Outlander

Read in Feb
627 pages
Claire steps through a stone formation and ends up in 1700's Scotland. There she meets and becomes involved with Jamie Fraser. Claire and Jamie move throughout Scotland as Claire comes to terms with her unique situation.

I had heard about this book through several members of www.goodreads.com so I finally decided to pick it up. I was told that this book was pretty steamy in parts but I don't think that I would really qualify this book as a romance novel, though it did get very hot in parts. I really enjoyed the story of Claire and of Jamie. I do think that Jamie is too good to be true, but that's why we read stories! It did take a while to read as it is a long book, and the books keep getting longer and longer throughout the series. This is a series, and I do love a good series, of 6 books, currently. I believe that there is a 7th book on the way, someone, please correct me if I am wrong. After several attempts at finding the second book in the series, Dragonfly in Ember, I was able to pick it up cheap at a great used bookstore on Crescent and N. Anthony.

Here are some links to check out.

www.goodreads.com

http://www.amazon.com/Outlander-Diana-Gabaldon/dp/0440212561/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235325208&sr=8-1

http://www.dianagabaldon.com/

Craziness

As if I'm not busy enough with Mollie, work, 3 different Bible studies, and finding time to sleep and eat, I picked up a book at church, Parenting from the Pew: Guiding your children into the Joy of Worship by Robbie Castleman. I'm going to try to finish Outlander as I am reading this book since I am so close to being done with it. I'm pretty excited to read Parenting from the Pew as it has been recommended several times to me, and almost always comes up when I complain when Mollie acts up in church. I know most of the time I really shouldn't worry about it because if it isn't my child making noise in church it's someone else's, so I am not alone. However, I'm almost always on my own with Mollie at church since we are the only ones from our house that goes, so there is no one to help me with Mollie and that makes me feel even more self conscience about Mollie's toddler noises. I'll read it and give you my review of it. Also stay tuned for my review of Outlander, which I am thoroughly enjoying. I have about 200 more pages to go in this book so it won't take me much longer. I don't get to read hardly at all, if any, on Mondays because of work and then Bible Study Fellowship right after. Mondays are LONG days in the Grover house since neither Scott or I are usually home till around 9 or 10.

Nineteen Minutes

Read in January
480 pages
A story about a high school shooting in Sterling, New Hampshire. This time the shooter is caught alive and we see what goes through the mind of the teenage shooter and all those around him.

This is the typical Picoult formula. I do enjoy her books though for the twist at the end, which are usually pretty good and worth getting through all the courtroom melodrama. She really gets to the heart of the matter right away which really makes it easy to get into and hard to down. It also is heart wrenching to read through the actual shooting. Picoult really does a great job for making you feel for each and every character, good or bad. I recommend this book to hardcore Jodi Picoult fans.

Links I like for this book.

http://www.jodipicoult.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Nineteen-Minutes-Jodi-Picoult/dp/0743496736/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233881955&sr=8-1

The Christmas Sweater

Read in January
284 pages
The story about a boy, Eddie, who only wants a bike from his mom for Christmas and ends up with the sweater that changes his views on life. After a heartbreaking Christmas Eddie ends up living with his grandparents for a year that changed their lives.

The first book of my reading challenge this year! This was a Christmas present from my husband, Scott. I really like listening to Glenn Beck on WOWO 1190 radio and was excited to read his book. I'm really not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it. I did enjoy the book though. I knew Glenn Beck believes in God, however, I wasn't sure as to what extent. Reading this book was like a direct view into his very heart and soul. It was a sweet story, very comforting, full of the spirit, and easily read in a day. This book is not just for Christmas but should be read throughout the year.

Check out the following links I like for this book.

www.glennbeck.com

http://www.wowo.com/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/141659485X/ref=s9_sdps_c2_s1_p14_t1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1SCN71QD9Y2ZNJTGEE3K&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463383371&pf_rd_i=507846