Thursday, May 11, 2017

Summer Reading List + Doings

Hi all! I'm sorry my posting schedule has been rather sporadic ... I don't even really have an excuse for it. Just, life is full of commotion and busyness and plans and ... and ... I find myself kind of distracted from blogging, both physically and emotionally.

Anyway, I decided today I could sit down and write before doing a History lesson with my younger siblings, checking the laundry, continuing on with Silver Rose's read-through/editing, and maybe getting in a chapter or two of my Bethany House review book, Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette.
(isn't this cover gorgeous??)

  • READING


So, without further ado, my summer reading list!

Summer Reading List 2017



So there it is! This is just a tentative list, and I have no idea if I'll get to them all this summer, but I definitely will get to some.

* Wings of the Wind *, as I mentioned above, is a review book I signed up for through Bethany House Blogger Review Program. Need to get that read and reviewed this month.

* First Date * is a used book I found for $0.81 on Amazon and bought with an Amazon gift card I won! I should be receiving it in the mail today and might start it, because it sounds like an easy, entertaining read.

* Girl Defined * will be a re-read this summer. It's a Christian Living, with questions to go along with each chapter, so I'm planning to do it as a Bible study with two of my younger sisters. Yay for studies about Biblical womanhood! We might start today.

* Edenbrooke * will also be a re-read for me. I read this humorous, sweet, Regency romance in 2013 and have been wanting to read it again! So when my sister, friend, and I decided to start a Summer Book Club, I eagerly recommended this book. I think it will be perfect and can't wait to start reading!

* Life After: Huntress * is a book I won in a giveaway, along with a $10 Amazon gift card and $5 Starbucks gift card! Yay! I don't know much about this book, but it sounds like some sort of fantasy, and I've been itching to pick it up!

* Illusionary * is another giveaway win! It's fantasy/realm-travel, and rather a short-ish book. So I'm hoping I can get to it some fair summer day. ^_^

* Bread of Angels * is a review book I signed up for with Tyndale Blog Network. So excited to get it in the mail and review it (for the month of June, I believe?)

* Grounded Hearts * is a review book from Litfuse Publicity. I'm to review this one on my blog in July. I believe it's a debut novel, and set during the WWII era. I'm really excited to give it a try!

* The Captive Heart * I found for really cheap on Amazon ($3.42) and used my gift card. I love the Revolutionary War era, so couldn't pass this one up. I'm so excited about it, and think I will find time for it this summer!

* Close to You * I also found on Amazon for cheap ($4.58)! I've been wanting to read by Kara Isaac, because her books sound so fun, unique, and perhaps even relatable! Contemporary YA romance with main characters who love "The Hobbit" and "The Chronicles of Narnia". YES. ^_^ 

* Waking Rose * I found for $1.84 on Amazon. (Go, Amazon!) In case I run out of books to read this summer, or just need something familiar and suspenseful and fairy tale and absolutely delightful, I have this beauty on hand to re-read!

***

Have you read any of the books on my summer reading list? If so, tell me what you thought of them!

  • WRITING/EDITING


Well, I've started my first read-through of my fantasy novel, Silver Rose. Keeping track of my progress on Goodreads. I've heard back from four of my second round of beta readers, went through their edits and suggestions, and then uploaded the shiny new version of Silver Rose to my Kindle Fire.

So now I'm reading it and editing as I go. It's pretty exciting! And I must say, I'm even enjoying the story! ^_^ Reading your story on a Kindle instead of a Microsoft Word page on your laptop makes all the difference!

I can't say when publication will be, but hopefully soon! I'm still waiting to hear back from three beta readers and I'm very interested to hear what their opinion of the story is.

  • BOOKTUBE


I just uploaded a new video! My April Wrap Up and April/beginning of May BOOK HAUL! *all the heart eyes*

I won't be doing new videos regularly, because it's too hard to find quiet time to film every week. But I still hope to do wrap ups, book hauls, and occasional book tags and fun stuff.


  • WATCHING


I've been watching some episodes of Leverage here and there. They are quite humorous. The characters are like, perfection. They make me laugh a lot, which is good. ^_^ (Note: There is some language and questionable comments now and then.)

Also, hoping to start the TV series, Anne with an E, soon! It comes on Netflix tomorrow, the 12th! (I have a month of Netflix). I loved the old Anne of Green Gables movies, so looking forward to a fresh take! <3

And, my mom and younger siblings have been watching episodes of one of Pastor Matt Chandler's series, called "To Live is Christ, to Die is Gain". It's about pursuing God with passion. Knowing Him. Loving Him. Realizing He is everything. I've watched/listened to some of them, and they are so good. I highly recommend! Matt Chandler is an awesome speaker, a relatable guy, humorous, and just has zeal for the Lord and His truth! I love it! <3

(This is the promo for the series. I recommend looking up the episodes! I think there are twelve.)


