Mailbox Monday

Well, it's finally been one full week and weekend since I have gotten back into Book Review Blogging.  I have been busy networking with authors and publishers, getting my blog back up and running, and switching to Blogspot.  I have also been helping my husband (who works full time) do some of the legwork needed for him to get back into Book Review Blogging.

Not to mention we've had Christmas!  We had an awesome Christmas, and savored every minute we spent with our families.  I have family coming in today, and we still have yet to see some of my family - we'll see them Thursday - so the festivities continue for us!

I'm not sure what I was expecting when I got back into the swing of blogging, but 13 books in a week wasn't it.  The last time I did this, I received four books within one month.  I must be doing something right this time, for I have more than tripled the amount of books I received, and I got them all within a week!  Wow!!!  The one book I am most looking forward to I didn't receive in the mail, however.  My mother gave me a book I have been desperately wanting to read.  It was written by my Elementary guidance counselor Ginny Dent Brant.  The name of the book is Finding True Freedom:  From the White House to the World.  She gave this to me on Christmas Day, and I absolutely cannot wait to read this book!  I will be reading it and reviewing it before I move on to the other books I will be reviewing.

Here is the list of books I received in the mail this week:

• No Greater Love, More than Conquerers, and Red Ink by Kathi Macias
• Tender Vow by Sharlene MacLaren
• Rebekah's Journey by Ann Bell
• Come Home, Joe and Sleepy Valley by Tim Callahan
• Wanted: Gentleman Bank Robber by Dane Batty
• Magog Rising and Distant Thunder by Jimmy Root, Jr.
• Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner
• Chasing Miracles by John F. Crowley
• The Words of Extraordinary Women by Carolyn Warner

I cannot wait to get started on all these books!  I am going to try and read them in the order which they were received, but I am making a special exception for the book by my friend, given to me by my mom on Christmas.  Look for the reviews of these books soon

2011 Book Challenges

Here is a roundup of the three book challenges I will be participating in for 2011.  I am so looking forward to sharing my progress with you and connecting with other book reviewers through these challenges!  I had originally decided on two challenges, but I just stumbled upon a third challenge that I am very excited about!  Here are the three challenges with links to the hosts' websites:

The Rules:

1. Create a post for the challenge using the image above and link back to this post.
--Non-Bloggers: You are welcome to join too. Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post.

2. Sign up with the Mr. Linky.
--Link to your challenge post when you sign up please.

3. The goal of this challenge is to read AT LEAST 12 novels that are Christian based fiction between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Books read before January 1, 2011 do NOT count towards the challenge.

4. Audio, eBooks, paper all count. Re-reads are ok but try to keep them to a minimum. Cross overs from other challenges are ok.

5. There is no need to create your list now. Please feel free to use your challenge post to keep track of your titles if you so desire.  **Hosted by Book Junkie**

DETAILS:

1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. Posting on GoodReads or wherever you post your reviews is good enough.

2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.

What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.

3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2011. Books started before the 1st do not count. You can join at anytime.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.  **Hosted by My Overstuffed Bookshelf**

War Through the Generation‘s 2011 reading challenge will be the U.S. Civil War.  The challenge will run from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011.

Rules:

This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the U.S. Civil War as the primary or secondary theme.

Books can take place before, during, or after the war.  Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.

Dip: Read 3-5 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.

Wade: Read 6-10 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.

Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.

Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about U.S. Civil War, that you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals.  We nabbed this idea from a few challenges in 2009, particularly The Everything Austen Challenge at Stephanies’s Written Word.  **Hosted by War Through the Generations**

Book Review: No Greater Love

South Africa, 1989.  Apartheid.  One of the darkest moments in the history of humanity - the minority whites rule over the blacks and coloreds that make up the majority.  Here lies the setting for Kathi Macias' novel No Greater Love, the first installment in her Extreme Devotion series.

Chioma, a servant for an Afrikaner family, finds herself struggling with her feelings for Andrew, the white son of the master of the farm.  Andrew also tries to fight the feelings he feels growing inside himself for Chioma.  Orphaned for four years when her parents, ANC supporters, were killed, Chioma has seen her share of tragedy and injustice.  Chioma has suffered as a part of the system of Apartheid her entire life, and finds it impossible to trust any white man and - more so - their God.  Andrew, living a life of privilege as the son of an Afrikan farmer, also tries to understand the meaning and scope of the Apartheid system his father holds allegiance to.  Andrew and Chioma's lives become intertwined and tragedy surfaces yet again, making a martyr out of the most unlikely person.  Chioma then finds herself torn between fighting for her cause and learning how to forgive.

