The Pawn by Steven James

The Pawn by Steven James

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


An awesome suspense/thriller! A serial killer seems to be 1 step ahead of the FBI. Patrick Bowers is still reeling from the death of his wife, yet is pulled into the investigation to find the serial killer.

This book was very well-written and compelling. I enjoyed the back and forth between different viewpoints, including the killer's. And it really kept you guessing as to the killer's identity.

I only managed to finish 5 books in January, a bit unusual for me as I usually get around 7 or 8 completed.

Secret Longings of the Heart by Carol Kent

Secret Longings of the Heart: Overcoming Deep Disappointment and Unfulfilled Expectations by Carol Kent

My review

rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
This was a very honest book about the longings that we all feel as humans. Dealing with disappointments and unfulfilled expectations is part of life and how we handle them reveals our values and worldview. Learning to view things through biblical truth rather than our own perceptions helps to handle these longings in a way that honors God.

This book was timely for me in dealing with the stresses of failed expectations and not being able to control how things turn out. So often I respond with anger when things don't go the way I want them to. Yet life is full of unfulfilled longings and desires. Learning to let go of expectations that aren't met the way I would want is part of the growth and maturity process.

Faith 'n' Fiction - Keepers

Today's Topic:

One thing we share in common is a love of books. I know there are participants of Faith 'n Fiction Saturdays that read over 200 books a year! But while we may read a lot of books, only a few books in our lifetimes are special enough that we would never part with them, always recommend them, and maybe even reread them. So...what fiction books with faith elements are on your keeper shelf? Please keep your answers to no more than 5 books!

My keepers:

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers (first book I read by her and very impactful for me)

Mixed Signals by Liz Curtis Higgs (wonderful romance and delightful writing)

Ice by Shane Johnson (unique blend of sci-fi and mystery, with a twist; very interesting)

Arena by Karen Hancock (love this anthology, similar to Pilgrim's Progress in a way)

The Happy Room by Catherine Palmer (a missionary kid's life, some of the challenges faced; the author grew up in the same countries I did)

There are a few others, but I'll limit it to those 5 :-).

The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey

The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars


Yancey takes us through the Gospels to re-examine Jesus' life from the perspective of those who lived with Him at the time. From their viewpoint and understanding, who was this man who claimed to be God? This was a very thought-provoking book that re-opened my eyes to many of the difficult teachings that Jesus presented.

Yancey then continues on through Jesus' death and resurrection and what it meant to His disciples at the time. I highly recommend this book for those who are curious about Jesus.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Stacy posted the puzzle they did for New Year's. I am not able to do jigsaw puzzles at home due to my 2 very curious cats. But over the holidays we spent a lot of time at a friend's house where I was able to do some jigsaw puzzles. My friend also helped me with these. They are both 500 piece puzzles.





Fortunately I am able to do puzzles on my computer which helps with my puzzle fix :-).

Skin by Ted Dekker

Skin by Ted Dekker

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book was quite interesting. You really didn't know what twist was going to come next. 5 strangers are thrown together in the midst of a storm in a small town being ravaged not only by the storm but by a killer on the loose. The killer toys with them, leaving them notes and challenges to kill the ugliest among them.

This was quite the suspense with twists involved. Highly recommended.

This was my 1st completion for the What's In a Name Challenge.

My Book List for the Medical Mystery Madness Challenge

My potential list for the Medical Mystery Madness challenge. Subject to change.

1. Cold Plague by Daniel Kalla - DNF/Changed to Pestis 18 by Sharon Webb

2. The White Plague by Frank Herbert/Changed to Foreign Body by Robin Cook

3. Microbe by Bill Clem

4. Plague War by Jeff Carlson

5. Clone-27 by Robert Houser/Changed to TSI: Gabon Virus by Paul McCusker & Walt Larimore

Chick Lit Challenge Book Reviews

Nely had a wonderful idea. Having a post where participants can post links to their book reviews of books they've read for this challenge. That way we can all see what each other is reading and what we thought, getting ideas for other chick lit books to read.

I don't use Mr. Linky, but please feel free to leave comments to this post with links to your book reviews of books for the Chick Lit Challenge. I will have this link posted in the sidebar for easy accessibility.

Book #1 for 2009: Here Comes the Bride by Whitney Lyles

Here Comes the Bride by Whitney Lyles

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is the sequel to Always the Bridesmaid. Finally Cate, forever a bridesmaid, gets to be the bride as she prepares to marry her best friend Ethan. But problems keep occuring - disagreements with her mom, a meddling cousin and an ex-girlfriend that keeps showing up. Will Cate and Ethan be able to surmount the obstacles and make it down the aisle?

This was a cute chick-lit book. Nothing spectacular but funny and easy-to-read. I found myself furious with some of the characters and the gall that they had. I probably would not have responded as well as Cate did if I had been in her shoes.

I'm not counting this for the Chick Lit Challenge because I started it in December. But it will count towards my total for the year as that will be books finished during 2009.

Medical Mystery Madness 2009

February 1-December 1, 2009

Having been inspired by the expansion of the Chick Lit Challenge, and with my access to books mostly through the mail, I have decided to expand the Medical Mystery Madness Challenge this year. Rather than just doing it during the summer, this challenge will run from February 1 through December 1.

