October 2024 -TBR

 

I have lots of fun reading plans for October including 3 Readathons and at least 3 Book Clubs/Buddy Reads.  I thought I'd share what I'll be reading in the order I hope to read them:

1.  Love Blooms by Jennifer Faye - I'm reading this for my 3 October Readathons.  Finished!  I finished this book up and will be posting my review on tomorrow (Wednesday 10/2/2024).

2.  The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep - I'm currently reading this book for 3 October readathons.  I hope to post by review on 10/9/2024.  ~ FINISHED!

3.  Apple Pie and Trouble by Amber Crewes - I'll be reading this as part of the 3 October Readathons.  I hope to post my review on 10/16/2024.  ~ FINISHED!

4.  70 NORTH by Kimberley Woodhouse - I'll be reading an ARC of this book as part of the JustRead Publicity Tours.  My review is scheduled to post 10/18/2024.  ~ FINISHED!  10/8/2024

5.  Finding Love in Seaside, Oregon by Angela Ruth Strong - This will be my 4th book for the 3 October readathons.  I hope to post this review on 10/23/2024.

6.  A Rancher's Return by Jen Gilroy - I'll be reading an ARC of this book for a book tour with JustRead Publicity.  My review will post on 10/23/2024.

7.  The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch - This the October book club selection for the Good for the Soul Women Book Club on FB.  The zoom discussion for the book will be 10/24/2024 at 8pm EST.  I hope to post my review that day.

8.  Frittered Moments by Allison Pearl - This is an ARC that I will be reading as part of a tour for JustRead Publicity.  My review will post 10/25/2024.

9.  Not By Sight by Kate Bresslin - This is a Book Club selection for October in the Inspired Reader Book Club on FB.  The discussion will be on FB 10/18/2024 at 7pm.  I hope to post by review that day.

10.  The Gentleman's Confession by Anneka R. Walker - The ARC will be read as part of JustRead Publicity's review tour.  My review will post on 10.28.2024.

11.  Where I Belong by Rose Fresquez - Reading as part of a JustRead Publicity Tour.  My review will post on 10/30/2024.

12.  Brave by Mesu Andrews - This selection is the Buddy Read for the Journey Through the Bible 3.0 readathon.  There will be a discussion with the author on 11/1/2024 at 7pm on youtube.  I hope to post my review on 1031/2024.

And there it is.  My October TBR list.  12 books in all.  I read 12 books in September so I'm feeling good about this list :)

Have you read any of these books or are any on your future TBR pile/list?  Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday ~ Spring 2022 TBR ~ 3/22/2022

Books on My Spring 2022 TBR List:

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

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Please leave a comment with the link to your Top Ten Tuesday post so I can return the visit :)

Book Review ~ Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey

 

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Title:  Sabotaged by Dani Pattrey

Series:  Alaskan Courage Book Five

Pages:  325

Date Published:  February 3, 2015

Publisher:  Bethany House

 

 Blurb:

 

Growing up, goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and troublemaker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now paired together on Yancey's search-and-rescue canine unit, they begin to put aside old arguments as they come to see each other in a different light. Then a call comes in from the Iditarod that will push them to their limits.

Kirra's uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing. Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. In order to save her, the man must use his knowledge as a mechanical engineer to do the kidnapper's bidding or she will die. Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life, but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen.  

My Thoughts:

 

It had been months since I'd last read a fiction book.  For some reason I was in a fiction slump so I was concentrating on nonfiction books.  With this wintry weather we've been having here in Pennsylvania, I got the urge to pick up a fiction to give it a try.

 

I decided to pick a wintry book off of my TBR shelf.  I could tell be the cover of "Sabotaged" that it would be full of snow and ice.

 

Let me tell you:  Dani Pettrey does NOT disappoint!  I loved this book!

 

I've now read ALL the Alaskan Courage series and loved them all.  Dani Pettrey is currently one of my very favorite authors.

 

It was so much fun to read Reef's and Kirra's story as well as be visited by the other McKenna clan.