In this story, Macias explores the depth of Apartheid and the effects this system of government had not only on the blacks and coloreds, but also on the whites that wielded power and control for decades.  Throughout the story, the characters try to justify their actions and beliefs as they relate to those of the races opposite from their own.  Introspection and circumstance even force some to question how God feels about the system of Apartheid that has come to be their culture and way of life.

In this truthful glimpse into a world so many still do not understand, God's love and forgiveness, as well as His desire for equality and love for all mankind, are illustrated even more beautifully than the pictures of the South African countryside painted in words by Macias.  In a culture driven by evil, hate, and separation, Macias shows that God can break down barriers that man alone cannot.

I must admit that I ate up this story!  My father traveled to South Africa as a missionary during the years of Apartheid, and I remember growing up hearing his stories of racial segregation that plagued this beautiful country for years.  I also have a deep love for Africa as a continent, and pray daily for His word to be heard and believed by all who call Africa their home.  For this reason, I have a special attachment to this novel.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy this novel, but I can tell you honestly that it's one of the best stories and most well-written that I have read in a long time.  I highly recommend you pick up this novel and discover for yourself not only what Apartheid meant to the people of South Africa, but what God's grace and power can do in the most impossible of events.

• Paperback: 320 pages


• Publisher: New Hope Publishers (April 5, 2010)


• Language: English


• ISBN-10: 1596692774


• ISBN-13: 978-1596692770

**Legal Necessities:  I received this book for free from Kathi Macias.

Reading Challenge 2011: War Through the Generations

I have discovered something I haven't noticed before on other book blogs:  Reading Challenges!  The goal is to read the suggested number of books for the challenge's theme between January 1 and December 31, 2011.  This year I have decided to participate in two challenges that should still allow me to review books for the authors and publishers I have networked with.

The first challenge I will be participating in is the War Through the Generations Reading  Challenge.  This year the focus is Civil War literature.  As my friends and family know, I have a great love for Wartime literature and films, and the history of warfare.  I get this from my Dad (Hi, Daddy, love you! :D)  I am looking at reading 9 to 11 books that pertain to the Civil War.  Here is information pertaining to the challenge from the host blog:

War Through the Generation‘s 2011 reading challenge will be the U.S. Civil War.  The challenge will run from January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2011.

Rules:

This year you have options when reading your fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, etc. with the U.S. Civil War as the primary or secondary theme.

Books can take place before, during, or after the war.  Books from other challenges count so long as they meet the above criteria.

Dip: Read 3-5 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.

Wade: Read 6-10 books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.

Swim: Read 11 or more books in any genre with the U.S. Civil War as a primary or secondary theme.

Additionally, we’ve decided that since there are so many great movies out there about U.S. Civil War, that you can substitute or add a movie or two to your list this year and have it count toward your totals.  We nabbed this idea from a few challenges in 2009, particularly The Everything Austen Challenge at Stephanies’s Written Word.

I am looking forward to this challenge!  Check back on Sunday for the other challenge I have chosen to participate in.  I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and remember - JESUS is why we have Christmas!  Thanks to His birth, we can have eternal life in Heaven with God the Father.  Merry, Merry Christmas!

Christmas Words

Merry Christmas to all!  I am pumped at beginning to review books again!  I just wanted to let you know what I have on the docket for the coming week:

I am having dinner at my Grandmama's house tomorrow night with my Grandmama, husband, mother, father, recently-returned-from-three-months-in-Spain sister, and her fiancee.  Lots of veggies and meats are on the menu, and as I am an advocate for healthy living and healthy eating, my plate will be filled with 3/4 vegetables and 1/4 meat with no gravy.  I am so excited to see everyone!

Until then, I am going to finish reading a wonderful novel written by Kathi Macias entitled No Greater Love.  This is the first installment in her Extreme Devotion series, and it is an awesome book.  Look for a review before the end of the Christmas weekend.  Kathi was kind enough to send me the first three books in this series, and I am looking forward to reviewing them for you.

Saturday, CHRISTMAS DAY!  I will be having breakfast with my husband's family, and then going to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader with my family, and dinner afterward.  Since Dawn Treader is an installment in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, I will be featuring a review of the film, and how it compares to the book.  Look for this review during the first of the week.

