Thursday, September 30, 2010

September Report

Here is what I read and reviewed in September. I read a total of 19 books this month. Click on the title to see what I thought about each book.


Young Adult


Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Nevermore by Kelly Creagh
Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer by John Grisham
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin
Karma Bites by Stacy Kramer


Adult Titles


Midnight Crystal by Jayne Castle
Blameless by Gail Carriger
Spy Glass by Maria V. Snyder
Whiplash by Catherine Coulter
One Enchanted Evening by Lynn Kurland
Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith
Cold Magic by Kate Elliott
The Valcourt Heiress by Catherine Coulter
Siren Song by Cat Adams


I read 7122 pages this month. For the year, I have read 72,531 pages and 220 books so far this year.


I added a total of 44 books to my LibraryThing account in September and 32 of them are still tagged TBR. In my defense, 2 arrived on Sept. 27 and 6 on Sept. 29. My total number of TBR books is 863.


This weekend I plan to update my progress on the various challenges I am doing this year. I am way behind on adding books to the various lists and updating the tickers on my sidebar.


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Review: Siren Song by Cat Adams

Siren Song
Author: Cat Adams
Publication: Tor Books; First Edition edition (September 28, 2010)


Description: Nothing if not resilient, Celia Graves is slowly adjusting to being a half-human, half-vampire Abomination. But her troubles are far from over. Her best friend’s murder is still unsolved, the cops are convinced she should be in jail, and her old lover, the magician Bruno DeLuca, has resurfaced in her life, saying he has something important to tell her.

The vampire attack that transformed Celia kicked her latent Siren abilities into high gear, and now she’s been summoned to the Sirens’ island to justify her existence—and possibly fight for her life—in front of the Siren Queen. Celia isn’t sure she’ll survive to make the trip. The demon she defeated in Blood Song hasn’t exactly gone quietly—he’s left Celia suffering from a powerful curse.



My Thoughts: This is an action-packed adventure. Celia is trying to keep from being caged for life as an Abomination. Someone is trying to kill her. She has to find out her relationship to the other sirens. She learns that she was cursed as a child which sort of explains many of the troubles that have been a big part of her life. She has also drawn the attention of a very powerful demon.


Celia also has to deal with her on-again, off-again lover Bruno who is off-again in a most painful way. Then her mother gets picked up again for DWI and her beloved grandmother is determined to enable her by making herself homeless if that is what it takes. There is so much pressure on Celia that I don't know how she can cope. She is beaten, battered and abused both physically and emotionally but she doesn't break. 


This book reads very much like the middle of a trilogy. Some things are resolved but quite a number of things are not. Celia has suffered from betrayal after betrayal. There has been nothing to help her get over her paranoid tendencies. In fact, they seem to have been reinforced. I will be looking forward to the next book to see what more is in store for Celia.


I recommend this book to lovers of paranormal thrillers with strong female characters. It was a tension-filled read that kept me on the edge of my seat and turning the pages way too late into the night.


Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge, Paranormal Reading Challenge




Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Review: The Valcourt Heiress by Catherine Coulter

The Valcourt Heiress
Author: Catherine Coulter
Publication: Putnam Adult (October 5, 2010)


Description: Set in medieval England, this lively historical romance delivers the trademark wit that fans have come to know and love from the #1 New York Times-bestselling author.

When Garron of Kersey returns home from the king's service to claim his title as Baron Wareham, he's shocked to find Wareham Castle very nearly destroyed by a man called the Black Demon. 

According to the last starving servants still clinging to life inside the castle walls, the Black Demon was looking for gold belonging to Garron's brother Arthur. Among his remaining servants is the enigmatic Merry, the bastard child of the castle's priest. Garron quickly realizes that she is much more than a servant: She reads and writes and makes lists, just as he does. Together they bring Wareham back to its former splendor. 

But this is only the beginning. Did Arthur have a cache of gold? Who is the Black Demon? And the biggest question of all: Who is Merry?

My Thoughts: This was a pleasant historical romance. Merry is the Valcourt Heiress and, therefore, a matrimonial prize. When her father dies, her mother returns from her convent with a potential groom - Jason of Brennan. Merry's mother is a well-known witch and the groom sets off Merry's creep alert. Merry sneaks away from home, is kidnapped by evil Sir Halric, and is rescued by Garron of Kersey. During the rescue attempt she hides from Garron but then follows him home to Wareham.