 

The story was very fast paced with lots of action, travel, danger and romance.  Not to mention snow and ice :)

 

For the first time in a while, I'm excited to read my next fiction!  It is a good thing too, because I signed up for the Mount TBR Challenge and I have a ton of fictions on my TBR shelf.

 

Onto the next book!

  



Colletta

Thursday Thirteen ~ TBR Shelf Part 2 ~ 36/14

A list of 13....

"Books On My TBR Shelf - Part 2"

1.  A Penny for Your Thoughts by Mindy Starns Clark

2.  Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels by Mindy Starns Clark

3.  Under the Cajun Moon by Mindy Starns Clark

4.  Whispers of the Bayour by Mindy Starns Clark

5.  Love in Disguise by Carol Cox

6.  Follow the Heart by Kaye Dacus

7.  A Wedding to Remember in Charleston, SC by Annalisa Daughety

8.  The Lady's Maid by Susan Page Davis

9.  Maggie's Journey by Lena Nelson Dooley

10.  Choices of the Heart by Laurie Alice Eakes

11.  Don't Look BAck by Lynette Eason

12.  A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason

13.  Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott

Thursday Thirteen ~ TBR Shelf Part 1 ~ 2/27/14

A list of 13....

"Books On My TBR Shelf"

1.  A Lasting Impression by Tamara Alexander

2.  All Things New by Lynn Austin

3.  Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin

4.  While We're Far Apart by Lynn Austin

5.  Moonlight Masquerade by Ruth Axtell

6.  Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brenden

7.  Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

8.  The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

9.  A Time to Love by Barbara Cameron

10.  Injustice for All by Robin Carroll

11.  To Write a Wrong by Robin Carroll

12.  A Shore Thing by Julie Carobini

13.  Fade to Blue by Julie Carobini

Part 1......

Book Review ~ The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Title:  "The Governess of Highland Hall"
Series:  Edwardian Brides Book 1

Author:  Carrie Turansky
Publisher:  Multnomah
Publication Date:  10/15/13

Pages:  336

Book Description:

Worlds lie between the marketplaces of India and the halls of a magnificent country estate like Highland Hall. Will Julia be able to find her place when a governess is neither upstairs family nor downstairs help? 
 
Missionary Julia Foster loves working alongside her parents, ministering and caring for young girls in India. But when the family must return to England due to illness, she readily accepts the burden for her parents’ financial support. Taking on a job at Highland Hall as governess, she quickly finds that teaching her four privileged, ill-mannered charges at a grand estate is more challenging than expected, and she isn’t sure what to make of the estate’s preoccupied master, Sir William Ramsey. 
 
Widowed and left to care for his two young children and his deceased cousin Randolph’s two teenage girls, William is consumed with saving the estate from the financial ruin. The last thing he needs is any distraction coming from the kindhearted-yet-determined governess who seems to be quietly transforming his household with her persuasive personality, vibrant prayer life, and strong faith. 
 
While both are tending past wounds and guarding fragile secrets, Julia and William are determined to do what it takes to save their families—common ground that proves fertile for unexpected feelings. But will William choose Julia’s steadfast heart and faith over the wealth and power he needs to secure Highland Hall’s future?

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

All the blurbs in the front of the book from readers mentioned Downton Abbey as being a huge inspiration for the setting and upstairs/downstairs plot of this story.  I'm a huge fan of Downton Abbey so I hoped this would live up to my expectations.

At first, I found Julia to be a bit preachy and pious, but she grew on me more and more throughout the book.  Sir William was the perfect hero who has struggles to overcome (with Julia's help, of course!)

I loved the side stories.  Especially Sarah's (William's sister).  The side stories were the perfect distraction from the main story.  They were also the perfect length and I didn't find myself skipping over them.

By the end of the book, I am now excitedly awaiting Book 2 of the Edwardian Brides!

A Brief Excerpt:

Lifting a silent prayer for courage, she opened the door and ran a cross the hall.  Glancing to the right, a shaft of fear pierced her heart.  Just a few feet down the hall, flames leaped up the wall and across the ceiling.

