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bout of Books

I have decided to participate in this read a thon.  I like this read a thon because it is a no pressure one.  You are only limited by what you want to do and what you can do.

Here's what you have to do:

1. Post on your site, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, YouTube or Facebook account and declare your intentions to join us. It's EASY. We ask you share info to help spread the word. Please link back to us so others can find us here.

If you're posting on your blog, grab the official blurb (below) and our button (in the sidebar) and create a post. (Need an example? Check out Kelly's Bout of Books 12 post!)

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, January 5th and runs through Sunday, January 11th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 12 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team

Want to post on Twitter? We've written a tweet for you. All you need to do is click to tweetand grab your tweet URL (note: this is not your profile URL).

2. Add the direct link to your sign up post to the linky in this post. You have until Tuesday January 6th at 11:59pm CST to sign up. (If the linky is closed, you're too late.)

3. On January 5th, READ!

Official Sign Up

Remember: you must post a DIRECT LINK to your sign up post. 

If you're only participating on Twitter/YouTube, link up your "I'm participating in Bout of Books!" tweet/video, NOT your Twitter/YouTube profile.

No direct link = no Grand Prize

A direct link is...

http://yoururl.com/your-sign-up-post
http://twitter.com/YOURHANDLE/status/thenumberofyourstatus
etc.

you can sign up here

http://boutofbooks.blogspot.com/


I will keep track of my progress here.

Books read

Happy New Year and what's ahead for the blog this year.

Happy New Year a couple of days late.  Seems like ever since I got this disease I have been running behind.

I have decided that this is the year that I am going to finish books that I have started.  I am also going to reread books that I thought I rushed through for reviewing.  I also will be reading books from my TBR mountain.  I might read some books for blog tours but not as many as I have in the past couple of years. I have a few books that I signed up for reviews and I have a lot of reviews that I am behind on so I hope to be able to post regularly for awhile.

The Bachelor by Stephanie Reed

In this sequel to The Bargain, Betsie Troyer is back home in her Amish community where she knows she belongs, free from the confusing Englisher way of life. She and Charley Yoder have made promises to each other, and her life is back on track--until Gerald Sullivan shows up with his young daughter, asking for Betsie's help. He’s on his way to find his estranged wife, and begs Betsie to take young Sheila in. When she agrees, Betsie's carefully planned life is shaken up again. Sheila's newfound faith is troubling to Charley--and his attraction to another girl is beginning to be a problem. But how can Betsie confront him when she is still trying to confront her own feelings about Sheila's brother, Michael? Keeping the peace between the Amish man she's always loved, a twelve-year-old Englisher girl, and a draft-dodging hippie is more than she ever thought she’d have to deal with in her simple, orderly life. Still, Betsie is convinced she can keep things from falling apart completely. Then during her best friend's wedding, tragedy strikes and her world is upended. She has to make a decision: does she love Charley or Michael . . . or is she craving a deeper love that only God can give? The compelling second novel of the Plain City Peace series, The Bachelor deftly weaves together the strands of a solid, simpler time with the turmoil of an era of change, revealing the strengths of both in its powerful narrative.

My Take:  I enjoyed rejoining Betsie Troyer and her family in this book.  At the very beginning Betsie is thrown a curve ball when Gerald Sullivan shows up at her doorstep to beg her to watch Sheila while he goes off to try and win back his wife.  Betsie knows that she should say no but she can't turn away this poor girl.  Betsie also has a problem with Charlie Troyer . Is he truly the one for her or does her heart belong to englisher Michael?  There are a lot of twists and turns in this book.  This is the second book in a series and I would highly recommend that you read the first book The Bargain just so you will be up to speed on everything that is going on.

I received a review copy of this book from Kregel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Reason for absence from blog most of last month

I apologize for being absent from the blog most of last month.  I have been have some severe physical problems since the middle of September.  I developed a problem with my legs that I was falling and had sever pain in my legs and couldn't stand up from a sitting position.  I was admitted to the hospital on November 10 for testing. after three days of all kinds of tests and blood draws I was diagnosed with diabetic amyotrophy which affects 1% of diabetics mostly elderly men so for me to get it this young is extremely rare.   I was then admitted to a rehab hospital so I could have intensive occupational therapy and physical therapy.  I was there exactly 2 weeks. I was discharged the day before Thanksgiving.  I am currently walking with a walker and have a wheelchair for when I am out for longer periods of times.  I have to have Ivs ever two weeks.  I also go to physical therapy three times a week.  I still have lots of pain and weakness in my legs but I hope they will get better every day.  I hope to get caught up with my reviews over the next couple of days. 

The Promise by Beth Wiseman

About the book: 

Mallory's search for happiness leads her to a faraway place. There she finds heartache, betrayal---and danger.

Mallory Hammond is determined that no one will stand in the way of her goal---to save a life. She had that chance years ago, and she failed to take it, leaving her adrift and in search of the real meaning of her life. Finally, she meets a man online from a volatile corner of the world who offers her the chance to find that purpose. But she will have to leave everyone she loves behind in order to take it.

Tate Webber has loved Mallory for many years. He understands that Mallory will never be happy with him until her deepest heart's desire is satisfied. When Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfill her dreams, Tate begs her not to go but tries to give her the space she needs. Mallory embarks on her dangerous journey only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. And Mallory can only pray that she will make it out alive.

