Twenty Pounds Down

I hit 20 pounds lost a week or so ago, and I wanted to have a picture to document to see if I can tell a difference.
I don't have a full-body picture, but here's me when I started my fitness pal. (Isn't the tree beautiful? It's the survivor tree at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing. I love trees.)

Here's a picture at my sister's birthday party Saturday.

I've lost 1 inch from my neck, 3 inches from my waist, and 2 inches from my hips. :)

I still have a long way to go!

Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii

Fans of Sierra Jensen will love catching up with an old friend in this novel. Four years have passed since readers last saw the fiery blond with a heart for God. When Sierra's job in Brazil ends, she finds herself at a loss at what do next. When her friend offers her a trip to Sunset Beach, Hawaii, Sierra knows it's a gift from God. She'll have time to catch up with her sister and to figure out God's plan for her life next. When she keeps running into Jordan, a photographer with his own career plans, Sierra must decide whether to return to Brazil and take the job offered or follow her heart and Jordan back to the states.

I read the Sierra Jensen series back in high school and felt the series ended before Sierra's story did. I was thrilled when Robin Jones Gunn wrote this book, telling the next phase of Sierra's life. However, one book didn't do justice to this amazing character. Most of the book felt rushed, and several times I wished there had been more reflection on an event (like Sierra's work in Brazil ,her conversations with Tawni,  or even Sierra's thoughts on seeing Paul married) than was given. The events of this book could have been told with more depth in a two or three book series.
Overall, I enjoyed catching up with a character I consider an old friend.

Book Giveaway!

Congrats to Patricia and Melanie for winning last week's giveaways.
Today I'm giving away one of the best books I've read in a while, There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones. (Am I the only one who thinks of Junie B. Jones every time I write her name?)
To enter to win, leave a comment telling me the best book you've read in a while or tell me about the place where you found Christ. I reconnected with Christ when I was working at an orphanage in Mexico. They had the most beautiful sunsets that reflected vibrant colors onto the desolate houses in the area. God's beauty is everywhere, and I'm amazed He shines into the dirtiest places of my heart. I worked there two summers in a row, and I long to go back.

To get a second entry, follow the blog and leave me a separate comment letting me know you follow. :) Make sure you leave your email address too.
I can only ship to the US. My sister will pick a random number next Tuesday.

There You'll Find Me

I have been waiting for this type of book since I became a teacher and lover of YA literature. A beautiful coming of age story from a Christian perspective. It's finally here.
Finley Sinclair heads to Ireland to find herself by following her brother's steps from his travel journal. In retracing his adventure, she hopes to find peace from the turmoil of her life since his death. When she meets a movie star, her journey to healing becomes even more complicated.
From the first page of the book, I loved Finley Sinclair, a girl who has more issues than she does hope. Her growth throughout the story is a beautiful tale of loss and healing. As usual, Jenny B. Jones adds enough humor throughout the book to keep the tale from becoming morose or gloomy.
What sets this book apart from books of its type (think Sarah Dessen) is that not only does Finley find herself and the guy she didn't know she wanted, but she finds the One who loves her so much that He orchestrated her life and her trip to Ireland so that she might find Him. That is the most important love story of all time, and teen readers will walk away from reading this book with more than just a cute romance (although the character of Beckett is definitely crush-worthy). :)

I received this book in exchange for my review. My love for it is entirely my own.

The Corruptible

Ray Quinn, ex-homicide detective and current PI, finds himself investigating much more than a murder case when he takes on a rich client with secrets to hide, secrets he's willing to pay Ray big bucks to find and to turn over. When Ray begins to uncover the truth, his own life is in danger, perhaps by the very people who hired him.

I enjoyed this book. The characters are well-developed, the plot is exciting, and there are a few twists to the story. Two things stood out to me and made this book a fun read. It's has a different approach than many Christian novels in that the main character is not a Christian and has a drinking problem. I find the fact that Ray is not a Christian even in book two of the series to be refreshing and realistic. Although the truth of Jesus is presented through the supporting character of Pam, it's not pushy or preachy.
The second thing I enjoyed was a little humor. Everyone knows about the e-mail scams from people claiming to need money transferred and then they'll repay you. Ray gets one of those and plays along with it, pretending to be an elderly lady. The murder/cover-up/corporate fraud plot is a heavy one, and this side story lightened the read and was a nice touch.

