Rating System

5 Bears
Loved it so much it is going on my favorite list!

4 Bears
Loved it!

3 Bears
Liked It

2 Bears
Okay
Didn't love it, didn't hate it

1 Bear
MEH




All bears pictured are from my personal collection.

Review Policy

                                                                      


Thank you for considering me as a reviewer for your book, I will consider all contacts from authors, publishers, publicists and PR Firms. When submitting a request to review a book, please give me a short summary so I may consider if it would be a good fit for my taste in reading. While I read a wide variety of books, there are a few genres that I choose not to read.

I read fiction: adult, young adult, women’s, Christian, historical, suspense/thriller, literary, some romance, fantasy, science fiction, chick lit and paranormal. I do not normally read non-fiction, but am willing to consider it. I will not accept erotica, self-help, graphic novels.  If the book is heavy on the explicit sex or vulgar language, I will pass on it.

If I agree to review your book, I will do so honestly. If I did not enjoy the book, I will kindly state why and I never bash an author or their work. At times, my daughter and/or my mother will guest review some of the books I receive. If you expect your book to be read and reviewed by a certain date, please make that clear in your pitch. It is my goal to read and review every book I receive, however I cannot guarantee a review if not contacted first. I also reserve the right to review a book based on not being able to finish reading the entire book and will state so in a positive way.

My review style is normally a short summary of the book from the book flap, back cover,  author's website, publisher's website,  or pitch email, a photo of the book cover (taken from said sites) and then a few sentences with my thoughts about the book. I do not do in depth or critical reviews.  If asked, I will add author information and links.

The physical books I accept for review will not be returned.  All books I receive for review are shared with others.

The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

updated 2023
Disclosure/Disclaimer

Vacation Finds

My daughter and I came from Michigan; my mother from Ketchikan, Alaska to find a treasure trove in the Bremerton, Washington Library Friend's books sale.  Now we have to find a box to mail them home to ourselves as they would cause our suitcases to weigh over the limit of 50 lbs.!

I am sorry to be missing out on all the fun during today's Read-A-Thon, but sacrifices must be made for vacation.

West Michigan Book Signing Tour

**STICKY POST UNTIL APRIL 4th** Scroll Down


Authors: Mary Connealy, Kaye Dacus, Christine Lynxwiler and M.L. Tyndall, to Begin Michigan Book Signing Tour

Monday, March 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Family Christian Stores
Minges Brook Mall
5700 Beckley Road, Suite B-2
Battle Creek, MI 49015

Tuesday, March 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Family Christian Stores
3155 Westshore Drive
Holland, MI 49424

Tuesday, March 31 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Baker Book House
2768 Paris Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546



Wednesday, April 1 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Family Christian Stores
Rivertown Center
3819 Rivertown Parkway SW, Suite 100
Grandville, MI 49418

Thursday, April 2 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Leighton Township Library
4451 12th Street
Moline, MI 49335

Thursday, April 2 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Jude 3
2279 North Park Drive, Suite 810
Holland, MI 49424

Friday, April 3 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Family Christian Stores
Jolly Cedar Plaza
5132 S. Cedar Street
Lansing, MI 48911

Friday, April 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Family Christian Stores
Westnedge Corners Shopping Center
4413 S. Westnedge Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008

Saturday, April 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Family Christian Stores
3343A Alpine Road NW
Walker, MI 49544


Hope to see some of my Michigan Blogger friends at a signing or two!!!

Classics Bookclub - December

Today the Classics Bookclub "meets" at 5 Minutes For Books to discuss A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

This was (as far as I can remember) the first time I read the book. I'm surprised at how familiar the story was to me and how funny it was, at least to me! I wonder if it because I have seen many movie versions including cartoons and the Muppets.

I found this book much easier to read than other Dickens's books(I have never finished any of his other books). It has helped me to remember, while keeping my focus on the true meaning of Christmas, to also enjoy the simple pleasure of giving to others, the ability to spend time with family and friends and to be content with what I have. It has caused me to think about the "Scrooges" I know and to be more compassionate towards them acknowledging that there may be some deep hurts in their lives.

Stop by 5 Minutes For Books for more thoughts on A Christmas Carol.

Christmas Book Swap

Do you love Christmas books and want to share that love? If so The Friendly Book Nook is hosting a Christmas book swap! Stop by before November 21 to sign up.

Children Classics

5 Minutes For Books is hosting Children's Classics and this month we are sharing our favorite Newbery book. As I was looking over the Newbery Winners I was surprised to see that the last winner I read was 1994's The Giver by Lois Lowry. I have got some reading to do.

Some of my favorites are Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, Sounder by William H. Armstrong.