Inspired by actual events, The Promise is a riveting love story that asks the question: how far will we go for love?

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/CP8sr 

About the author: 

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. Having sold over 1.3 million books, her novels have held spots on multiple Bestseller lists. She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013. In 2013 she took home the coveted Holt Medallion. Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year. Beth lives in Texas with her family.

Find Beth online: website, Facebook, Twitter

My Take:  I found this book very interesting from the start.  I felt that Mallory might have been  alittle naive and not really be looking at things with out her blinders on.  She is determined to save a life and she lets this desire get the best of her. This book was based on true events which makes the story even more compelling.  a great read.  I think most people would appreciate this story. 

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for an honest review. 

Audio book Review of Burn by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge read by Danny Mastrogiorgio

Burn by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Read by Danny Mastrogiorgio

from Goodreads.
Detective Michael Bennett finally returns to New York City –and to the most unsettling, horrific case of his career.





At last, Detective Michael Bennett and his family are coming home to New York City. Thanks to Bennett, the ruthless crime lord whose vengeful mission forced the Bennett family into hiding has been brought down for good.





Back in the city that never sleeps, Bennett takes over a chaotic Outreach Squad in Harlem, where he receives an unusual call: a man claims to have seen a group of well-dressed men holding a bizarre party in a condemned building. With no clear crime or evidence, Bennett dismisses the report. But when a charred body is found in that very same building, he is forced to take the caller seriously – and is drawn into an underground criminal world of terrifying depravity. 

My Take:  The Michael Bennett Series by James Patterson is becoming my favorite series by him.  It was nice to have the Bennett family back in New York.  Bennett was kind of demoted by being given the Outreach Squad to lead.  He gets them to finally care about what they are doing then he is given a promotion to work on the case of all the diamond heists that have been going on.  I enjoyed the family drama that goes along with the this series.  I did feel that the resolution to the one case was a bit anticlimatic. 

Audio:  I felt that the narrator wasn't all that great he really didn't have to much range other than reading the book and not showing any emotion. Kinda monotoned. . Not enough to keep me from listening to him again but still not that great.  

This book is taken from my personal audible library. 

A Month of Giving Thanks #2

Today I am Thankful for my hubby.  Not only is he a good provider he is also a Godly man who wants to follow God's leading.  He has been very good during the last couple of months with all of my physical problems.  He just spent the last hour straightening up the bedroom to make it easier for me to get around with my walker.  He is my best friend.

It's Monday What Are You reading?

It has been along time since I have participated in this meme.  The last time I did was in July.  With participating in Blog Ahead I hope to make this more of a weekly thing.

Ok so here is what was on the Blog last week.

Book Review of


Guess Who Noah's Boat   by Matt Mitter, Ela Jarzabek (Illustrations)


Book review of


The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky


Book Review of


A Lady of Willowgrove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd 


Book Review of


Keeper's of the Covenant by Lynn Austin

Book Review of



The Mason Jar by James Russell Lingerfelt

Book Review of


The Sea House by Elisabeth Gifford

Announcement of taking part in  Blog Ahead



Blog Ahead

Audio book Review of


Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury

Announcement of taking part in Month of Thanks


Month of Giving Tha

This Week on The Blog

Book Review of


The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller


Audio Book Review of


Burn by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge
Narrated by Danny Mastrogiorgio

Book Review of


The River by Beverly Lewis

Audio book review of


Lock In by John Scalzi
Narrated by Wil Wheaton

Audio book Review of


Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
narrated by Kevin Kenerly

Book Review of


The Promise by Beth Wiseman

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What's on your Reading Horizon?

The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller

The Brickmaker's Bride by Judith Miller

About the book: 

Bestselling Author Judith Miller Debuts Historical Series Set in West Virginia

Yearning for a fresh start, Ewan McKay travels with his aunt and uncle from northern Scotland to West Virginia, promising to trade his skills in the clay business for financial assistance from his uncle Hugh. Hugh purchases a brickmaking operation from a Civil War widow and her daughter, but it's Ewan who gets the business up and running again. Ewan seeks help from Laura, the former owner's daughter, and he feels a connection with her, but she's being courted by another man---a lawyer with far more social clout and money than Ewan. Besides, Ewan has resolved he'll focus on making the brickmaking operation enough of a success that he can become a partner in the business and be able to afford to bring his sisters over from Scotland.

But when Hugh signs a bad business deal, all Ewan's hard work may come to naught. As his plans begin to crumble, Laura reveals something surprising. She and her mother may have a way to save the brickworks, and in turn Ewan may have another shot at winning Laura's heart.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/CAurf 

About the author: 

Judith Miller is an award-winning author whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. When time permits, Judy enjoys traveling, visiting historical settings, and scrapbooking the photographs from her travel expeditions. She makes her home in Topeka, Kansas.

Find Judith online: website, Facebook,Twitter

My Take:  If you were ever curious about bricks were made then this is the book for you.  I have enjoyed books written by Judith Miller before and this is another book that I can add to that list.  Judith makes here characters jump off the page as if they were actually alive.  You get wrapped up in the story and find yourself cheering for them or hoping they don't achieve what they are trying to do.  A great start to a new series.  

I received a review copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review.