Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Year End Review!

Hello everyone! I can't believe we have come to the end of 2013. How crazy? This year has just flown by! I hope you all have enjoyed this year as much as I have. Reading wise, I've accomplished a lot! I didn't meet my Goodreads goal, but that's ok. I still managed to complete 65 books this year! That's a lot!

Here is a look back at my year: 
 
February: 4 books - A Texan's Choice - Paper Roses - Scattered Petals - Submerged 
March: 2 Books - Shattered - Jenna's Cowboy 
May: 1 Book - Tomorrow's Garden
August: 12 Books - August 9th - August 16th - August 23rd - August 30th
December: 3 Books - Last Light - A Kiss in Time - Daughter of Silk (reviews not posted on blog for these)

It's been a joy to me to see my blog grow and change! In August, I started a nifty blog post hosted by Christian Bookshelf Review called the Week End Wrap-Up. Looking back on my reviews from earlier in the year, I can see definite improvements and I can't wait to see what 2014 holds for me! 

How has your year been? I would love to hear from you! Feel free to comment!

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Monday, December 23, 2013

Last Light by Terri Blackstock

Hello everyone! Is everyone prepared for Christmas? I still have a few things to pick up tonight, but then I am done. It's been a long few weeks with school and everything else going on, that I've been struggling to find time to read. Fear not! I finally have a book review for you :) (you all missed me, I know!).

Overview:  New York Times best-selling suspense author Terri Blackstock weaves a masterful what-if novel in which global catastrophe reveals the darkness in human hearts—and lights the way to restoration for a self-centered world.

The city of Birmingham, Alabama, is experiencing a massive blackout. Planes suddenly lose power and crash to the earth. Cars stall in the middle of the street and won't restart. Cell phones and the internet are dead. All communications are cut off. Is it a terrorist attack . . . or something far worse?

In the face of a crisis that sweeps an entire high-tech planet back to a time before electricity, the Branning family faces a choice. Hoard their possessions to survive—or trust God to provide as they share their resources and hearts with those around them? Yesterday's world is gone and now all they’ve got is family and community. Like never before, they must rely on each other.

Especially since someone close by is a killer.

My Review: I really struggled to get into this book. The first chapter was action packed and exciting! Then, I just kind of lost interest. Maybe it was the subject matter? Maybe I'm just not interested in reading about massive power outages and how we would survive in the face of a crisis like that, because the book was very well written. This is the second book I've read by Terri Blackstock and I feel like it was written better than the first one I read.

The characters, the Branning family, were shallow and whiny. I found I didn't have a lot of compassion for them, but maybe that's because I couldn't imagine relating to their situation. Deni especially annoyed me with her selfishness and arrogance. I hope if I ever find myself in that situation, I would react differently from her.

The message was the best part about this book. Learning to put your trust in the One who makes all things new is the only way to survive. If you ask Him, and listen for his response, He will direct your paths. Overall, I just didn't care for the subject of the book. I will probably not finish the series, but if you enjoy the "what-if" scenarios in a good Christian book, you will enjoy this story.

**Thank you, BookSneeze, for providing me a free copy of this book for my honest review.**

More fun! with links: 
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Friday, December 20, 2013

Where have I been???

Hello faithful blog followers! I bet y'all have been wondering where I've been. It's been over two weeks since my last post, and I know you have missed me. I have missed reading and posting! Let me give you a little re-cap of my last two weeks....

After my last post, on December 3, I was wrapping up final projects for school and studying furiously for my final exams. They were my last two classes and I wanted to make sure I went out with a bang!
 

Last week, I took my final exams. It's official! I'm a COLLEGE GRADUATE (although I don't actually walk across the stage until next August)!!!! I feel like I've really accomplished something. It's been 8 years in the making, and I finally finished. I will receive my diploma for my Bachelor's degree in Business Administration some time in February. It's been a long journey, but I am so thankful I didn't quit.
 

Right now, I am trying to catch up on all the things I had to put on hold while I was finishing up my classes. I promise, I have not abandoned you and I will be posting more AWESOME (I hope) book reviews for you soon! 


I appreciate your patience as I've worked to get my life in order. I hope you haven't given up hope on me. Have a great weekend!
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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

And the Winner is.....

gratitude 2013 

And the winner is......

Maria Elena*

 

*winner has been notified. If no response is received by 12/10, a new winner will be chosen. 
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