The "Rules":
Books can overlap with other challenges. You can substitute if a book ends up not appealing to you.
WHAT: Pick anywhere from 5 or more medical mysteries/thrillers to read and discuss with fellow medical thriller fans.
WHEN: February 1 to December 1
WHO: Anyone
WHERE: Hosted by Twiga
WHY: Seeing others' lists would give us more ideas of other medical thrillers out there that we might not be aware of yet. Those that want to read the same books can do buddy reads if they'd like.
HOW: Post the list of medical thrillers that you plan to read on your blog and then sign up in the comments to this post.

2009 Books to Read

I compiled the books I have listed to read for various challenges and my 2009 goals, deleted the duplicates and here is my 2009 Reading List. Obviously I plan to read more than these, as this is only 24 books. But it's nice to have a list all in one place.

Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin
Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily
The Restorer's Son by Sharon Hinck
The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck
Skin by Ted Dekker - Completed 1/11/09
Love Jesus, Hate Church by Steven Mccranie or Why Join a Small Church by John Benton
Cold Plague by Daniel Kalla
Dreaming in Technicolor by Laura Jensen Walker - Completed 2/14/09
Rematch by Erynn Mangum
For Better or For Worse by Diann Hunt - Gave Up On/DNF
Remember Me? by Sophie Kinsella
Claire Knows Best by Tracey Bateman
Daring Chloe by Laura Jensen Walker
Stealing Adda by Tamara Leigh
The Secret Life of Becky Miller by Sharon Hinck
Sarah: Women of Genesis by Orson Scott Card
Women of the Bible: Rahab's Story by Ann Burton
Havah: The Story of Eve by Tosca Lee
Noah by Ellen Gunderson Traylor
Secret Longings of the Heart by Carol Kent - Completed 1/27/09
Enoch by Alton Gansky
The Pawn by Steven James - Completed 1/31/09
Authentic Faith by Gary Thomas
The White Plague by Frank Herbert
Microbe by Bill Clem
Plague War by Jeff Carlson
Clone-27 by Robert Houser

What's In a Name Challenge, Part II

**UPDATE as of 3/12/09** - No longer participating in this

Annie is doing the What's In a Name Challenge again. I didn't participate last time but am going to attempt this this year. Go here to sign up.

*Dates: January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009

*The Challenge: Choose one book from each of the following categories.

A book with a "profession" in its title. Examples might include: The Book Thief, The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Historian

My potentials: Front Porch Princess by Kathryn Springer or Gods and Kings by Lynn Austin/ Read The Knight by Steven James (not sure if this counts) - Completed November 2009

A book with a "time of day" in its title. Examples might include: Twilight, Four Past Midnight, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

My potentials: Violet Dawn by Brandilyn Collins or Fifteen Minutes of Shame by Lisa Daily

A book with a "relative" in its title. Examples might include: Eight Cousins, My Father's Dragon, The Daughter of Time

My potentials: The Restorer's Son by Sharon Hinck or The Trophy Wives Club by Kristin Billerbeck

A book with a "body part" in its title. Examples might include: The Bluest Eye, Bag of Bones, The Heart of Darkness

My potentials: Skin by Ted Dekker - Completed 1/11/09

or Hot Tropics and Cold Feet by Diann Hunt

A book with a "building" in its title. Examples might include: Uncle Tom's Cabin, Little House on the Prairie, The Looming Tower

My potentials: Love Jesus, Hate Church by Steven Mccranie or Why Join a Small Church by John Benton/ Read Real Church by Larry Crabb - Completed August 2009

A book with a "medical condition" in its title. Examples might include: Insomnia, Coma, The Plague

My potentials: The White Plague by Frank Herbert or Cold Plague by Daniel Kalla/ Read Plague War by Jeff Carlson - Completed November 2009

You may overlap books with other challenges, but please don't use the same book for more than one category.

A Look Back at 2008

There's something about the new year that causes a time of reflection and a look back at the previous year while planning for the new one. 2008 was not an easy year. It started in January with the death of a friend and a trip to VA for the memorial service. Jono had a brief period of unemployment and there were changes at my job for me to adjust to. Perspective on life was re-evaluated this year due to these events.

In reading I had a good year, finishing out the year with 85 books. My reading list of 2008 is currently at the bottom of this blog page. I'll leave it up for a while before changing over to the 2009 list. Some of my favorites from the year are:
Intimate Faith by Jan Winebrenner
The Restoration series by Terri Blackstock (Last Light, Night Light, True Light, Dawn's Light)
The Sushi series by Camy Tang (Sushi for One?, Only Uni, Single Sashimi)
The Cubicle Next Door by Siri Mitchell
The Convenient Groom by Denise Hunter
The Ultimate Reality Show by Clay Jacobsen
Uncharted by Angela Hunt
8.4 by Peter Hernon

I also enjoyed Dead Head by Allen Wyler, Splitting Harriet by Tamara Leigh, The Search to Belong by Joseph Myers, Having a Mary Spirit by Joanna Weaver, Elementary, My Dear Watkins by Mindy Starns Clark, and The Restorer by Sharon Hinck.