Page 271

The Cover:

First, I must mention a pet peeve.  Why do they always put the sales stickers on the front of a book just across the face of a person?  Why?  I had to complete "surgery" to get the sticker off so that I could enjoy the cover.

Now, the cover itself.  I really, really like the picture of "Highland Hall" in the background.  I love old, majestic buildings.

The colors are rich and very beautiful.  I also really like the style of the title.  Very pretty.

Other Notes:

~The beginning was a bit slow to develop but stick with it.  It is very worth it!

Rating

4/5 ~ I Really Enjoyed It!

On to the next book,

Book Review ~ The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn

Title:  "The Sum of All Kisses"
Series:  The Smythe-Smith Quartet Book 3

Author:  Julia Quinn
Publisher:  Avon
Publication Date:  10/29/13

Pages:  373

Book Description:

He thinks she's an annoying know-it-all...

Hugh Prentice has never had patience for dramatic females, and if Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has ever been acquainted with the words shy or retiring, she's long since tossed them out the window. Besides, a reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her.

She thinks he's just plain mad...

Sarah has never forgiven Hugh for the duel he fought that nearly destroyed her family. But even if she could find a way to forgive him, it wouldn't matter. She doesn't care that his leg is less than perfect, it's his personality she can't abide. But forced to spend a week in close company they discover that first impressions are not always reliable. And when one kiss leads to two, three, and four, the mathematician may lose count, and the lady may, for the first time, find herself speechless ...

New York Times bestselling author Julia Quinn's enchanting third novel in the Smythe-Smith quartet is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud and tug at your heartstrings in equal measures.

My Overall Feeling of the Book:

I started reading this book with expectations that were very high.  Juila Quinn is one of my absolute favorite authors.  I started the book on January 1st as part of a First Book of 2014 party and finished on January 2nd.  This is saying something, because it was the first book I had opened in months!

While this wasn't my favorite Juila Quinn novel, it was still very, very good and I really enjoyed reading it.

A Brief Excerpt:

"Yes, his eyes are perfectly nice," Sarah said obediently.  It was true, she supposed.  He did have very nice eyes, green as grass, and piercingly intelligent.  But nice eyes did not a future husband make.

Page 77

The Cover:

What an amazing cover!  The color of the dress is gorgeous and while a bit of skin is showing it isn't over-the-top-ashamed-to-be-seen-reading-it.  The background colors are my favorite colors so I'm loving it.

Other Notes:

~This is a  mainstream romance.

Rating

4/5

On to the next book,

2014 TBR Reading Challenge

To help me get back into the swing of reading daily, I'll be joining one (and only one) 2014 Reading Challenge. I decided that the 2014 TBR Pile Reading Challenge at Bookish is the challenge for me.  To sign up go HERE. I decided on this challenge because: 1.  I have a massive TBR Pile. 2.  They are having lots of fun challenges and games throughout the year. 3.  The above-mentioned fun games will help me remember to actually participate in the challenge. 4.  I can choose my reading level that I'm comfortable starting with and up it later if I decide. 5.  They have a mailing list reminder (another good tool to help me remember the challenge) So, without further ado, my reading level is going to be: 21-30 First Kiss (doesn't that sound sweet?) 1.  The Sum of All Kisses by Julia Quinn ~ 1/2/14 2.  The Governess of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky ~ 1/6/14 3.  How Miss Rutherford Got Her Groove Back by Sophie Barnes ~ 1/12/14 4.  A Rogue By Any Other Name by Sarah MacLean ~ 1/19/14
5.  The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd ~ 1/21/14 6.  One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean ~ 1/21/14 7.  The Headmistress of Rosemere by Sarah E. Ladd ~ 1/22/14

Wish me luck!

TBR Pile ~ 2013 Reading Challenge

*Click the above picture to sign up and for more information.*
My Goal:  41-50 Books = Married with Children
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.