It's Monday What Are You Reading? March 19, 2012

This is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

What I read last week:
- Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio by Annalisa Daughety (reread)
- Always the Baker Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
- Always the Wedding Planner Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
- Always the Designer Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker
- Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah (on audio)

What I am currently reading:- Critical Care by Candace Calvert
- The Paleo Answer by Loren Cordain

What I am reading next:
- My Own Worst Enemy by Janet Davis (nonfiction)
- Night Road by Kristen Hannah (on audio)

Reviews posted last week:
http://www.abookloverforever.blogspot.com/2012/03/downtown-green-by-judy-christie-review.html

http://www.abookloverforever.blogspot.com/2012/03/blue-moon-promise-by-colleen-coble.html

The Sunday Salon March 18, 2012

* Wow time is really flying these days. I think this pretty much every week but I can't believe it is Sunday night already. I was off work Friday again. I am not going to know what to think working a five day work week again. lol It is so hot here in the Deep South and it is still technically Winter. We did not really have that season this year. Are weather conditions off where you live too?

* I am so excited. Tuesday is the first day of Spring and Katrina's Spring Reading Thing challenge. My list of books will be up on that day. Check out her site for more information (linked to on my sidebar).

* Looking ahead April will be a big month for me. I am turning 29 on April 9, Easter is April 8, I am going to the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, and doing the Warrior Dash on April 21.

* I finished a really good audio book today. It was Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah. I also read the first three books in the Emma Ray series by Sandra Bricker. They are Christian fiction and were really good and cute. I  can't wait for the next book to come out. I really want to start another book tonight but I am still doing laundry, need to load the dishwasher, and get my stuff ready for tomorrow.

* I hope everyone has a great week and lots of reading time. :)

Downtown Green by Judy Christie (Review)

Paperback: 224 pages

Publisher: Abingdon Press (March 2012)

ISBN-13: 978-1426708992

When the highway bypass around Green opens with much fanfare, downtown dries up faster than cement on the roadway. Businesses close and the hospital becomes a clinic. While the road is progress to some, it seems to be leading Green toward a national trend–a town that is merely a shadow of itself.

With the town going backwards, Lois Barker Craig is determined to save Green while juggling life as a new mom and owner of The Green News-Item. But can her plan rescue the town from the path it’s on? And what about Dr. Kevin and her son, Mayor Eva, Coach Chris and other familiar Green faces? How does this affect them?

My Review:
I loved this book and the whole series. I eagerly await each book. I have grown attached to the town and characters. This is book five in the series and if you have to read it on its own it would be okay but I recommend the whole series. Each new book in the series has more of an impact if you have read the previous ones. The central character in all of them is Lois Barker Craig, part owner and editor of the Downtown Green newspaper. She is a transplant to the little town of Green, Louisiana from the Midwest. There are other characters that repeat in the books too. They are all well written and the plot lines are engaging. Highly Recommended!



Author Judy Christie loves to help busy people slow down and enjoy each day more – in her series of novels about Green, Louisiana, and her Hurry Less Worry Less nonfiction books. Judy started her writing career as the editor of The Barret Banner in elementary school and has kept a journal since she was nine (and still has all of them). She likes strolling around flea markets, walking in the park near her North Louisiana home and visiting friends and family on her vintage green Kitchen Couch. Her most recent books are Downtown Green, fifth in the Green series, and “Hurry Less Worry Less for Moms.” For more information, see www.judychristie.com.



Review copy provided by Pump Up Your Book in exchange for an honest review.

The Sunday Salon March 11, 2012

* I can't believe it is Sunday night already. The weekend flew by again and I was off work Friday. I am so tired today. I wonder if it is just me or others too. I hate time changes because it takes my body so long to get used to them. I am hungry even though I ate most of the day. lol

* I am currently reading A Grownup Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson and it is pretty good. I won't finish it tonight but that's okay. I am  listening to Winter Garden by Kristen Hannah in the car and its good too.

