Musing Monday - February 5

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION: Why did you become a reader?

Happy February! I hope you're looking forward to it. This was a rough weekend for me--nothing seemed to go right. I'm praying today is better.

I was sad to miss The Friday 56 last week. Had to do with the "nothing going right" weekend. Did you get a chance to read my review of To the Moon and Back by Kathi Macias? Fabulous book! It reminded me of how much I miss her books. I used to read each new one that came out, but that ended with the release of The Moses Quilt. 

That's what is such a bummer about me going back to work full time--I miss books by some of my favorite authors: Kathi Macias, Marilyn Meredith, Karen White, Lisa Gardner...

After reviewing The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse, I asked the publisher to keep me in mind for the next two books. The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y'Barbo arrived last week. Love the cover.

One hundred years after her mother's family came to the New World on the Mayflower, Maribel Cordova has landed in New Orleans to seek the man who holds the key to finding her father’s lost treasure. Attorney Jean-Luc Valmot has buried his past life so deep that no living person will ever find it—or so he hopes as he accepts a position on the governor’s staff. But the daughter of an infamous pirate threatens all he holds dear. Can Maribel and Jean-Luc compromise so they both can hold onto what they most desire?

I hope to start reading it on school vacation week. Not sure what else I'll read, but I would like to polish off three books. How about you? School vacation coming up? Planning on doing some reading?

As for this week's question, it seemed natural for me to become a reader. Both my parents enjoyed reading and we didn't exactly have a ton of things to do growing up. Most of my days were spent outside after school, but I had a lot of free time to spend reading. Both my sisters grew up to be readers as well. How about you? How did you become a reader?

Think that is all from me this week. Hope you have a great one.

Musing Monday - January 29

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION: Not posted today

It's the last Monday of January and I'm not even sure where the month went. This past weekend was in the high 40s and our extended forecast looks to be wetter but more rain than snow. I'll take that.

Since my last Musing Monday post I reviewed The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse (excellent book) and am almost done with To the Moon and Back by Kathi Macias. In addition, I competed STORYSTORM a few days early and began Project De-Clutter at home.

Next up I'll be reading Abuse of Discretion by Pamela Samuels Young.

Graylin Alexander is a model fourteen-year-old. When his adolescent curiosity gets the best of him, Graylin finds himself embroiled in a sexting scandal that threatens to ruin his life. Jenny Ungerman, the attorney hired to defend Graylin, is smart, confident and committed. She isn’t thrilled, however, when ex-prosecutor Angela Evans joins Graylin’s defense team. The two women instantly butt heads. Can they put aside their differences long enough to ensure Graylin gets justice?

Unbeknownst to Angela, her boyfriend Dre is wrestling with his own drama. Someone from his past wants him dead. For Dre, his response is simple—kill or be killed.


What is happening in your world this week?

Book Review: The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

The Mayflower Bride  is a moving story of love, faith, and new beginnings.

Mary Chapman boards the Speedwell in 1620 along with her father and brother, David. They have plans to start over in the New World. It will be a good change for them after the loss of her mother. Looking for opportunity, William Lytton embarks on the Mayflower as a carpenter. He is also to keep a keen eye on the Virginia Company's interests in the new colony. Storms, hunger, and illness plague the weary travelers. Mary isn't certain they'll even make it to their destination. But she rises to the challenges before her, leaning staunchly on her strong faith. And once she meets William, her world is destined to change in ways she never expected.

What a fabulous story. Historical details, intriguing characters, faith and a touch of romance swirl together to create an emotional read. Author Kimberley Woodhouse's engrossing tale of these two people's journey to the New World and the obstacles they faced along the way will touch your heart. The reader is delighted to witness the evolution of Mary and William throughout the story, and the ending will not disappoint.

I'm eager to read the next book in The Daughters of the Mayflower series, The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo. I'll also be on the lookout for more of Woodhouse's work. The Mayflower Bride sets the bar high for this series. I'm eager to see what comes next.