As the blurb says, Wareham is almost completely destroyed. The Black Demon has killed most of the people and destroyed most of the property in his search for the hidden silver. Merry convinces the remaining servants to say she had always lived there as the bastard daughter of the local priest and begins her work to restore the castle. She and Garron form a relationship. At first, it is based on their shared desires to restore Wareham but personal attraction soon enters the picture. 

Merry is a strong character. She can read and write and she wants some say in determining her future. Merry decides that she would prefer Garron as a husband and seduces him. Garron is King Edward's man and knows that he has to make things right with him in order to be allowed to marry an heiress. Edward is very interested in the hidden silver too because he wants his cut. The villains, including Merry's mother, Jason of Brennan, and Sir Halric, are all in pursuit of Merry and the treasure. 

Many exciting episodes fill this book. Merry's mother kidnaps her, drugs her and casts spells on her. Garron goes to her rescue but is foiled by Merry's mother's potions. There are a lot of medieval expressions in the story. I found it entertaining to watch for the next saint's body part used for emphasis in a conversation. My personal favorite was "praise St. Cuthbert's padded belly."

This is recommended as a light historical romance for lovers of the genre.

Favorite Quote:
An heiress knows her own worth and thus she is too proud. She complains endlessly, she whines, she casts out orders, and all dislike her heartily and hate to look at her because she very likely has rabbit teeth and foul breath. To be a husband to an heiress curdles my guts.
Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge 


Sunday, September 26, 2010

It's Monday, What Are You Reading? (Sept. 27, 2010)

It's Monday, What are you reading is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey 

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

This week I have been taking part in the Fall Catch-Up Readathon hosted by The True Book Addict. I decided to concentrate on whittling down the stack of YA books that has grown so overwhelming. I finished these books this week.
I still had a bit of Cold Magic by Kate Elliott to read. It is an adult book but would also be good by young adult fantasy lovers. I thought it was a very good read. I look forward to the sequels. My review is here.

The first "official" young adult book I chose to read was Young Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud by Andrew Lane. I liked how this book invented a realistic childhood for the Sherlock Holmes of Arthur Conan Doyle's stories. It was a very nice mystery. My review is here
Next, I chose Firelight by Sophie Jordan from the stack. I have been waiting for this one because the paranormal creatures were dragons. This was also a good story and the start of a series. Jacinda is torn between life with the dragon Pride and life in the human world. It doesn't help that she falls in love with a human boy who is from a family of dragon hunters. My review is here

I have read a number of John Grisham's adult books and wanted to see how he translated when he decided to write for young adults. Theodore Boone, Kid Lawyer was OK. It was less a mystery than a story about legal ethics. Theo was a unique character for someone 13. He is determined to be either a trial lawyer or judge when he grows up and is giving legal advice to his friends and to some adults. My review is here.
Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin is a well-written, emotionally gripping paranormal. Avery witnessed the death of her parents but has no memory of the event. She is desperate to learn what really happened. The paranormal aspects include a possibly sentient forest and werewolves. My review is here.

I just finished reading Karma Bites by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas. I found it easy to put down. In fact, all morning I was practicing avoidance by reading and commenting on the posts in my Google Reader (more than 200 of them) rather than reading. I had a problem with the believability of the main character. She is supposed to be 12 but sometimes comes across as a cynical 40 and other times as a petulant 6. I know 12 year olds are volatile but not that volatile. I was, however, determined to finish the book by 8 PM Sunday evening when the Read-a-Thon ends and did finish it. My review is here.

Next week I am back to alternating between an adult book and a young adult book. But the first two books will both be adult books that I have received for review.
I got Siren Song by Cat Adams from a publicist at Tor/Forge because I read and reviewed Blood Song. I loved that one and look forward to reading this one. 

I got an ARC of The Valcourt Heiress by Catherine Coulter from LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program. I like her contemporaries and have read some of her historicals. This one looks really good. 

After that, I don't know. I have lots of great books on the TBR stack and this week should also be a great one for new books too. Lots are being published on September 28 that I have been waiting for.

What did you read? What are your plans?

Saturday, September 25, 2010

In My Mailbox (Sept. 26, 2010)

The weekly In My Mailbox post is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is fun to see what everyone else gets in their mailboxes, shopping bags, and library visits. Click on the link to The Story Siren's site to see the rules and join in the fun.
I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the cool books everyone gets. You will discover lots of wonderful blogs and lots of books that you won't be able to live without.

I thought I was going to have a really light mailbox post this week until Friday afternoon came along with three new books in my mailbox.
I won She's Gone Country by Jane Porter from Kristin at Always With a Book. This one looks like a fun read and it got good reviews too.

