Friday, August 4, 2017

July Highlights

July is over and August is here!



--The 4th of July was a fun day. We went over to some friends house and had lots of fun.

--I went to the movie theatre twice this month. I saw Cars 3 with two of my friends. I enjoyed it. I didn’t think it was as good as Cars 1, but I did think it was better then Cars 2.
The other movie I saw was Wonder Woman. I went with my mom and sister and some other mothers and daughters. Going with friends to the theater was fun, but I did not like the movie at all.

--My aunt and uncle came to visit for a few days. We had a fun time with them.

--My book club is continuing to go really well and it is super fun. The last book club only two of the six girls were able to make it, but we still had fun. :)

--I watched two Christmas movies this month, because of Christmas in July! ;)

--It’s been really hot here lately. Most days it’s in the high 90’s.


I read some good books this month:
Southern Belle’s Special Gift by Marsha Hubler
Kathleen’s Unforgettable Winter by Tracy Leininger Craven
The Mystery on the Train by Lydia Dyslin
Kathleen’s Abiding Hope by Tracy Leininger Craven
Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie by Kristiana Gregory
The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden
When Hope Springs New by Janette Oke
The Farmers’ Market Mishap by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Jean Brunstetter
Summer Camp Adventure by Marsha Hubler
Kathleen’s Enduring Faith by Tracy Leininger Craven
Martin Hospitality by Abigayle Claire
Back in the Saddle by Ruth Logan Herne



How was your July?



Thursday, July 27, 2017

Christy Miller

If you have ever read the Christy Miller books, then you might realize that today is Christy Miller’s birthday. I know, she’s a fictional character, but that doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate! Today through July 31, all of the Christy Miller books are on sale at Robin Jones Gunn’s website. So this is a good chance to get some books.

I do enjoy the Christy books. It’s so much fun to see Christy in High school, College, her early married years, and now as her and her husband start having kids!
I wasn’t sure if I’d like the Christy Miller books at first, but they grew on me. I started liking them the best during the later High School Years series.

Have you ever read the Christy Miller books?



Monday, July 24, 2017

Book Recommendations // Homeschooled Authors

I always enjoy giving book recommendations! It's fun to share good books with others. Today I am recommending some books by homeschooled authors!




Dandelion Dust by Faith Potts 
Like a speck of dandelion dust riding the tides of a prairie wind, life is fleeting. Though I never realized just how fragile it was until that day . . .
Charity always had a dream. It was simple, really. Find a guy, fall in love, and get married.
The day she met Ryder, Charity knew he was the man God had chosen for her. But she never expected their relationship to be tested and tried through the fires of a freak accident. Suddenly, her world is thrown into chaos, and the bleak, white walls and sterile smells of a city hospital fill every spare minute. And then there comes the dreaded news. It was likely Ryder would never make it out of the hospital bed.
As her carefully laid plans for the future come crashing down around her and the sun seems to set on her dreams, can Charity still find hope in the dark of night?
Like a dandelion, life is beautiful. But treasure every moment. . . . for one day, the flower will be gone.

~This is a very good book written by a good friend of mine. It is a contemporary love story.




One Summer's Desire by Abigail Prigge 
Sixteen-year-old Hadassah is a sweet, absentminded missionary kid and a camp counselor for two weeks. Her summer dreams are as big as the Montana sky. Hadassah's ambition is to share the truth about Jesus with her campers, but in another corner of her heart, she longs to make a true, lifelong friend. Her desires clash and bring her trouble she never planned on, friendships never imagined and a ministry not anticipated.

~This is a fun, summer contemporary book! 




Charlotte's Hope by Abigail Prigge, Ashlyn Busenitz, and Jana Busenitz
Charlotte is none too thrilled with her father when he sends her and her two sisters to spend Christmas with relatives in Argentina. Little does she know of the adventure, danger, and espionage that awaits her and her sisters, Clara and Constance. Neither does she expect to have her faith in the Lord tested like never before. Charlotte despairs that she will ever be able to mend her relationship with her father. Clara is convinced that she will never be able to marry the man of her dreams. Constance is determined to keep her beloved horse. Will Charlotte and her sisters escape the clutches of the outlaw gauchos trying to destroy them and their family? Will Charlotte be able to maintain her hope in the Lord in the midst of hopeless circumstances?