I definitely plan to check out book three in the series.

I was given this book free in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.


 

My niece's thoughts on Secret Sisters: Volume 1

My niece is an avid reader and a budding author who already has binders full of stories. The author Secret Sisters, Sandra Byrd, kindly gave us the kindle version of the Secret Sisters stories. In return, we're sharing our thoughts.
Here's a short interview with our guest reviewer:

Our reviewer with her Nana (my mom)

So, Brenna, tell me what book one is about.

It's about a girl named Tess who is in 6th grade. Tess' best friend just joined a group of bad girls, and Tess feels left out. When she meets an unpopular Christian girl, and Tess feels torn between being friends with Erin, her new Christian friend, or her old friend who wants her to make bad choices. Tess has to decide to do the right or wrong thing.

What did you like best?

I love when Tess stands up to her bad best friend and becomes Secret Sisters with the "unpopular" girl Erin.

Who is your favorite character and why?

I like Erin because she trusts God throughout the whole book no matter what others think.

Who do you think would enjoy this book?

Any girl who feels unpopular like Tess and feels like she has to do bad things to be popular would like this book. Girls who are Christians and want to stand up for what they believe will like it too.

What would you want to tell the author?

This is a great book for girls who have struggles like Tess. :)

Anything else you want to add?

Tess feels better about herself after getting to know God and Erin.

Thanks for the book, Mrs. Sandra Byrd!

**Brenna was working on her homework while she answered these, so I promise I will ask better questions next time. :)

Book Giveaway!

Congrats to Patricia for winning last week's book.  I'm sending you an email to get your address.
I forgot to post yesterday. And to be honest, I don't have an excuse, good or bad.
So, to make it up to you, I'll give away two books: Paid in Blood (Christian mystery) and Quaker Summer. To enter to win, leave a comment describing your summer memory. To get a second entry, leave a separate comment that you follow the blog. Don't forget to include your email address because Shoopette won this last week, but there was no email address. :(
I can only ship to the US.

I'll pick a winner Tuesday. :)

Reinventing Leona

I read this book because it was free on Kindle, and I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I do.
When Leona's husband passes away, her world collapses. She loses her husband and her position as a pastor's wife. The character development in Leona as she finds her way is authentic and beautiful. The look inside the role of a pastor's wife is interesting, and the quirky church members provide some levity.
Rotating among Leona, her daughter, and her son's point of view, the book gives a true picture of grief and how it affects different people. Most importantly, the story depicts the healing and the good Christ brings believers even in the midst of great loss.

Deadly Pursuit

Social worker Alison Taylor is dedicated to her job of protecting kids, but when her own life is in danger, who will protect her? When her brother sets her up on a blind date, Alison finds her answer in ex-Navy Seal Mitch Morgan, who is determined to protect Alison and to steal her heart.

Irene Hannon fans will devour this latest book by one of my favorite Christian suspense authors. The characters aren't as developed as in other books, but I enjoyed their story. Some of the reviews I've read complained that Mitch and Alison fell for one another too quickly, but I think in life, sometimes you just know when it's the right person. I found their instant attraction to be a nice change from the many books I've read where they hate each other at first and then find they do love each other.
I work in an elementary school and have seen some of the social system at work. I believe this book gives a fair look at both the positive and negative aspects of the social system. Alison's work was an interesting component of the book and added to storyline with some thought-provoking situations.

All in all, this is another great read by Irene Hannon.

Book Giveaway

Congrats to Melanie, who won Pattern of Wounds. I'm sending you an email now.
Today, I'm giving away The Corruptible. I'm in the middle of it and enjoying it. It's another murder mystery, but I find it to be a lighter read than most murder mysteries. There's even some humor to it.
To enter to win, leave a comment about something....sorry, long day. Leave a second comment letting me know you follow the blog for a second entry. My sister will pick a number next Tuesday for a winner.

I can only ship to the US. :)