Month: November 2015

November 2015 in Review

Posted November 30, 2015 in Reading / 8 Comments

Month in Review

Is November really over! It seems like this month has gone by so very fast for me. It is crazy!

Things that Happened in November

  • So much has happened it is hard to get it all in words. One of the students at my school suffered a stroke and is hospitalized for now. A counselor at the district high school died from an unexpected heart attack. My grandmother has been hospitalized yet again. It really hasn’t been a great month.
  • My religious education class (4th grade) was enrolled in the Association of the Miraculous Medal. They are all so excited to have miraculous medals.

Books I Read in November

The Heart of BetrayalThe Painter's DaughterSapphire BlueWinter
Emerald GreenA Court of Thorns and RosesEverneathJesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives
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{Review} Snow Like Ashes – Where the Seasons are Kingdoms!

Posted November 27, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments

{Review} Snow Like Ashes – Where the Seasons are Kingdoms!Snow Like Ashes by Sara Raasch
Series: Snow Like Ashes #1
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (2014)
Paperback (416 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Also by this author: Ice Like Fire
Also in this series: Ice Like Fire
Reading Challenges: Read 2015

Synopsis

A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.
Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.
Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.
So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.

Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository

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2016 Reading Challenges

Posted November 27, 2015 in Reading / 12 Comments

My 2015 Reading Challenges can be found here.

Last Updated: 1 January 2017

It is that time of the year again when I have to start deciding which reading challenges I am choosing to participate in. Here goes. I will update as necessary throughout the year. The challenges are listed in the order I found them/decided that I would participate. Let me know if you plan to join me for any of these.

1. Annual Goodreads Challenge

This year I am again going to set my goal to 100 books. I will most likely reach this early just like I did in 2015. I always anticipate success with this challenge.

List of Books

**Completed October 2016**

JanuaryFebruaryMarchAprilMayJuneJulyAugustSeptemberOctoberNovemberDecember

1. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

2. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

3. Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

4. Winterspell by Claire Legrand

5. This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

6. Their Fractured Light by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

7. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (DNF at 592 pages)

8. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

9. Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom

10. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot

11. A Tyranny of Petticoats edited by Jessica Spotswood

12. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

13. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling

14. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

15. Daughters of Ruin by K D Castner

16. Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey

17. Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery

18. Lions in the Garden by Chelsea Luna

19. Miriam by Mesu Andrews

20. Lost Lake House by Elisabeth Grace Foley

21. Winter’s Child by Cameron Dokey

22. The Siren by Kiera Cass

23. Raelia by Lynette Noni

24. The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

25. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling

26. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr

27. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling

28. The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna M White

29. Once Upon A Dream by Liz Braswell

30. The Young Elites by Marie Lu

31. The Hidden Twin by Adi Rule

32. The Cresswell Plot by Eliza Wass

33. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling

34. The Catholic Catalogue by Melissa Musick & Anna Keating

35. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

36. Delilah by Angela Hunt

37. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

38. The Crown and the Arrow by Renee Ahdieh (short story)

39. The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis

40. The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare

41. No One Dies in the Garden of Syn by Michael Seidelman

42. Risuko by David Kudler

43. And I Darken by Kiersten White

44. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

45. The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

46. Divined by Emily Wibberley

47. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling

48. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

49. Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas

50. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (original review)

51. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (original review)

52. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (original review)

53. The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

54. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (original review)

55. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling

56. Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare

57. The Crown by Kiera Cass

58. Map of Fates by Maggie Hall

59. Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie (DNF at 339 pages)

60. Blackveil by Kristen Britain

61. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

62. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling

63. See How They Run by Ally Carter

64. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer

65. The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh

66. Secrets in the Snow by Michaela MacColl

67. Ten Thousand Skies Above You by Claudia Gray

68. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

69. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas

70. Delirium by Lauren Oliver

71. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

72. Flipping the Scales by Pete Tarsi

73. Ruined by Amy Tintera

74. The Cage by Megan Shepherd

75. Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren

76. Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

77. Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

78. Castles in the Clouds by Myra Johnson

79. The Real Peter Pan by Piers Dudgeon

80. The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye

81. Jesus Trusts in You by the World Youth Day Committee

82. Riley Unlikely by Riley Banks-Snyder

83. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton

84. A Drop of Night by Stephan Bachmann

85. Starflight by Melissa Landers

86. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

87. The Shadow Queen by C J Redwine

88. Beauty Begins by Chris Shook & Megan Shook Alpha

89. Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan

90. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

91. Veritatis Splendor by Pope Saint John Paul II

92. The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen

93. Catechesi Tradendae by Pope Saint John Paul II

94. Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes

95. The Epiphany of Love by Livio Melina

96. Prayer in the Catholic Tradition edited by Robert Wicks

97. St. Patrick’s Summer by Marigold Hunt

98. Fearless by Sonja Corbitt

99. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake

100. Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

101. The Black Key by Amy Ewing

102. Proportionalism and the Natural Law Tradition by Christopher Kaczor

103. General Directory for Catechesis by the Congregation for the Clergy

104. Walk in Her Sandals edited by Kelly Wahlquist

105. We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun and Susan Mullen (DNF at 64%)

106. The Infinity of You and Me by J Q Coyle

107. Yes or No by Peter Kreeft

108. What Catholics Really Believe by Karl Keating

109. The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson

110. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows

111. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson

112. 33 Days to Morning Glory by Father Michael Gaitley

113. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

114. Freeks by Amanda Hocking

115. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

116. Gilded Cage by Vic James

117. Bookishly Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

118. Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

2. Hard Core Re-Reading Challenge hosted by You, Me and a Cup of Tea

reread 2016

I tend to re-read quite a bit and so I am going to aim for 16 books which means I have a re-reading bug. I’m aiming to reread the Harry Potter series this year and possibly Tamora Pierce. 🙂

