It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - June 27

 Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday. 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.   

Welcome back to Monday. The end of June is here and summer is officially in fully swing. I spent Sunday in the garden getting rid of the weeds in the hope my plants will thrive while we are away. 

This past weekend, our daughters' dance studio held its annual recital. This is the Lil' Diva and Lil' Princess' last performance together since our youngest won't be here in the fall when dance resumes. I am incredibly proud of them, and I sure will miss these performances. The Lil' Diva works at the dance studio, so I might at least catch some of her dances in the future. 

In my reading world, I've posted a few First Chapter Reviews to highlight some of the books that are in my pile.

The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin - click here

Stolen by Vivian Gilbert Zabel - click here

Love Blooms in Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard - click here

The Backyard Secrets of Danny Wexler by Karen Pokras - click here

My review of this one appeared at my children's book blog.

I also finished this one. You can read my review here.

My review of this book will appear at this blog today.

I hope to read more of this book before we leave, but my schedule might prevent it.

These books are for virtual book tours in August and September.

These books are going in my book bag or are on my device for vacation:

    

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

I received a book last week that I was thrilled to see in my mailbox. You can pre-order this book here.

The crisp fragrance of pine trees and the warm spice of fresh cookies aren’t the only blessings that Christmas brings, and no one knows more about happy homecomings than three couples who are celebrating the greatest gift of all . . . 

BUGGIES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES by Shelley Shepard Gray 

Called home by family, John Miller and Ellie Coblentz are each looking for a way north from Pinecroft, Florida. With few options, they decide sharing the burden of travel must be the Lord’s plan for them. But can this bumpy, bad-weather journey home help them find their way into each other’s hearts, too? 

STAR OF WONDER by Charlotte Hubbard

When Raymond Overholt comes to Promise Lodge, hoping to sell the barnboard signs he’s painted with stars and Christmas messages, spirited young Mennonite Lizzie Zehr is intrigued. But any courtship between them will face fierce opposition from the bishop of Raymond’s Old Order community—unless someone can convince him that at the heart of faith lies love . . . 

STARLIGHT EVERLASTING by Rosalind Lauer

Newlyweds Rachel and Luke Coblentz can’t wait to celebrate their first Christmas together after years of courtship. But when Luke’s factory job threatens to keep them apart—from each other and their dream of a family—it will take faith to believe in the gift of a truly joyful ending . . .

That's it from our neck of the woods. Hope you are reading some fabulous books. I look forward to checking out your blogs today.