Showing posts with label 52 Book Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 52 Book Challenge. Show all posts

Saturday, February 7, 2015

52 Book Challenge

18880663Brian Haynes, the third-generation owner of a successful realty company, who married the owner of an even more successful lumber company, remembers back to one pivotal summer during his childhood that changed his perspective on life forever. Following a frightening premonition from a mysterious neighbor, Brian, believing he has inadvertently contributed to the death of his grandmother's housekeeper, runs away from home with his best friend, Charlie. Aided by their friend Stephanie, the two friends find refuge with an old man living a hermit's life on a nearby knob. The old man teaches the boys the virtues of living a simple life and teaches them even more about letting go of the past and never taking things for granted. It all comes to a terrifying climax one day when Charlie climbs inside an abandoned, rusty truck, a truck that still has a few chips of red paint, and closes the door. Here begins a struggle between life and death. Chips of Red Paint is a modern Southern Gothic novel that weaves the past with the present into a colorful quilt that touches every emotion.


*****an okay story*****

Sunday, February 1, 2015

52 Book Challenge


The Enchanted Orchards, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008EYG53U/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_awdm_fVKvub1HWD19Q



Summer. Death. Love & Peaches.

Deep in the heart of Georgia where the oaks drip with Spanish moss and the scent of peaches wafts through the air, bitter teenager Fern Merris is trying to survive the breathless heat of summer and all the trials and tribulations of a small-town Southern life.

But she is haunted by the tragic secret of her sister’s death and even her beloved orchards can’t seem to save her. Refusing to give into sorrow, a desperate Fern goes in search of the courage she once had in order to live and dream again.

She gets more than she bargained for when she finds friendship, understanding—and even love—in unexpected places. Soon, her summer of hopeless grief turns into an enchanted journey of healing that will be life-altering and unforgettable.

Sometimes all of life’s answers can be wrapped up in one hot summer. Especially if peaches are involved…

Coming of age/YA/Romance that deals HEAVILY with death.

*****Sad, but good story*******


Mossy Creek


Welcome to Mossy Creek, your home town. You'll find a friendly face at every window, and a story behind every door.
We've got a mayor who cleans her own gun, and a Police Chief who doesn't need one. We've got scandal at the coffee shop and battles on the ballfield, a cantankerous Santa and a flying Chihuahua. You'll want to meet Rainey, the hairdresser with a tendency toward hysteria, and Hank, who takes care of our animals like they were his children. Don't forget to stop in for a bite at Mama's All You Can Eat Café, and while you're there say hello to our local celebrity, Sue Ora. Like as not, she'll sit you right down and tell you a story. People are like that in Mossy Creek.
Award winning authors Debra Dixon, Donna Ball, Sandra Chastain, Virginia Ellis, Nancy Knight, and Deborah Smith (Sweet Tea and Jesus Shoes) come together once again to blend their unique southern voices into a collection of tales about the South, this time focusing their talents on the fictional town of Mossy Creek, Georgia. Chances are, you'll recognize it. But even if you don't, you'll want to come back, again and again.
So welcome to Mossy Creek, the town that ain't going nowhere and don't want to.



*****Light reading, enjoyable characters, I might try some of the other Mossy Creek books.  They might be perfect reading out in the yard while taking a break from gardening.******

Saturday, January 24, 2015

52 Book Challenge

When Iola Anne Poole, an old-timer on Hatteras Island, passes away in her bed at ninety-one, the struggling young mother in her rental cottage, Tandi Jo Reese, finds herself charged with the task of cleaning out Iola's rambling Victorian house.                                                

Running from a messy, dangerous past, Tandi never expects to find more than a temporary hiding place within Iola's walls, but everything changes with the discovery of eighty-one carefully decorated prayer boxes, one for each year, spanning from Iola's youth to her last days.  Hidden in the boxes is the story of a lifetime, written on random bits of paper--the hopes and wishes, fears and thoughts of an unassuming but complex woman passing through the seasons of an extraordinary, unsung life filled with journeys of faith, observations of love, and one final lesson that could change everything for Tandi.                                                             

                                                         
********************

This story had potential and I really wanted to like this book, but for me it seemed so disjointed, which made for slow reading.  It took a long time to get into the story.  I'm glad I finished it though, because I was really intrigued with the idea of a prayer box.  It left me wanting to make my own prayer box. So because of the prayer boxes I could recommend this.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

52 Book Challenge





Finished two books this week!  Love cozy mysteries and think the Cat in the Stacks Mysteries will be fun series.

Murder Past Due

The Sea Glass Sisters by Lisa Wingate was a prequel to the Prayer Box--now looking forward to reading the Prayer Box. Love books that take place along the North and South Carolina coastline.  South Carolina is especially somewhere I always wanted to visit.




Sunday, January 11, 2015

Sunday Favorites -- Reading and Stitching


I love to read and I have seen several book blogs with reading challenges.  One that interested me was to read one book a week--52 books in a year.  I normally read maybe 20-25 books a year and thought I would see if I could increase it to 52. I'm not officially signing onto a challenge, but will be recording books read here on my blog. I may make a list of required reading for myself to make it a bit more of a challenge, but mostly it will be books for pure enjoyment. At this point in my life, that is what I want to spend my time on---enjoyment!!

I just finished my first book of the year.  Jan Karon's, Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good.  Loved it!  I have always been a fan of the Mitford series and was so happy to revisit with Father Tim and all the "old" characters and the new.  She left plenty to carry on in more stories, so I hope there will be more books to come.







Today I'm working on more embroidered bunny blocks.  I finished one that I personalized a bit.  My son-in-law coaches children's basketball and their colors are gray and lime green.  So I made the ball into a basketball and gave the gray bunny a lime green bow.

Join Kathy and other Slow Sunday Stitchers to see what they are working on.