Blog Tour Challenge Update

I finished reading The King James Only Controversy yestersday and finished up my post and published it today.  Yeah!  I decided that I can work ahead on the Challenge, but I can't fall behind.  So, I began reading Miserly Moms late last night and now have only 13 days (including today) to finish reading it.  I'm guessing it will be a much faster read than The King James Only Controversy was.  Please check back often and see what the latest is with my Challenge.  Thank you for your continued interest in my blog!

The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? by James R. White

I found this book to be very informative and educational.  Having no knowledge of the KJV Only controversy before reading the book, I became very informed very quickly.  I found the first few chapters to be especially interesting, insightful, full of information, and helpful.  I learned about text types, variants, manuscripts, etc.  There is a history, of sorts, of the Scriptures in this book that I imagine many people (even Christians) are unaware of.  I thought that Mr. White did a good job of informing the reader of the basics of what he was discussing so that even those of us who know nothing of Greek or Hebrew could understand his points and explanations.  The book enlightened me about the issues of translation that arise in all versions of the Bible, whether KJV, NIV, NASB, RSV, or any other version.  It really is amazing that there are those who would stake their whole Christian walk on one version of the Bible so blindly.  I was glad to have the opportunity to review this book and be informed about so many aspects of God's Word that I never knew about before.  I highly recommend this book for those who want to learn more about this issue and Bible translation in general.  The book is somewhat tedious to get through at points for the uneducated, but overall I found it very intriguing and, as I've said, educational.  I feel that the Bible version you choose to read is your own personal choice between you and your Savior, and I also think that this book is a good jumping off point for those who want a more in-depth knowledge and understanding of Bible versions in a very general sense.

Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

For Better or For Worse by Diann Hunt

At first, I was having a bit of a hard time getting into the story and relating to a 44-year-old main character, but as I read on I really began to feel for Wendy and her family issues.  Wendy is a widow with two grown children, a boyfriend, a business, and a father.  She has just about everything go wrong that could go wrong in her life all at one time it seems.  She has a heart to serve God, but she begins to feel overwhelmed by life's storms and challenges.  And then there's Marco...the divorce lawyer.  He may be a hunky Italian, but that doesn't means he's perfect.  Can she ever figure out how to speak her mind?  Can she figure out how to not fix every little thing?  With a lot of humor, many touches of honesty, and a desire to share God's love and redemption, Diann Hunt brings us a story filled with just the right amount of romance, real-life, and some time to goof off.  You will definitely want to take the ride with Wendy as she deals with everything from over-eating relatives, geese populating her pond, and a snake in the shower.  Enjoy! 

Blog Tour Challenge

I have worked out the details of the Blog Tour Challenge I mentioned in my last post.  I have 18 books in my Blog Tour Challenge.  I have allotted a total of 200 days to read and review all 18 books, this translates to approximately 11.1 days to read each book.  The Challenge will begin on June 15, 2010, and run through December 31, 2010.  I have set up a reading schedule and blog tour dates for each book.  The book titles, authors, and schedule follow:
1. The King James Only Controversy  by James R. White
    Reading Dates: June 15-28, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: June 28-30, 2010   
2. Miserly Moms  by Jonni McCoy
    Reading Dates: June 29-July 12, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: July 12-14, 2010
3. Love is a Verb  by Gary Chapman
    Reading Dates: July 13-26, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: July 26-28, 2010
4. Words Unspoken  by Elizabeth Musser
    Reading Dates: July 27-Aug 5, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Aug 5-7, 2010
5. Whirlwind  by Cathy Marie Hake
    Reading Dates: Aug 6-15, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Aug 15-17, 2010
6. That Certain Spark  by Cathy Marie Hake
    Reading Dates: Aug 16-25, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Aug 25-27, 2010
7. Fields of Grace  by Kim Vogel Sawyer
    Reading Dates: Aug 26-Sep 4, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Sep 4-6, 2010
8. The Carousel Painter  by Judith Miller
    Reading Dates: Sep 5-14, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Sep 14-16, 2010   
9. A Measure of Mercy  by Lauraine Snelling
    Reading Dates: Sep 15-24, 2010
    Blog Tour Dates: Sep 24-26, 2010
10. The Rose Legacy  by Kristen Heitzmann
      Reading Dates: Sep 25-Oct 4, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Oct 4-6, 2010
11. The Silent Governess  by Julie Klassen
      Reading Dates: Oct 5-14, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Oct 14-16, 2010
12. Sense and Sensibility  by Jane Austen
      Reading Dates: Oct 15-24, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Oct 24-26, 2010
13. Talk of the Town  by Lisa Wingate
      Reading Dates: Oct 25-Nov 7, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Nov 7-9, 2010
14. Word Gets Around  by Lisa Wingate
      Reading Dates: Nov 8-17, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Nov 17-19, 2010
15. Never Say Never  by Lisa Wingate
      Reading Dates: Nov 18-27, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Nov 27-29, 2010
16. Beguiled  by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand
      Reading Dates: Nov 28-Dec 7, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Dec 7-9, 2010
17. Hearts Awakening  by Delia Parr
      Reading Dates: Dec 8-17, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Dec 17-19, 2010
18. Sixteen Brides  by Stephanie Grace Whitson
      Reading Dates: Dec 18-27, 2010
      Blog Tour Dates: Dec 27-29, 2010
 Bonus Days: Dec 30-31, 2010