  • OTHER LIFE


Um, I'm excited for summer! A busy time is coming up for my family ... we're going to be moving into a new house! But first we have to do some renovating, so lots of work ahead! Hopefully then I'll be able to get a bookshelf and have all my books shipped here! ^_^ But it's okay. I'm learning to live without all my books. They aren't, by any means(!), the important things in my life - though they are special to me. *smiles*

Ready to live one day at a time, relying on God's strength and truth and love. <3 He is faithful.

How are you, my friend?

6 comments:

  1. I have been wanting to read Wings of the Wind by Connilyn Cossette & First Date by Krista McGee!

    And the new cover for Life After: Huntress by Julie Hall looks AMAZING!!!! Let me know how that books is (I might be interested in that one... but it could just be the pretty new cover;).

    Looking forward to Silver Rose!!! =D SOooo excited for you!

    Matt Chandler is TOTALLY AMAZING!!!!

    Totally ready for summer too! Hope the rest of your plans go well (and smoothly!)!

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    1. I hope you get a chance to read them, Polaris! :)

      Huntress DOES have a pretty new cover! :D But yes, I will let you all know what I think! Hopefully I'll get to it pretty soon here.

      Yay!! SO glad to hear that!! =D I'm really excited about the possibility of Silver Rose soon being published! Eep!

      I agree! I never tire of listening to his sermons!

      Thank you! I hope you have a lovely summer! ^_^

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  2. Fun seeing an update and reading list! :D Ooh, I want to read Waking Rose someday...! Need to find a copy of it someday. :D Wings of the Wind has a gorgeous cover! :O

    I hope Silver Rose goes well! <3

    OH MY GOODNESS, I LOVE LEVERAGE SO MUCH!!! :D Aside from, yes, the occasional "ick" that all TV shows unfortunately seem to have... But yes, one of my very favorites! :D I LOVE THE CHARACTERS YESSS! :D Eliot's my favorite, and he and Hardison are so great together, and Hardison and Parker, and of course Nate and Sophie... and I just love all the dynamics and cleverness and humor! :D Like modern-day Robin-Hoods. ^_^

    Oh wow, moving! Praying that goes well for y'all and that you have an amazing (and bookish!) summer! <3

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    1. Glad you enjoyed, Deborah! ^_^ YES. You absolutely must give A FAIRY TALE RETOLD series a try! Wait, have you read The Shadow of the Bear? Seems like I remember you reading it ... I've read the whole series now, (except for the last one, because of content I wasn't comfortable reading), and The Shadow of the Bear and Waking Rose are my favorites! Love this series SO MUCH! <33333333 *ahem* Anyway, I hope you can read it soon! You can come visit me and borrow my copy! ;D

      Doesn't it? Wings of the Wind is part of a series I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy (I don't always like stories set in the Bible days), but the OUT FROM EGYPT series was so well done. The characters were lovable, and the details and plot fantastic! :)

      THANK YOU! <3 I'm 20% through, and it's going pretty well. Finding things to touch up, and keeping your advice in mind! I even cut down the word count already a little. :D

      Oh, the characters of Leverage, YES. And yes, Eliot!!!! And Hardison!!!! Hehehe. And Hardison and Parker! *is excited to see where this goes* <333 Also, where I am in the series, Eliot and Parker seem to have this brother/sister relationship, which just cracks me up! They just pest each other! :p I love how Nate is kind of the "dad" in the group. They're just such a hilarious little "family". Love them. I'm always laughing. And it is indeed very clever. :D
      Yeah, it is unfortunate about the language and icky comments. :/ But at least there hasn't been any inappropriate scenes, as far as I've watched.

      Yep! We're pretty excited! (We're in a rental house right now). Thank you!! <3 And hoping the same for you! ^_^

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    2. Yes, I read The Shadow of the Bear, and really enjoyed it. :D (Haha, I'd love to visit you someday! XD And not just for that reason. ;))

      I don't usually enjoy stories set in Biblical times either... glad you enjoyed this one though. :)

      Yay! Glad the editing is going well! <3

      Eliot and Parker's brother/sister relationship is adorable! :D Yes, I totally agree that they're like a family, with Nate and Sophie the "parents" and the other three the bickering kids. XD IT'S THE BESSST. <3

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    3. Wonderful! ^_^ (Perfect, you can come visit anytime. I'd love to see a friend, especially you!! Someday, hey? *big smile*)

      Yes, Connilyn Cossette's novels in this setting are unlike any other author's! (Tessa Afshar's are probably the only other books set in the Bible times that come close, that I've read.) She just writes with such authenticity! And her characters are actually relatable and likable! :)

      Thanks! <3

      THAT'S EXACTLY IT! And yes, it is indeed the best! XD Ah, Eliot's little smirk ... :D

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