A couple of these books my kids read first in elementary school and shared them with me. My mother's best friend was an elementary school teacher and would recommend The Newbery books to me and my kids.

I would have to say my favorite is Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan.
I read the books that continued the story and enjoyed them as well.

Summer Reading Extravaganza

June 23rd-27th The Friendly Book Nook will be having a Summer Reading Extravaganza!

INFO: Each day we will have a topic about summer reading that we encourage you to post about on your blog! It should be a great chance to get a lot of ideas for books to read over the summer as well as ways to encourage your children to spend some of their time reading.There are also prizes! Through regular participation you will have the chance to win one of the following:1) Inspirational Fiction Lot: Includes Skizzer by A.J. Kiesling, A Mending at the Edge by Jane Kirkpatrick, In the Dead of Winter by Nancy Mehl, To Trust a Friend by Lynn Bullock, and a special cross bookmark made by Rabuna Fi.2) A brand new signed copy of Stealing Athena by Karen Essex.3) A ten dollar Amazon gift card!

Good Reads

In the last week I have read some really good books and would like to recommend them to you.
Courting Trouble by Deeanne Gist
The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
You Had Me At Goodbye by Tracey Bateman
Mozart’s Sister by Nancy Moser

Dog Days at Deena's

It's summer and that means it is time once again for Deena's "The Dog Days of Summer Reviews and Book Giveaways"!!

Beginning Friday, June 6th, She will be giving away a BOOK A WEEK! Be sure to check back each week for a new giveaway! Check out all the details here.

Classics Challenge Meme

As a warm up to the beginning of the Classic Challenge 08 Trish is hosting this pre-challenge fun.

1. My favorite classic is Catcher In The Rye by JD Salinger, because it was my first classic and I felt very grown up reading it in the 9th grade.

2. The classic I had the toughest time finishing is The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

3. I would recommend........... To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee to someone who doesn't read a lot of classics or who doesn't generally like classics because it is the one book, as a high schooler, I didn't hate and one that my kids didn't hate as well! (Black Beauty by Anna Sewell for the same reason).

4. To me, a classic book is a book that is recommended over and over and one you want to read again and again.

5. The type of relationship I have with classics is eagerness. I am so looking forward to reading more of the classics instead of reading the same ones over and over again.

Book Giveaways

Gina will be giving away books from now until Feburary. Head on over to check it out!

Who doesn't love free books?

More Books For Free....

I love giveaways! Deena over at A Peek At My Bookshelf has two ongoing giveaways: The PayDay Giveaway and Books With Real Appeal.
The Payday Giveaway is:

The Book With Real Appeal is:


Head over to Deena's for all the details.

What could be better than curling up with a good book on crisp fall days? The Spring Reading Thing brought many new authors and genres to my library and I am looking forward to adding more! Today the reading challenge begins and continues through December 21st.

Katrina of Callapidder Days is our hostess and says, "Fall Into Reading 2007 is a casual, low-pressure challenge. The point is simply to provide motivation to read, and to provide an opportunity for all of us to set goals when it comes to our personal (or family) reading. In addition, Bethany House Publishers is sending me a box of books to give away this fall as well. I'll be giving away one book per week, beginning Thursday, September 27th. You do not have to be an official Fall Into Reading 2007 participant in order to be eligible for these giveaways. Just come on by and leave a comment to enter each drawing."

My goal for this challenge is to continue to read the Bible daily along with the Devotional Book, Praying God's Word by Beth Moore.

The rest of my list looks like this:

FICTION:
Dead of Night by Brandilynn Collins
Web of Lies by Brandilynn Colins
Rock Harbor Series by Colleen Coble
Without a Trace, Beyond a Doubt, Into the Deep and Abomination
What Matters Most by Luanne Rice
Up Close and Personal by Fern Michaels
Pigs In Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
Death of a Garage Sale Newbie by Sharon Dunn
Before I Wake By Dee Henderson
Wedding Bell Blues by Linda Windsor
The Blue Zone by Andrew Gross
Someone To Love by Jude Deveraux
Woman in Red by Eileen Goudge
Double Take by Catherine Coulter
The Quickie by James Patterson
Up Close and Dangerous by Linda Howard
Agnes and The Hitman by Jenn Crusie & Bob Mayer
A Day With A Perfect Stranger by David Gregory
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd

Non-Fiction:
Knit Together by Debbie Macomber
3 Seconds by Les Parrott, PHD
Of God and Men by AW Tozer

Most of these books are on my request/hold list at the Library so I may or may not get to them depending upon when they become available. I will add books while waiting for the ones on my hold list!!!!