If you would like to follow along and read with me, please do.  Also, I would certainly appreciate your comments on the titles after I have finished reading a title and posted a review of it.  This Challenge is a personal one that I am setting out before myself so that I might finish reviewing the books that I am currently obliged to review, and I thought it might be kind of fun!!  Anyway, please check back over the next six months and see how the Challenge is going.  Thank you for your continued interest and support.  Also, I want to note that my baby is due on October 25, 2010.  That right there may put an end to the Blog Tour Challenge.  Please follow me on this interesting journey to new books!

Today's Thought

I wanted to let everyone know what's been going on with my blog.  I realize I haven't posted anything since last month, so let me try to explain what's happening.  Everything that has been posted up to this point was moved over from my old blog.  My blog seemed to have been moved to a different site and I didn't like the format.  Therefore, I decided to start out fresh here.  So, now I will begin to do new posts.  Anything that I move over from my old blog after this point will be dated with it's original date of publication on my old blog.  I hope that you will continue to join me here for book reviews of Christian titles and a few other fun things.

I also wanted to mention that, since I am currently in betweeen blog tours from one of the publisher's I deal with, I plan to do my own blog tours with the books that I have received from another publisher that have been piling up for several months.  I am going to set a challenge for myself and let you all in on the fun.  Once I have all of the details figured out I'll let you know what the challenge is in its entirety.  Any thoughts, let me know.  I also want to mention that while I am going to set up this blog tour challenge for myself I do have several other irons in the fire.  Being a wife, being a mom, being pregnant, preparing a library, etc.  We'll see if I'm up to the challenge.  Please look forward to the challenge post in the next few days.  Thanks for your continued interest and support of my blog!

A Journey to New Books – Develop stronger relationships… - From March 5, 2010

Mother Daughter Duet
by Cheri Fuller and Ali Plum

Book Description:
When a daughter is born, her mother has a thousand hopes and dreams for her, especially that they will be best friends one day.
Unfortunately, even the best of intentions can go awry. There are so many challenges on the journey to adult friendship that the reality is fraught with friction and frustration. But a harmonious relationship is possible.
Award-winning author Cheri Fuller and her daughter, Ali Plum, have been there and have discovered the keys to a healthy relationship. In Mother-Daughter Duet they share their story—each from her own perspective—in which they have experienced distance and tension, growth and challenge, and, ultimately, acceptance and harmony. Filled with personal anecdotes and based on several basic principles (letting go; listening; respect; setting boundaries; and more), Mother-Daughter Duet helps moms repair the breach so that daughters want to draw close.
The mother-daughter dynamic is intense, personal, complex, and unique. But mothers and daughters can achieve mutual respect and learn to celebrate their differences when they learn the two-part harmony of the mother-daughter duet.