* Not looking forward to tomorrow, hopefully my desk is not too bad at work. I am planning on getting there and working super hard to get caught up but it still might take a few days.

* The Spring Reading Thing starts next week. I am working on my list. I don't really know what to put because I am reading whatever gets my attention these days and a few review books. It might be a small list but I finish more than  whats on it.

* I ate way too many carbs today which might be why I feel like crap right now. When will I ever learn my lesson? How many fat rolls do  I need?

* On that note I really am hungry so off to make a salad with baked chicken. :)

* I hope everyone has a great week and lots of reading time.

Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble (Review)

About the book:

Book Number One in the Under Texas Stars series

A love like Lucy and Nate’s only comes along once in a blue moon . . .

Lucy Marsh’s worldly resources are running out, but she’s fiercely determined to care for her younger brother and sister. When she discovers that their father’s recent death was no accident, Lucy is eager to leave town. She accepts a proxy marriage she believes will provide safe refuge. But trouble follows her to Texas where her new husband is surprised to suddenly have a wife and children to care for.

Nate Stanton always hoped he’d marry someday, but running the family ranch meant he had no time for romance. When his father deposits Lucy Marsh—a city girl—on his doorstep, with two siblings in the bargain, he expects ranch life will send her running on the first train out of town. But Lucy is made of tougher stuff than Nate imagined. When danger moves in, Nate finds he’d give anything to protect Lucy and the children he’s grown to love. Even if it means giving up his ranch.

My Review:

I really liked this book. I thought it was a cute Christian historical fiction book. I have read many of the author's other books and liked them, historical and contemporary. The characters and plot were well developed and interesting. I loved Lucy and how she took care of her two half siblings like they were her own children.  This book is a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read the second book. Recommended. :)

About Colleen:

Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

 

Kindle Giveaway and More! Save the Date - 3/13!

To see what others think visit the blog tour page:
http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13458569/bluemoonpromise

Review copy provided by Litfuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review.

It's Monday What Are You Reading? March 5, 2012

This is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at One Persons Journey Through a World of Books. http://bookjourney.wordpress.com/

What I read last week:
- Sweet Baklava by Debby Mayne (on my Kindle app I phone)
- Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
- Love Finds You in Sugarcreek Ohio by Serena Miller
- Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

What I am currently reading:
- Welcome to Fred by Brad Whittington
- The Paleo Answer by Loren Cordain
- Lion of Babylon by Davis Bunn (on Nook)
- Love on a Dime by Cara Lynn James (on Kindle app I phone)

What I am reading next:
I have no idea. :) This year is more about reading from my shelves and whatever appeals to me at the time.

The Sunday Salon March 4, 2012

* The past week flew by and the weekend seemed to go by even quicker. I can' t believe Sunday is almost over. I have banana almond coconut flour bread in the oven and it smells really good.

* Last night my cousin Mollie (14) came over and we made coconut flour blueberry pancakes, sausage, and scrambled eggs and watched the movie, Sarah's Key. We agreed it was sad but overall a good movie.

* I am not doing so good staying Paleo. I ate two containers Ben and Jerrys his weekend and a whole bag of Terra Vegetable chips. I need to do another Whole 30. I have gained fifteen pounds in the past six months. It seems all I do is cook and eat. I still work out Thank God. I really do not want to end up overweight again.

* I finished the latest Hannah Swenson mystery, Cinnamon Roll Six Murder, this weekend. It was okay. I still like the series even though they are getting repetitious.

* March 20 starts the first day of Spring and the Spring Reading Thing hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days. I love her reading challenges and they might be the only ones I do this year. Normally by now I am signed up for over twenty but I just don't have it in me this year.

* I still have some cleaning to do but I need to read Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble for review this week. Hopefully I can do both. I need to go to Kroger and return the movie and bring my cousin some of the banana bread like I promised. :)

* I hope everyone has a great night and week and lots of reading time!