My son is reading these in his high school English Class and I like to read what he is reading if my help is ever needed..LOL
Selections from:
Mythology by Edith Hamilton
The Odyssey by Homer
The Giant Book of Myths and Legends Edited by Mike Ashley

Book Meme

Deena from A Peek At My Bookshelf tagged me to play her
"Countdown To Reading" Meme

The Rules Are:
Post your responses.
Tag anywhere from 1-5 friends.
Leave comments to let them know they've been tagged.
Come back and leave a comment when your post is up.

Next 5 books on your to be read shelf:
Innocent In Death by JD Robb
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover
Never Letting Go by Kory D. VanDYke (my friend's son)
Death of A Garage Sale Newbie by Sharon Dunn
Georgia On My Mind by Rachel Hauck

Last 4 books you've read:
Queen of Broken Hearts by Cassandra King
Catching Genius by Kristy Kiernan
A Bigger Life by Annette Smith
Back On Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber

Last 3 books you've borrowed (library or friend)
All of the above

Last 2 non-fiction books you've read:
Tales of Devotion, A look at the bond between people
and their pets by Emily Scott Pottruck
Marley and Me, by John Grogan

The 1 book you wish everyone would read
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns

If you would like to play along, I tag Elle*Bee, Connie B., Leigh G., Susanne, and Crystal. No obligation ladies!

Smack-Down, Literary Style...

Deena asks if I want to play.....of course I do! She's fun to play with and shares everything! If you want to play along you are invited, check it out here.

What are you currently reading?
I am on a reading marathon to finish Even Now by Karen Kingsbury and Chocolate Beach by Julie Carobini. I am loving both of these books! They were due yesterday and the library won't let me renew them. How mean is that? Good thing they both are quick reading. I won't owe too much in overdue fines! I am half way through Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I love the way she writes and have to admit I had to use the dictionary once or twice! I now need to work those words into conversation somewhere so people will think I am smart! LOL

What did you just finish reading?
True Evil by Greg Illes a fast paced thriller and Summer by Willow Lake a nice easy chick lit read.

What will you be reading next?
Whatever is due next at the Library.....Hide by Lisa Gardner, Natural Born Charmer by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Vanishing Act by Jodi Picoult and House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker are all due within a day of each other. Which one should I read next? The sad thing is none of these are on my Spring Reading List. I guess I had better request some of the books on my SRT List.

If you want to play along leave me a link when you post your answers and leave one for Deena too, since she invited me to play!

Deena's 100 Books

In honor of Deena's 100th post here she is doing a book meme her way! Highlight the books you've read, underline the books you've heard of but haven't read. She's even giving away a free book!