~This book is set in Argentina and the story takes place around Christmas time. 




A Question of Honor by Jesseca Wheaton (book 1 in the Questions of War series) 
A man. A child. A war. When German soldiers invade France during World War II, young Joyanna's perfect world is shattered. In the hands of those who hate her, she battles to comprehend why people can be so ruthless and cold toward those whom they have never met. David Sullivan, pilot in the Royal Air Force, was certain he would never hate, but a painful loss forces him to either reconsider or do the inconceivable—forgive. He is suddenly challenged by the realization that doing God's will is not easy, but most important. With the lives of freedom-fighters relying on him, he must learn the difficult lesson that he is not in control, but merely one who must surrender his heart of obedience to One greater. A sudden turn of events lands Joyanna and David in the same country—but for far different reasons. When their paths cross, David finds he must make a decision that will affect them both for the rest of their lives. Will he choose vengeance, or will he let his life be ruled by a higher standard? A standard of Honor.

~This is a really good historical book! 




Gift from the Storm by Rebekah A. Morris
One cold, dark evening a young stranger appears outside the Morgan home with two small children. Injured and on the verge of complete exhaustion, she will only say that her name is “Amy.” Where did she come from? Who is she? And what has she been through? Dr. Justin Morgan and his family look for answers as they struggle to minister life and health to the needy ones in their midst.

~A fun book that kept me guessing through a lot of it!





Beyond the Horizon by Jesseca Wheaton
Eliana longs to see the world beyond the mountains that tower above Salzburg, Austria, but knows that dream will never see such adventure- and neither will she. Surrounded by a world of cruelty, she lives for the weekly visits of Aron, a boy she met on one of her rambles through the countryside. But as the years pass and she begins to grow older, a new and unwelcome world is opened up to her. On a fateful night at a party she vowed she’d never attend, she comes face to face with a shocking truth. As the world around her teeters on the brink of war, Eliana struggles to figure out just where her loyalty lies; a decision that will drastically change the course of her life. Will she ever be free to see what lies beyond the horizon?

~This is a Christmas World War II, Cinderella re-telling. It is a fun, enjoyable book.





The Mystery of the Midnight Trespasser by Hosanna Emily 
"Rosy growled, and I knew she was pacing the porch. I sensed her uneasiness. Something was wrong. Rosy never barked at cars; why would she choose this one?"

13 year-old Emily Kessler believes in God, but when she discovers someone trespassing in the middle of the night, can she learn to trust in Him completely? Will she have the courage to solve the mystery with her friends? And when everything falls apart, will Emily be able to keep those she loves safe?

~This is a fun mystery!





A Dream Not Imagined by Shantelle Mary Hannu 
A MAID, a PRINCE, and a DUKE. A GARDENER, a STEPMOTHER, and a secret . . . Ellie Abbington, a beautiful yet unassuming young woman, quietly longs for her life to change. Too privileged to associate with the servants—too underprivileged to associate with her own family; she dreams a dream of a prince and a happily ever after. But it could be that her own stepsisters, conniving Dezmarie and easily-influenced Adelaide, are dreaming the same dream . . . of the same prince. In the end, are dreams even all they're made out to be? Especially with deep and long-hidden secrets about to be unearthed? A Dream Not Imagined is a non-magical fairytale novella based loosely on the classic tale of Cinderella.

~A Cinderella re-telling with some unexpected twists!



Have you read any of these? What are some of your favorite books by homeschooled authors?



Monday, July 3, 2017

Departures // Book Review

Today I am here with a book review. I decided to do review Departures by Robin Jones Gunn today because it is such a summer/4th of July book. So since tomorrow is the 4th of July I just had to do this review today. :)


From the Back Cover:
Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen cross paths on their way to summer vacations that reveal what a gift it is to have a true Forever Friend.