After seeing the buzz about the 50th Anniversary edition of Peg Bracken's The I Hate to Cook Book, I decided to update my old paperback copy. Now I just have to dig in and decide to do some cooking. I much prefer eating out or doing take-out.

I also received these books for review:
Siren Song by Cat Adams was sent to me by Cassie from Tor/Forge. I did enjoy Blood Song and am eager to read more about bodyguard Celia Graves. This one is a finished copy not an ARC.

I received an ARC of The Valcourt Heiress by Catherine Coulter via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program. I have read a number of her historicals and am eager to give this one a try.

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Review: Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

Cold Magic
Author: Kate Elliott
Publication: Orbit (September 9, 2010)


Description: From one of the genre's finest writers comes a bold new epic fantasy in which science and magic are locked in a deadly struggle.

It is the dawn of a new age... The Industrial Revolution has begun, factories are springing up across the country, and new technologies are transforming in the cities. But the old ways do not die easy.

Cat and Bee are part of this revolution. Young women at college, learning of the science that will shape their future and ignorant of the magics that rule their families. But all of that will change when the Cold Mages come for Cat. New dangers lurk around every corner and hidden threats menace her every move. If blood can't be trusted, who can you trust?


My Thoughts: I very much enjoyed this action-packed adventure. The story starts with a forced marriage between "the eldest Hassi Barahal girl" and a Cold Mage named Andevai Diarriso Haranwy. Cat is the older of the two girls. She is an orphan who has been raised by her aunt and uncle. All she has of her father are a variety of journals that he wrote on his many trips to explore and gather knowledge. Cat is the only survivor of a ferry accident that killed her parents and many others. 


She is swept away from home and into a world of magic that she couldn't have imagined. Cat's life is even more disrupted when Andevai blows up an airship on their way out of town which means that they are fleeing from angry mobs and legal forces as they make their way to his master. Upon arrival they learn that the Hassi Barahals have deceived the Cold Mages. Cat is not a Hassi Barahal. All she has always believed about herself are proven false. Andevai's master demands that he kill her so that he can marry the correct daughter.


Cat flees with the assistance of a number of individuals. She wants to get to her cousin Bee to protect her. Along the way she learns more about her parentage and abilities. She also learns about the revolution that is brewing in her country. The ordinary people are rebelling against the Mages and the Princes. 


This was an excellent start to a series. The world-building is complex and the world built is fascinating. I liked the way the magic was woven into the world. I am eager to read the rest of this trilogy. Cold Fire will be on my wishlist as soon as it is available to order. 


I recommend this book to lovers of complex fantasy in a well-developed fantasy world. 


Favorite Quote:
He stopped sipping, his eyes raised to mine with the rim of the cup poised at his lips. He blinked several times, as at light breaking suddenly in a dim room, and lowered the cup. "I am at a loss as to what may have precipitated this outburst."


No one ever said I was wise. I had meant to keep silence, to be meek, to not extend my claws.


"Torn from my family with no explanation. My lineage and clothing insulted. Left hungry because perfectly good food and wine do not meet your ridiculous standards of taste. Almost killed by an act of sabotage that may have done untold damage to buildings and neighborhoods and for all I know to innocent people as well as precipitating, as far as I can tell, a riot whose mob might well have torn me limb from limb, and you besides, coincidentally. I had to be given a coat and gloves by your coachman! Shall I go on?"
Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge, Paranormal Reading Challenge

Friday, September 24, 2010

Friday Memes: Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

Happy Friday everybody!!

Book Beginnings
 
Book Beginnings on Friday is a meme hosted by Becky at Page Turners. Anyone can participate; just share the opening sentence of your current read, making sure that you include the title and author so others know what you're reading. If you like, share with everyone why you do, or do not, like the sentence.
 
The Friday 56

Rules:
  • Grab the book nearest you. Right now.
  • Turn to page 56.
  • Find the fifth sentence.
  • Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
  • Post a link along with your post back to Storytime with Tonya and Friends.
  • Don’t dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

The book that is nearest to me right now is Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. Here is the product description from Amazon: From one of the genre's finest writers comes a bold new epic fantasy in which science and magic are locked in a deadly struggle.

It is the dawn of a new age... The Industrial Revolution has begun, factories are springing up across the country, and new technologies are transforming in the cities. But the old ways do not die easy.

