Forgiveness, redemption, love and grace, what more does one need from a novel? Set in a small town in Tennessee, this story weaves a tale of past issues impacting future plans. Jade, the main character is an antique store owner who is engaged to the town’s most eligible bachelor. From fights with her future mother-in-law to facing a neglectful mother, Jade has her work cut out for her if she plans on marrying the man of her dreams.
This story is beautifully told and completely captivating. The characters will become true, existing people to you. I read this entire book in a couple of hours, as I could not put it down. For her first novel, Sara Evans, with the help of Rachel Hauk, does an amazing job of storytelling. She hooks you in with the first chapter and refuses to let you go. I have never read a book that impacted me to forgive past hurts in order to have a possible future. I think many readers will find several similarities between themselves and Jade, linking them even closer to the storyline.
This book will be available for purchase January 5, 2010. GO BUY IT!!!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
2010 Reading Challenge!
Call me crazy... BUT I am super excited about this challenge!
New 2010 Reading Challenge: 100+ Reading Challenge
1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.
2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.
What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.
3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.
6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.
New 2010 Reading Challenge: 100+ Reading Challenge
1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.
2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.
What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.
3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.
6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your books will be listed. Include the URL to this post so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Everything changes....
As I sat, last week, signing Christmas cards, it hit me just how much life has changed over the last several years. My world is COMPLETELY different today than the day I graduated college; my priorities have changed and my plans for the future have an altered look. But one thing continually sticks out to me as odd… PEOPLE. I find myself thinking back to the people I used to spend my time with. Many of those friends have moved on and up in their lives; i.e. Gotten married, had kids, started new careers, joined the military, gotten divorced…you name it. Don’t misunderstand me, I LOVE my friends. I am blessed, beyond all I could ever dream, with encouraging, supportive, corrective, loving, thoughtful, true friends; People who aren’t afraid to tell me truth, people who will let me just sit and cry, people who will let me talk forever, people who keep me grounded… BUT I can’t help but miss the people whom I’ve lost touch with. I know what you may be thinking, “if you miss them so much, call them…” easier said than done. I truly believe as people grow up, they can grow apart. Let’s face it, what’s important to us in a friend at 18 may or may not be important to us at 25. When I was 18, I was drinking, goofing off and hanging out with people who did the same. I’m 25 now (at least for 2 more weeks) and everything is different. Time is precious to me now. People are important to me now. God is the center of my universe now and the folks I spend my time with have the same mentality. And I may find that when I’m 30, everything will be different again.
This truth remains…. Every person who has shaped me has taken a part of me. I can remember meeting this guy several years back who was completely different from anyone I had ever met. We instantly became friends…the kind of friends who would sit in a completely silent living room and talk for hours about books and history and theories. He moved away, but then moved back…yet we NEVER talk anymore. I think about the friends I made in college. The girls I went out with every single week for 4 years. And now, we are almost strangers again. Is this because we didn’t care about each other as much as we thought or have our lives gotten so hectic that a quick email or phone call would throw our entire schedule off? I believe in the saying that “some people come into your life for seasons and some people come into your life for reasons.” I guess I just didn’t get so attached to them in the process.
If you are someone who was once a friend to me, please know that I probably think of you often. I hope life is treating you kindly and I am a better person because we were once friends.
If you are someone whom I spend time with now, please know that I adore you and am thankful everyday that god has placed you in my life. I am a better person because we are friends.
This truth remains…. Every person who has shaped me has taken a part of me. I can remember meeting this guy several years back who was completely different from anyone I had ever met. We instantly became friends…the kind of friends who would sit in a completely silent living room and talk for hours about books and history and theories. He moved away, but then moved back…yet we NEVER talk anymore. I think about the friends I made in college. The girls I went out with every single week for 4 years. And now, we are almost strangers again. Is this because we didn’t care about each other as much as we thought or have our lives gotten so hectic that a quick email or phone call would throw our entire schedule off? I believe in the saying that “some people come into your life for seasons and some people come into your life for reasons.” I guess I just didn’t get so attached to them in the process.
If you are someone who was once a friend to me, please know that I probably think of you often. I hope life is treating you kindly and I am a better person because we were once friends.
If you are someone whom I spend time with now, please know that I adore you and am thankful everyday that god has placed you in my life. I am a better person because we are friends.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)