mysteriously vanished.

When Sir Dalton is sent on a mission, he encounters strange attacks, especially when he is alone. As his commitment wanes, the attacks grow in intensity until he is captured by Lord Drox, a massive Shadow Warrior. Bruised and beaten, Dalton refuses to submit to evil and initiates a daring escape with only one of two outcomes–life or death. But what will become of the hundreds of knights he’ll leave behind? In a kingdom of peril, Dalton thinks he is on his own, but two faithful friends have not abandoned him, and neither has a strange old hermit who seems to know much about the Prince. But can Dalton face the evil Shadow Warrior again and survive?

17. Sassy Cinderella & the Valiant Vigilante

This is the second book in the Ruby Taylor Mystery series and like the first book it was a good read. In this book we find Ruby Taylor teaching at a local university and trying to deal with her brother who has reappeared suddenly and she is also dealing with her feelings for Wesley. And if that isn't enough she finds herself in the middle of the mystery of who (or how) did the professor whose job she took over died.

Sassy Cinderella and the Valiant Vigilante is a fun read and had me guessing who til the very end. Also love Ruby, she's very real and I think a lot of people could probably relate to some of the things she struggles with. So I'm giving Sassy Cinderella and the Valiant Vigilante four out of five stars.

Friday's Fave Five

It's Friday!! That means, of course, that it's time for Friday's Fave Five!! Don't forget that if you would like to join in the fun to go over to Living to Tell the Story.

1) This isn't really a favorite at the moment but I figure the results will be so I'm going to list it this week: Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred DVD. If you have ever watched The Biggest Loser than you know who she is but if you haven't let me say she is a very tough trainer. I just got the DVD and have only did the work out once and I am so sore..oh my gosh! There are three levels and I'm glad I started with level 1...I probably wouldn't be able to walk if I had started on level 2. But what I like about it is that the work out goes by quick and I can certainly feel that I did something so that has to be good. I'll keep y'all posted.

2) Shopping! I haven't been in ages but my mom and I went shopping yesterday. I found some bargains on the clearance rack and I also got me some cute pink and white tennis shoes.

3) Watching my older cat, Milo, play with the kittens. It was so funny watching him "hiding" behind the monkey grass and the little kittens pouncing on him. Also, the kittens are slowly getting use to me...was able to pet them a couple of times. Of course, they have to be eating for me to touch them but it's a start.

4) Reading a really good book. I recently finished reading Stealing Home by Allison Pittman. Has to be one of the best books I've read this year. I really enjoyed it, you can check out my review here.

5) This is going to be a silly one but I just love Kentucky Fried Chicken's potato salad. It is so yummy. I found a recipe for it online so I think I'll try making some.

16. Her Royal Spyness

I got this book a while ago and just couldn't get into it so I decided I would pick it as one of my Spring Reading reads and I finally got it read! Her Royal Spyness is about Georgie who happens to be 34th in line for the Royal throne in England! But that doesn't help her money wise and she has to end up cleaning houses to make ends meet. Of course since this is a cozy mystery a body does show up which means Georgie has to find out what happened before her brother has the crime pinned on him.

All in all it was a nice, light read and I have to say I really liked the characters in this book, especially Georgie. My one complaint is that the mystery didn't really start until about half way through the book. So I'm giving Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. I do recommend this book and look forward to the other books in this series.

Stealing Home Blog Tour

It’s 1905 and the Chicago Cubs are banking on superstar Donald “Duke” Dennison’s golden arm to help them win the pennant. Only one thing stands between Duke and an unprecedented ten thousand dollar contract: alcohol.

That’s when sportswriter David Voyant whisks Duke to the one-horse town of Picksville, Missouri, so he can sober up in anonymity. He bides his time flirting with Ellie Jane Voyant, his unofficial chaperon, who would rather hide herself in the railway station ticket booth than face the echoes of childhood taunts.

Ned Clovis, the feed store clerk, has secretly loved Ellie Jane since childhood, but he loves baseball and the Duke almost as much–until he notices Ellie Jane may be succumbing to the star’s charm.

Then there’s Morris, a twelve-year-old Negro boy, whose only dream is to break away from Picksville. When Duke discovers his innate talent for throwing a baseball, Morris might just have found his way out.

Four individuals, each living in haunted isolation, each harboring a secret passion. Providence brings them together. Tragedy threatens to tear them apart. Will love be enough to bring them home?

Author Bio:

Allison Pittman spent seventeen years as a high school English teacher, and then shunned the advice of “experts,” quit her day job and set out to write novels that bring glory to God. She relishes inspiring other writers and leading the theater arts group at her church. She and her husband and three sons live in Universal City, Texas.

Angie here: I have to say that Stealing Home has to be one of the best books I have read this year. Once I started reading it I couldn't stop...I finished it in four days which is extremely fast for me. You have four characters and you get to see the story unfold from each characters point of view. Instead of chapters you have a chapter titled Ned and then you get to see things from his point of view and so on. It may sound weird or that it will be hard to follow along but Ms. Pittman does a wonderful job and the story flows really well and keeps you reading. I highly recommend this book. I don't usually give books five out of five stars but this book earns every one of those stars. Wonderful!