Cat and Bee are part of this revolution. Young women at college, learning of the science that will shape their future and ignorant of the magics that rule their families. But all of that will change when the Cold Mages come for Cat. New dangers lurk around every corner and hidden threats menace her every move. If blood can't be trusted, who can you trust?


Book Beginning:
The history of the world begins in ice, and it will end in ice.
This beginning just sucks you into a brand new world as you get to meet Catherine Hassi Barahal.


Page 56, fifth sentence: 
"Tilly!" Uncle bellowed from the floor above. "I can't find my hat!"

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Review: Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith

Coronets and Steel
Author: Sherwood Smith
Publication: DAW Hardcover; 1 edition (September 7, 2010)


Description: In this new fantasy series, a young woman takes her own destiny by the hand-and the hilt. 

California girl Kim Murray is unsatisfied with grad school and restless in life. Modern men disappoint her, and she studies ballet and fencing because they remind her of older, more romantic times. 

She lives with her parents and her beloved but secretive aristocratic grandmother, who speaks only French and refuses to share stories about the mysterious family she left behind in Europe, inspiring Kim to travel there and find her roots. 

Kim soon finds herself swept up in an adventure of fantastic deceptions and passionate intrigue-and a shocking realization about her own bloodline that leaves her reeling.



My Thoughts: I enjoyed this new Sherwood Smith story. I could empathize with Kim who was on a quest to find out about her family history. I liked her close relationship with her grandmother. She was certainly intrepid - heading off to Europe alone to try to track down her ancestry.


I also liked Alec. He was a rather mysterious character who was certain that Kim was actually his runaway fiancée Aurelia. He was well-educated, handsome, and very concerned with his duty to the country that he would rule. 


What I thought was a bit confusing was the complicated political situation in Dobrenica, a small, mythical country in the Carpathians. There are apparently five important families who have traded off leadership of the country over the centuries which has been complicated by German and Russian occupations of the country. Currently, Alec's family is in charge. His fiancée's brother Tony is also fomenting revolt because he feels his family should be in charge.


Kim learns that her grandmother is a runaway princess and she is thrust into the political situation. The fantasy elements include the fact that Kim sees ghosts including that of some of her ancestors. Another fantasy element is that there is a magic in the country that allows the country to disappear if certain conditions are meant. Alec wishes to invoke this magic but needs his errant fiancée to accomplish his goal. Complications ensue when he falls in love with Kim and has to choose between love and duty. This echoes the decision that Kim's grandmother made two generations earlier.


I enjoyed the book. The action and romance were compelling. I recommend this book to lovers of romantic fantasy. I am eager to see the rest of the series to find out what happens next. 


Favorite Quote:
Geez, why wasn't he shorter than Napoleon, round as a beachball, balding, a cheery avuncular guy? Except a short, beachball-shaped, balding, cheerfully avuncular guy in a mullet and cowboy belt who spoke with that voice--warm, melted chocolate when he was smiling, the whisper of silver when his mood had shifted beyond that invisible wall of good manners, hiding whatever he was feeling, the smooth edge of steel when he was angry--would be equally compelling.
Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Teaser Tuesday: Cold Magic by Kate Elliott

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
My teaser this week comes from the newest book by Kate Elliott - Cold Magic. This is the beginning of a new series which is a steampunk fantasy in an alternate world based on the geography of Earth but not the history. This is my first book by Kate Elliott and I am enjoying the rich language and history.
Bee and I learned that lesson young: It's easier to get away with things you're not supposed to be doing if no one suspects you can even attempt them. Tell no one. Not ever.
I also just came across a second quote that would be a good teaser:
Wouldn't it be easier to be dead than alone? Yet my heart beat too strongly to give up. What I felt was not precisely anger, nor was it blinding grief. It was something deeper, and more ancient, as determined as rock as rooted as the great trees whose spirits animate the forest.


I would not die for their convenience.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

It"s Monday, What Are You Raading? Sept. 20, 2010

It's Monday, What are you reading is a meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey 

It’s Monday!  What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week.  It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

I think I have found what my pattern will be for this school year. I finished four books and have a good start on another. Of course, two of my favorite TV series begin again this week - Dancing with the Stars and The Biggest Loser - so my pattern might be changing again.  

I read these YAs this week:
I read Into the Gauntlet by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This completes the 10 book 39 Clues series. It was a good finale to the series wrapping things up by leaving questions to be answered too. Click on the title to see my review.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh was a very good debut novel. I liked the tie-in to the works of Edgar Allan Poe and thought the book was well written. Click on the title to see my review.