Series: Daughters of the Mayflower (Book 1)
Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Barbour Books (February 1, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1683224191
ISBN-13: 978-1683224198

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Musing Monday - January 22

Musing Monday is hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker.  It is a weekly meme that asks you to choose one of the following prompts to answer:

I’m currently reading…
Up next I think I’ll read…
I bought the following book(s) in the past week…
I’m super excited to tell you about (book/author/bookish-news)…
I’m really upset by (book/author/bookish-news)…
I can’t wait to get a copy of…
I wish I could read ___, but…
I blogged about ____ this past week…

THIS WEEK'S RANDOM QUESTION: Do you prefer true Biographies or fiction that tells the life of someone?

How is it Monday again? I must really be getting old if time passes this quickly.

Not a ton happened last week other than the mundane stuff of life. The kids ended up with three days off because we had two and then a snow day. That's not conducive to my getting work done, but it's fun to have them here.

Right now I am reading a couple of books:

More info on Goodreads

I'm working on my goal to read at least one writing craft or writing business book a quarter.This one is due back to the library soon, but I'll be done with it this week. I'm enjoying the writing exercises. More information on it can be found on Goodreads. 

What a fabulous question Ambrosia has posed this week. I love historical fiction and I love biographies. They both serve their purpose. Often times I am inspired by historical fiction to research the real lives of historical figures; usually that happens with movies more than books because movies can only scratch the surface of fascinating people. I do feel, however, if you are going to call something a biography, what it contains must be factual and able to be proven through research. Biographies can be engaging and true with the right author. If a story is based on true events, like the Little House books and television shows or Melanie Benjamin's novels, then I don't have the expectation that everything happened the way it is portrayed. It's up to the writer to make that clear up front so that credibility doesn't suffer. 

That's it from me for now. Hope you have a great week.

The Friday 56 - Jan 5

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda's Voice.

Rules:

• Grab a book, any book.
• Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
• (If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
• Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it)
• Post it.

"Of course, I would love to be of assistance."

"You would be compensated as well." The man's weathered face concealed his age. But he was an imposing presence.

You can visit this week's Friday 56 at Freda's blog to find more books to check out.

First Book of the Year 2018: The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse

Sheila from Book Journey is sponsoring First Book of the Year for the fifth year in a row.

Today at her blog she has posted pictures of those of us who submitted our first book choices (can you find me?).

Here's a hint: I'll be reading The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse.

Mary Chapman boards the Speedwell in 1620 as a Separatist seeking a better life in the New World. William Lytton embarks on the Mayflower as a carpenter looking for opportunities to succeed—and he may have found one when a man from the Virginia Company offers William a hefty sum to keep a stealth eye on company interests in the new colony. The season is far too late for good sailing and storms rage, but reaching land is no better as food is scarce and the people are weak. Will Mary survive to face the spring planting and unknown natives? Will William be branded a traitor and expelled?

What will your first book of 2018 be? Why did you choose it? Any 2018 releases you're looking forward to?

Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year!

Coming in 2018! Barbour Launches Unique Historical Fiction Series

Read my Family Fiction This Week news today and discovered Barbour Publishing is launching an 18-book historical fiction series that follows one family tree through American history. Now, for those of you who don't know it: I love historical fiction and I am partial to American history. I live here after all. I can't remember the last time I have been this excited about a new series.

The series is slated to release over three years starting in February 2018 with The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse. According to the site, "This book, which takes place in 1620, features voyages on two ships, the Speedwell and the Mayflower, and will set the stage for subsequent books with its focus on adventure, romance, and a thread of espionage that is woven throughout each of the 18 stories.
"Releasing every other month by a team of well-known authors, the Daughters of the Mayflower will satisfy voracious readers of Christian fiction continuously for three years. The books are written in such a way that they can be read in succession or stand alone, making them perfect for readers interested in specific time periods in American history."

You can learn more about this series and the first six books being released at https://www.familyfiction.com/barbour-launches-unique-historical-fiction-series/