Now Boarding at Gate 10
After her high school graduation, still aching from Todd’s departure, Christy joins her family on a trip to Wisconsin to visit relatives. While there, she reunites with Matthew, an old friend from junior high. When Matthew starts to show a romantic interest in Christy, she realizes this summer vacation could change everything she thought her future would be.

In the Event of a Water Landing
Fifteen-year-old Sierra Jensen can’t wait to spend her summer vacation with her friend Jana at a pristine lake in Montana. But when they arrive, it becomes clear that Jana’s only interest is acquiring a boyfriend. Sierra just wants to hang out with the guys as friends, but Jana turns every encounter into a possible romantic relationship. As their friendship begins to suffer, Sierra wonders if it’s possible to find a Forever Friend who will listen to you, laugh with you, and keep your confidences.


Departures
is a really fun summery book with two novellas in it. One is about Christy Miller and the other is about Sierra Jensen.
The first story, Now Boarding at Gate 10, is about Christy. She has just graduated from high school and she and her family take a trip to visit her grandparents. This story takes place between Sweet Dreams, book 11, and A Promise is Forever, book 12, in the 12 book Christy Miller series.
The next story, In the Event of a Water Landing, is Sierra's story. She is 15 in this story and it takes place about six months before the Sierra Jensen series starts.
Christy and Sierra unknowingly cross paths on their way to their summer vacations.
These stories take place on and around the 4th of July, which makes this a really fun summer book!


I give this book 7.5 out of 10 R's




Sunday, July 2, 2017

June Highlights

June has already come and gone. It was a good month. It was not near as busy as May was, which is super nice. :)


~My mom and I sold some books at a used curriculum sale. It was a lot of fun and I sold about half of my books.

~Our homeschool convention was in the beginning of June and that was pretty fun.

~I went to a carnival that our town puts on every year and it was super fun as usual! :) I went with my younger brothers and we rode the rides. I had such a fun time!!!

This is one of my favorite rides!

~At the carnival I was able to get a caramel apple! I have not been able to get one for the last few years because of my braces, but I finally was able to have one this year. It wasn't quite as good as I had hoped, but it was still good.

~I got my hair cut. It's just a little past my shoulders now.

~My good, friend Faith just published her novella, Dandelion Dust. It actually just came out yesterday!!


Books I read in June:
A Place Called Lonesome by Jesseca Wheaton
Sierra Jensen volume 3 by Robin Jones Gunn
Salty Kisses by Robin Jones Gunn
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Sierra Jensen volume 4 by Robin Jones Gunn
Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii by Robin Jones Gunn
Departures by Robin Jones Gunn
A Horse to Love by Marsha Hubler
On the Victory Trail by Marsha Hubler


How was your month?


Friday, June 30, 2017

Dandelion Dust Blog Tour // Book Reveiw

Today is the release day for my good friend Faith's novella, Dandelion Dust!!



Today I will be reviewing this book!!

About the Book:
Like a speck of dandelion dust riding the tides of a prairie wind, life is fleeting. Though I never realized just how fragile it was until that day . . .

Charity always had a dream. It was simple, really. Find a guy, fall in love, and get married.
The day she met Ryder, Charity knew he was the man God had chosen for her. But she never expected their relationship to be tested and tried through the fires of a freak accident. Suddenly, her world is thrown into chaos, and the bleak, white walls and sterile smells of a city hospital fill every spare minute. And then there comes the dreaded news. It was likely Ryder would never make it out of the hospital bed.
As her carefully laid plans for the future come crashing down around her and the sun seems to set on her dreams, can Charity still find hope in the dark of night?


Like a dandelion, life is beautiful. But treasure every moment. . . for one day, the flower will be gone.