I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!  Enjoy your families this Holiday, and remember that because Jesus Christ was born, we are able to celebrate giving of ourselves to our friends and loved ones.

Wondrous Words Wednesday, and book news!

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a word meme hosted by Bermuda Onion, and it celebrates fun, wondrous, and sometimes surprising words for you to use in your daily vocabulary.  The words you see when you follow this meme will be new to the person posting the word, and you will often find unique and unusual  sounding words.  Get ready to start using these words and impress your friends and coworkers, leaving them befuddled as to what you're talking about.

I often love words that are fun to say - words that make your tongue roll or your lips tingle when you try to pronounce them.  Here are my two words for the week:

Tatterdemalion: (n) A shabbily dressed person.  I won't roll down my car window for a tatterdemalion.

bibliobibuli - (n) those who read too much.  Friends of book bloggers will often describe us as bibliobibuli.

Here's to Wondrous Words Wednesday!  For my new readers, I plan on posting a meme a week.  This week is unusual, as I am returning to book review blogging and have no new material to post.  I did receive six books in the mail today (yes, you heard that right - six) so I will be doing a good bit of reading over the holidays and posting new material shortly!  Stay tuned!!!

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my Teaser!  This is from p. 45 of John le Carré's book Absolute Friends:

His one spiritual ally is an outcast like himself:  a dignified, ageless, diffident, white-haired refugee in rimless spectacles and a shabby suit who teaches German Extra Studies and cello and lives alone in a redbrick bedsitter on the Bristol Road roundabout.  His name is Mr. Mallory.

Please leave a comment with your thoughts, and a link to your teaser so that I can read yours as well!

Book Blog Hop

I love blogging about books! Crazy For Books is a blog that I enjoy reading as well. She reviews some awesome books, and is always totally honest in her reviews. She is passionate about reading, just like I am, and wants to share her love of reading with other readers, just like I do.

Jennifer at crazy-for-books.com has created a great way for readers, book lovers, and book reviewers to network and find other great blogs about books. She calls it the Book Blogger Hop! Click on the button above and head over to her site to add your book blog to her linky list. Then, cruise through the other link to find other book blogs you may not have seen yet, or reacquaint yourself with a book blog you may have read in the past. Either way, you're sure to have a blast as you peruse the blogs of other book lovers like yourself and find some great new books to read.

This week's question comes from Geek on the Brink:

"What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?"

Honestly, I don't think I can pick between the two. The plot is what drives the story, and the plot is what gives you the "what comes next?" thoughts. The plot is what drives the story - you are reading the book to see how it ends, and for great books, even if you can't wait to finish them and find out what happens, you savor everything that happens along the way in the plot. That said, you can't have a good plot without well fleshed out characters. Deep characters that are well rounded and real, as well as easy to relate to, are the vehicle for a good plot. They go hand in hand, so really, if a book doesn't have a good plot, you know you don't have good characters, and if a book has poor characters, you know you won't have a good plot. They are too hand in hand for me to make a decision.

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Click on the button above and have fun!

Book Review: Prodigal by Robin Bayne

Daniel has come home.  As Daniel arrives at his brother's wedding reception, he surprises and delights his parents.  Oh, he surprises his brother Tim, too, but I wouldn't exactly say Tim is thrilled that his brother has returned.  He is, of course, the brother of the "Prodigal Son".  In the days to come, Daniel and his family struggle as they try to mend the broken hearts and broken relationships that resulted from Daniel's years of absence without a word.  The appearance of Lane, a mysterious woman from Daniel's past, cannot help matters, either.  Will Daniel find the forgiveness and love he seeks from the family he left?  And is he the only Prodigal in this contemporary retelling of the Biblical parable?

In this true to life short story written by Robin Bayne, readers will find characters much like people they may know themselves.  Maybe the reader will identify with Daniel, his parents, or his brother.  However you relate to the characters and events in this story, it's hard to miss the redeeming love of God the Father that is evident throughout the story, and the sobering fact that only God is able to mend what we humans cannot.

Bayne has put a fresh face on an old Sunday School story.  Parables are not just stories meant to blandly teach a truth about Jesus - they really are lessons that can be applied daily in every one of our lives.  I recommend this story, and I know if you read it, you will be re-awakened to the truth of God's love and forgiveness, just like I have been.

• Publisher: White Rose Publishing; First White Rose Edition edition (January 8, 2010)


• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services


• Language: English


• ASIN: B003CT2ZBS

**Legal Necessities:  I received this eBook for free from Robin Bayne.