I read these adult books this week:
One Enchanted Evening by Lynn Kurland was sent to me for early review from LibraryThing, This was a time travel romance that is part of a much larger series of books. It stood alone well but made me want to read some of the other books in the series. The characters were interesting and likable. Click on the title to see my review.

Coronets and Steel by Sherwood Smith is the start of a new fantasy series. I enjoyed the characters and the magic in the book and will be looking for the sequels. My review will be posted on Wednesday. I scheduled it so that Inside of a Dog is not neglected while I concentrate on posting at Ms. Martin Teaches Media.


I am currently reading Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. This is a steampunk fantasy. I am enjoying the rich language. It was a little hard to be dropped into a completely alternate history but once I started understanding it began to flow better for me.

Product description: It is the dawn of a new age... The Industrial Revolution has begun, factories are springing up across the country, and new technologies are transforming in the cities. But the old ways do not die easy.

Cat and Bee are part of this revolution. Young women at college, learning of the science that will shape their future and ignorant of the magics that rule their families. But all of that will change when the Cold Mages come for Cat. New dangers lurk around every corner and hidden threats menace her every move. If blood can't be trusted, who can you trust?


Next week I will be taking part in the Fall Catch-Up Read-a-thon being hosted by The True Book Addict. I have decided to concentrate on whittling down my stack of YA books instead of alternating YA and adult books. Wish me luck or come join in on the fun.

That was what I accomplished and what I plan for next week. What was your week like?


Saturday, September 18, 2010

In My Mailbox (Sept. 19, 2010)

The weekly In My Mailbox post is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is fun to see what everyone else gets in their mailboxes, shopping bags, and library visits. Click on the link to The Story Siren's site to see the rules and join in the fun.
 
I guarantee that your TBR pile will grow when you see all the cool books everyone gets. You will discover lots of wonderful blogs and lots of books that you won't be able to live without.

This was another big week for me.
Wicked Appetite by Janet Evanovich - I am a big fan and thought I would give this new series by her a try.

Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt -- This mystery series was recommended on one of the blogs I follow. I thought it sounded intriguing and I haven't read a mystery that wasn't a paranormal for quite a while.

One Enchanted Evening by Lynn Kurland -- I won this book at LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program but my copy never arrived. So, I bought a copy. I enjoyed this time travel romance and, if my TBR stack was even 100 books smaller, I would add some of the rest of the related books to the stack. My review is here.

While reading blog posts someone was talking about the free Kindle books and that reminded me that I haven't checked that source of reading material for a while. Here are the new free books that I downloaded to my Kindle.

Penelope & Prince Charming by Jennifer Ashley
Guns Will Keep Us Together by Leslie Langtry
Lies, Damned Lies, and Science by Sherry Seethaler
Shadow Fall by Erin Kellison

Just today, I was reading wishlists around the blogosphere and came across a couple of werewolf books that were new to me. So I added them to my Kindle too.

Alexandra's Legacy by N. Walters
Isaiah's Haven by N. J. Walters

That was my week. What did you add to your TBR stack?


Thursday, September 16, 2010

Review: One Enchanted Evening by Lynn Kurland

One Enchanted Evening
Author: Lynn Kurland
Publication: Jove (April 27, 2010)


Description: Time-travel romances have made Lynn Kurland a bestseller in the here-and-now. 

A duty-bound knight has taken on the task of rebuilding the most dilapidated castle in all of England.

A costume designer gets her chance to shine by showcasing her fairy- tale designs at an upscale party in an authentic medieval castle.

And the magic that whispers along the castle's hallways is about to orchestrate an improbable happily-ever-after.



My Thoughts: I enjoyed this time travel romance. Even though it is clearly part of a larger web of stories, it was completely readable as a stand-alone. I like Pippa's personality. She has a dream of being a fashion designer who draws inspiration from the Middle Ages. However, she has been having a run of bad luck culminating in her losing almost all of her belongings when her apartment building catches fire just as she is off to England to meet with a potential backer. She is convinced that she is the victim of bad karma. 


In England, she is visiting a fully restored castle from the Middle Ages that is owned by her sister and used for theme parties when she enters a time warp that takes her to the year 1214. Her spoiled and egocentric older sister is swept along with her. 


In 1214 they meet Montgomery de Piaget who has been given the castle by his father. The castle is almost in ruins and is inhabited by cousins who deeply resent Montgomery's arrival. Montgomery has had some previous experience with time travelers though he doesn't let the girls know that. The older sister, Cinderella, embraces the mistaken idea that she is a fairy queen and immediately begins to treat Pippa as her lowly, servant girl causing additional problems for Pippa. Although Pippa is disoriented and put-upon by her sister, she is the one that Montgomery falls for. She falls back. The conflicts in their romance come from the fact that they are from two different times and that Cinderella and the cousins are constant sources of trouble.