~My Review~
Dandelion Dust is a wonderful book!! It is such a sweet heart-tugging story. It was very realistic and the story wasn't predictable at all! I actually almost cried once or twice while reading this, which doesn't happen too often.
All of the characters were wonderful and well written.
I knew Faith was a great writer, but I wasn't too sure how much I'd enjoy the way this book is written. It is written in first person but in present tense. I had only read one other book before this one that was written in present tense and I didn't really like it. It just felt kinda strange. Well, that wasn't the case with Dandelion Dust. It was written very nicely and the writing style didn't feel strange at all.
This is just such a great book and it has a very sweet love story. The theme about trusting in God always was very well done as well.
This is definitely a book I'd recommend!!


About the Author:


Faith Potts is a teenage writer, living with her family and beloved yellow labs in the southeastern US. When she's not writing stories, consuming large amounts of coffee, reading books, or creating pottery, she can be found laughing harder than is healthy, daydreaming, and – of course – blowing dandelions.

Writing blog: Stories by Firefly 
Faith's blog: Chosen Vessels 
Social media: Goodreads //Pinterest // Instagram


You can see a schedule for the blog tour in my previous post.



Also, don't forget to enter the giveaway to win a copy of Dandelion Dust! You can enter by going to my previous post here

Also go here to purchase a copy of Dandelion Dust! :)


Thursday, June 29, 2017

Dandelion Dust Blog Tour // Book Spotlight

Today I am participating in my friend, Faith's blog tour for her novella! This is such a wonderful book! It comes out tomorrow!!






About the Book:
Like a speck of dandelion dust riding the tides of a prairie wind, life is fleeting. Though I never realized just how fragile it was until that day . . .

Charity always had a dream. It was simple, really. Find a guy, fall in love, and get married.
The day she met Ryder, Charity knew he was the man God had chosen for her. But she never expected their relationship to be tested and tried through the fires of a freak accident. Suddenly, her world is thrown into chaos, and the bleak, white walls and sterile smells of a city hospital fill every spare minute. And then there comes the dreaded news. It was likely Ryder would never make it out of the hospital bed.
As her carefully laid plans for the future come crashing down around her and the sun seems to set on her dreams, can Charity still find hope in the dark of night?

Like a dandelion, life is beautiful. But treasure every moment. . . for one day, the flower will be gone.

Add on Goodreads


About the Author:

Faith Potts is a teenage writer, living with her family and beloved yellow labs in the southeastern US. When she's not writing stories, consuming large amounts of coffee, reading books, or creating pottery, she can be found laughing harder than is healthy, daydreaming, and – of course – blowing dandelions.

Writing blog: Stories by Firefly 
Faith's blog: Chosen Vessels 
Social media: Goodreads  // Pinterest // Instagram


Blog Tour Schedule:
Wednesday, June 28th 
Olivia @ Living for the Other Side // Book Spotlight   
Soleil @ Reviews by Soleil // Book Spotlight & Review 
Liv @ Liv K. Fisher // Book Spotlight & Author Interview 
Mikayla @ Ordinary Girl Extraordinary Father // Book Review 
Kaitlyn @ Twin Thoughts // Character Interview 


Thursday, June 29th 
Rebekah @ Rebekah Ashleigh // Book Spotlight 
Angela @ The Peculiar Messenger // Author Interview 
Raechel @ Gods Peculiar Treasure Rae // Book Spotlight & Author Interview 
Lydia @ Lydia Therese // Book Review 
Rebekah @ Rebekah's Remarks  // Book Spotlight & Author Interview 
Faith @ The Writer's Song // Book Review & Author Interview 


Friday, June 30th (Release Day!) 
Rebekah @ Rebekah Ashleigh// Book Review 
Anika Joy @ This Journey Called Life  // Book Spotlight & Review 
Laura @ Books and Chapters // Book Review 
Olivia @ Living for the Other Side // Book Review 
Jesseca @ Whimsical Writings for His Glory // Book Spotlight, Review, & Author Interview 
Bethany @ A Great God and Good Cocoa // Book Spotlight & Review 
Micaiah @ Adventures Beyond the Horizon // Author Interview 



You can also enter to win this lovely book!