1. The Bible, by God

2. The Secret Life of Becky Miller, by Sharon Hinck

3. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkein

4. The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis

5. Redeeming Love, by Francine Rivers

6. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

7. Murder of a Sweet Old Lady, by Denise Swanson

8. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, by Joanne Fluke

10. Loves Music, Loves To Dance by Mary Higgins Clark

11. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J. K. Rowling

12. The Negotiator, by Dee Henderson

13. The Guy I'm Not Dating, by Trish Perry

14. Lost in NashVegas, by Rachel Hauck

15. Heaven, by Randy Alcorn

16. Believing God, by Beth Moore

17. Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer

18. Simply Jesus, by Joseph Stowell

19. Just As I Am, by Billy Graham

20. Just As I Am, by David Ring

21. Let's Roll, by Lisa Beamer

22. The Cat Who Could Read Backwards, by Lilian Jackson Braun

23. The Pursuit of Holiness, by Jerry Bridges

24. Jack Bauer's Having A Real Bad Day, by Tim Wesemann

25. My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers

26. Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Montgomery

27. Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

28. Charlotte's Web, by E. B. White

29. Sophie's Heart, by Lori Wick

30. Hitched, by Carol Higgins Clark

31. Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens

32. The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis

33. The Fellowship of the Ring, by J. R. R. Tolkein

34. Eragon, by Christopher Paolini

35. Stealing Adda, by Tamara Leigh

36. Get Out of That Pit, by Beth Moore

37. Relentless, by Robin Parrish

38. The Heart Reader, by Terri Blackstock

39. Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

40. Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom

41. At Home In Mitford, by Jan Karon

42. Renovating Becky Miller, by Sharon Hinck

43. Desiring God, by John Piper read excerpts

44. The Last Sin Eater, by Francine Rivers

45. Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke

46. This Present Darkness, by Frank Peretti

47. Black, by Tedd Dekker

48. Comes A Horseman, by Robert Liparulo

49. The Yada Yada Prayer Group, by Neta Jackson

50. Breaking Free, by Beth Moore

51. The Friendships of Women, by Dee Brestin

52. Having A Mary Heart In a Martha World, by Joanna Weaver

53. Legacy of a Packrat, by Ruth Bell Graham

54. Safely Home, by Randy Alcorn

55. Trixie Belden and the Black Jacket Mystery, by Kathryn Kenny

56. Artemis Fowl, by Eoin Colfer read 1/2 of it

57. The Dead Don't Dance, by Charles Martin

58. Sisterchicks on the Loose, by Robin Jones Gunn

59. Savannah from Savannah, by Denise Hildreth

60. Dearest Dorothy, Slow Down!, by Charlene Baumbich

61. Like a Watered Garden, by Patti Hill

62. The Return of the King, by J. R. R. Tolkein

63. The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

64. Sense & Sensibility, by Jane Austen

65. Left Behind, by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye

66. Dark Blue: Color Me Lonely, by Melody Carlson

67. God As He Wants You To See Him, by Chip Ingram

68. Captivating, by Stasi Eldridge

69. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling

70. Deadline, by Randy Alcorn

71. More Than A Carpenter, by Josh McDowell

72. Traveling Light, by Max Lucado

73. Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On, by Stormie O'Martian

74. The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren

75. Prayer, by Philip Yancey

76. Why The Sky Is Blue, by Susan Meissner

77. The Grace Awakening, by Chuck Swindoll

78. Where Does A Mother Go To Resign, by Barbara Johnson

79. Fresh Brewed Life, by Nicole Johnson

80. If You Give A Pig A Pancake, by Laura Numeroff

81. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, by Judi Barrett

82. Jude the Obscure, by Thomas Hardy

83. What To Expect When You're Expecting, by Heidi Murkoff

84. Flies on the Butter, by Denise Hildreth

85. After Anne, by Roxanne Henke

86. The Oath, by Frank Peretti

87. Hangman's Curse, by Frank Peretti

88. Blink, by Tedd Dekker

89. Danger In the Shadows, by Dee Henderson

90. Evidence that Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell

91. I Kissed Dating Goodbye, by Joshua Harris

92. The Two Towers, by J. R. R. Tolkein

93. The English Breakfast Murder, by Laura Childs

94. The Cat Who Talked Turkey, by Lilian Jackson Braun

95. The Applause of Heaven, by Max Lucado

96. Though None Go With Me, by Jerry Jenkins

97. Divine, by Karen Kingsbury

98. The Christmas Shoes, by Donna VanLiere

99. Hazardous Duty, by Christy Barritt

100. Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan

Top 10 Books I Can't Live Without

I discovered this meme over at Deena's Bookshelf a few days ago and had to think about it before posting my list. I define a book that I can't live without as one that impacted me deeply for one reason or another, as one that I thought and thought about long after I was finished reading it, and as one that I had go out and purchase to have as my very own. I have WAY more than 10, but did not want to get carried away! Here's my list:

The Bible - my daily bread
Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon - love Jamie and Claire
Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Anne Burns - laughed and cried
The Catcher In The Rye - by JD Salinger - 1st "R" book I thought I was cool
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell - this book started my love for reading
Gift of Gold by Beverly Butler - an against all odds story
Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell - DUH!
Ashes In The Wind by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - loved the historical setting of the civil war and it was my first "bodice ripper" (don't read 'em anymore)
Sacajawea - by Anna Lee Waldo - loved the history of it and the hugeness
Get Out Of That Pit by Beth Moore - deliverance is ALWAYS possible with God's help

But there's more! The Thorn Birds, Penmarric, Catch 22, Redeeming Love, To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Great Gatsby, okay, okay I'll stop.
Here's a picture of my stack (and I see that a few are missing, hmmm)

Spring Reading Thing

In honor of Katrinia's Spring Reading Thing, I am posting this meme here that is all about books. There is still time to join in on the fun. Check out my SRT post here.

Bold are the books read
* asterisk the books never heard of
italicized are the want to read books
# are on my book shelf

1.The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2.Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3.To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee) #
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell) #
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon) #
10.A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)*
11.Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12.Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13.Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. Fall on Your Knees(Ann-Marie MacDonald)*
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban(Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) On my SRT list
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger) #
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis) #
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie(Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)*
38. I Know This Much is True(Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. Bible #
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver) on SRT list
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky) Started this once
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolsoy) Never finished this one
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)*
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)*
67. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo) Started this one
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)*
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)*
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)*
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)*
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen) on my SRT list
86. Watership Down(Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. Blindness (Jose Saramago)*
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)*
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth(Pearl S. Buck)
94. The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100.Ulysses (James Joyce)