Author Bio:
Cheri Fuller is a best-selling, award-winning author whose books have sold more than one million copies. She speaks to a wide range of women at women’s conferences and is a frequent guest on national radio and television programs.
Ali Plum is Cheri’s daughter, a writer and songwriter, a wife, and a mother to Noah and Luke. She and her mom have weathered the ups and downs of their relationship to find one of the most treasured, honest relationships of their lives. Ali has recorded background vocals for popular musicians, and Mother-Daughter Duet marks her debut into book publishing.

Dancing with My Father
by Sally Clarkson

Book Description:
The reality of living in a broken, fallen world can leave women feeling overcome by fear, guilt, and weariness. Many develop “sawdust souls,” numb to any sense of joy.
In this warm and wise book, author Sally Clarkson invites readers to take God’s hand and let Him lead them into a life of anticipation, passion, and purpose. With the voice of a trusted mentor, she reveals how, by getting in tune with the rhythm of God’s presence, women can nurture an inner attitude of anticipation and celebration even in the stressful seasons of life.
Through rich biblical insights woven with real-life stories, women will be inspired to recapture a spirit of joy as they follow God’s lead on the dance floor of life.

Author Bio:
Sally Clarkson is a popular speaker, known across the nation and internationally for her work with women. She is the author of several books, including The Mission of Motherhood, The Ministry of Motherhood, and Seasons of a Mother’s Heart. She has worked in various ministries, including Campus Crusade for Christ. With her husband, Clay, she is cofounder of Whole Heart Ministries, which encourages and equips Christian parents. The Clarksons, parents of four, live near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Disclaimer:
These books were provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

A Journey to New Books - From February 26, 2010

It’s time again for some great value fiction. There are six titles in this latest collection of value fiction. I will tell you all about one title and give you a brief summary of the other five. So let’s get started!

I read this book and most of The Glenbrooke Series years ago and enjoyed all that I read. I was thrilled when Secrets came as one of my review books. I had been wanting to reread the series for some time, but I never had an excuse before to do just that. So, I sat down and started revisiting the town of Glenbrooke.

In this story, Jessica heads out on her own to be a teacher. She encounters many sweet people in Glenbrooke whom she comes to appreciate, but why did Jessica head out on her own? What is she looking for? She doesn’t trust God or want to talk to Him. She wants her own life. She meets a firefighter named Kyle, a teacher named Teri, and a landlord named Ida. Each of these people sow into Jessica’s life in different ways, giving Jessica a new perspective on things. This book has a wonderful cast of characters and a real sense of “family” to it. I highly recommend picking up a copy of Secrets and discovering just what can happen when you open your heart to a new place, new friends, and a new faith. Then you can follow the rest of The Glenbrooke Series and enjoy seven more great stories!


Disclaimer: This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.


The other value fiction titles available are:

Beneath a Southern Sky
by Deborah Raney
Daria Camfield is expecting her first child when her husband Nate is reported dead on the mission field. Devastated, she returns to the States and soon marries again. But two years later Nate is found alive in the jungle. How can Daria possibly choose between he two men who love her?

Deep Harbor
by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Tora, Elsa, Kaatje, and Karl face trouble, tragedy, and treachery across the Wast, Hawaii, Japan, and the high seas. These four immigrants from Bergen, Norway, each grow closer to God and learn afresh the value of faith, family, and coming alongside each other in times of need.

Faithful Heart
by Al and Joanna Lacy
The adventures of certified medical nurse and dedicated Christian Breanna Baylor continue as she travels by wagon train to visit her sister, Dottie, in California. Little does she know that her most dangerous encounter might be with Jerrod, her brother-in-law, who’s suffering from dementia caused by combat fatigue.

The Golden Cross
by Angela Elwell Hunt
Aidan O’Connor may be a poor barmaid but she’s also a gifted artists. When a famous cartographer takes her on as a student, Aidan is swept into an adventure that will bring her back to her heavenly Father, and into marriage with the love of her life.

Yesterday’s Promise
by Linda Lee Chaikin
Rogan Chantry faces danger from tribesmen, ruthless politicians, and his own family as he searches for gold in South Africa. In England, his beloved Evy is injured by a mysterious assailant. The greed and intrigue surrounding the diamond mines could very well drive them irrevocably apart.


Note: Some or all of the above titles may be part of a series and may not be the first title in the series.