There is a lot of time shifts in this one. Pippa and Cinderella go to 1214. They go back to the present. Montgomery comes to the present to court Pippa. Montgomery goes back to the past. And, finally, Pippa goes back to the past. Along the way they find that many members of Montgomery's family are also out of the times when they were born. 


This was a fun, sweet romance and is recommended to lovers of time travel stories. If my TBR stack was even a hundred books smaller, I would be looking for more books about other members of the family. The is a lovely chart of the families in the back with the associated books. Check here for a listing of other books by Lynn Kurland.


Favorite Quote:
Pippa sat down gratefully, realizing only then that she'd been on her feet almost all day long. She wasn't unused to physical labor--sewing was harder on the back than it looked--but the past few days had been absolutely draining. Maybe time travel was harder on a person than she'd imagined it might be.


And Montgomery de Piaget was more distracting than any man had a right to be. 
Challenges: RYOB Reading Challenge

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Interview with Jill Potts Jones of Iambelievinggod’s Blog

As a part of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, I am interviewing a fellow blogger. Jill blogs at Iambelievinggod's Blog. She lives in East Central Alabama.


It is easy to see her strong Christian faith in her blog posts. She also reviews mainly Christian nonfiction. I asked Jill a few questions and here are her answers.


How did you come up with the name of your blog?  
When I was starting my blog, I was taking a Beth Moore class and one of the lessons was about believing God is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do...  I was struggling with my faith in this particular area at that time.  Naming my blog iambelievinggod was a reminder to me to always look to Him first instead of at my problems.

When and why did you begin blogging?  
I started blogging when I was unemployed and looking for a job.  It was a form of release mainly--just a way to put my thoughts out on paper...I never really thought anyone would read it...then, I discovered blogging for books....several publishers, namely,  Thomas Nelson Publishers and NavPress accepted me early on and then I applied for Tyndale House's program and most recently, Strang.  I also accept requests directly from authors.  I learned about their blogging programs through friends on Twitter who are also book bloggers.

You mention that you work outside the home, what do you do?  
I am a legal secretary....it's a good job with little stress...I work for an attorney that is very easy to work for, understanding about family issues and I get a lot of time off.

Where do you get the books you review?  
Usually through the Blogging for Books programs from Thomas Nelson, Tyndale House, NavPress; however, if I read a book I like and I really want to review it, I'll do that, too.

I see that you review mainly nonfiction. Do you read any fiction?  
Occasionally.  I reviewed "Darlington Woods" by Mike Dellosso and "The Last Operative" by Jerry Jenkins.  I have also reviewed "Caught" by Harlan Coben for Associated Content and didn't put on my blog--primarily because it was not in the Christian genre.  I considered starting another blog for non-Christian books but I don't know if I'll get to that or not.

After reading about your busy life, I wonder, where do you find time to read and blog?  
I read everywhere--doctor and dentist offices, during lunch, at night before bed--sometimes I take a Sunday and do nothing but read.  I find time to blog when I go to work early, during my lunch hour and sometimes when my boss is in court or away from the office if I don't have anything going on.

I note that you blog about personal/family issues in addition to books. Do your husband and teenager read your blog? Have they begun to “pull their weight” in your quest to get household duties done?  
No, my husband and my teen do not read my blog--that I'm aware of....sometimes my husband will.  As to household duties, no.  It's a battle of wills between them.  My daughter has Asperger's Syndrome (I have a separate blog for that at http://aspieparent18.wordpress.com) My husband has paid someone to do the yardwork--I am seriously considering getting a housekeeper--but somehow I just see that as a waste of money...I'd probably do the yardwork if I wasn't allergic to everything in the yard and didn't have back and neck problems.

Are you interested in writing a book yourself?  
Yes, I am.  I have a lot of ideas running through my head but I lack the confidence to actually write.  I keep thinking one day I'll have time to write but I've learned that anything you really want to do, you will make the time to do.

I want to thank Jill for taking the time to answer my questions and I urge you to check out her blog. She has lots of interesting and thought-provoking posts. Jill also writes for Examiner.com as the Montgomery Christianity Examiner and she will be writing for Suite101 soon. 


You can check out other Book Blogger Appreciation Week interviews here.