List of Books

**Completed April 2016**

  1. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
  2. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
  3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling
  4. Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
  5. Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery
  6. Winter’s Child by Cameron Dokey
  7. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling
  8. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr
  9. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling
  10. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling
  11. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling
  12. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (original review)
  13. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (original review)
  14. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (original review)
  15. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (original review)
  16. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling
  17. Blackveil by Kristen Britain
  18. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling
  19. Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
  20. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson
  21. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss

3. What’s In A Name? Challenge hosted by The Worm Hole

whats in a name 2016

I enjoyed this last year and so I am signing up again. There are six categories and I will need to read a book from each category.

List of Books

2/6

  • A Country:
  • An Item of Clothing: A Tyranny of Petticoats edited by Jessica Spotswood
  • An Item of Furniture:
  • A Profession: Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan
  • A Month:
  • A Title with the Word “Tree”:

4. Royal Challenge hosted by She’s Got Books on Her Mind

Royal Challenge 2016

This challenge looks like so much fun! Basically, the challenge is to read books with royalty or quests in them. I’m going to go big and aim for the Queen level which is 15+ books. This challenge also has optional monthly discussions which I think sound like a lot of fun so I have them listed below as well.

List of Books

**Completed March 2016**

  1. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot
  2. Winterspell by Claire Legrand
  3. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
  4. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
  5. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
  6. Daughters of Ruin by K D Castner
  7. Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey
  8. Lions in the Garden by Chelsea Luna
  9. Miriam by Mesu Andrews
  10. Winter’s Child by Cameron Dokey
  11. The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows
  12. Once Upon A Dream by Liz Braswell
  13. The Young Elites by Marie Lu
  14. The Hidden Twin by Adi Rule
  15. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
  16. And I Darken by Kiersten White
  17. The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski
  18. Divined by Emily Wibberley
  19. Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas
  20. The Crown by Kiera Cass
  21. Blackveil by Kristen Britain
  22. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
  23. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer
  24. The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh
  25. Queen of Shadows by Sarah J Maas
  26. Ruined by Amy Tintera
  27. Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
  28. The Crown’s Game by Evelyn Skye
  29. Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
  30. The Shadow Queen by C J Redwine
  31. Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan
  32. Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake
  33. Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck
  34. The Silent Songbird by Melanie Dickerson
  35. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows
  36. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson
  37. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
  38. Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey
List of Optional Discussions I Plan to Participated In

February: What Makes A Good Royal?

November: Happily Ever After

  • Pick your favorite story about royalty (or Disney princesses!). What would happen after the book was over?

5. Retelling Challenge hosted by The Daily Prophecy

retelling challenge

This challenge is to read retellings of fairy tales, myths, legends, folk tales, ect. I kind of totally love retellings so I am going to aim for Wise Princess level which is 16-20 books.

List of Books

**Completed November 2016**

  1. Winterspell by Claire Legrand (The Nutcracker)
  2. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Greek Myths)
  3. Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey (Mulan)
  4. Lost Lake House by Elisabeth Grace Foley (The Twelve Dancing Princesses)
  5. Winter’s Child by Cameron Dokey (The Snow Queen)
  6. Once Upon A Dream by Liz Braswell (Sleeping Beauty)
  7. The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi (Indian Mythology & Persephone)
  8. Delilah by Angela Hunt (Biblical Retelling)
  9. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (Romeo & Juliet)
  10. And I Darken by Kiersten White (Dracula – historical)
  11. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (multiple)
  12. The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh (1001 Nights)
  13. Secrets in the Snow by Michaela MacColl (Jane Austen – historical)
  14. A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro (Sherlock Holmes)
  15. The Shadow Queen by C J Redwine (Snow White-kind of)
  16. My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton and Jodi Meadows (Tudor England)
  17. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden (Russian folklore)

6. Backlist Books Reading Challenge hosted by Pretty Deadly Reviews

backlist books

The goal of this challenge is to read books that are more than one year old. Basically, starting in January of 2016 this would mean books published in 2014 or before. That makes up quite a bit of my currently owned TBR list. There really aren’t levels to aim for but I am going to go for 20 just because.

List of Books

**Completed April 2016**

  1. The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot (2000)
  2. Winterspell by Claire Legrand (2014)
  3. This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (2014)
  4. Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot (2001)
  5. The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (2008)
  6. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J K Rowling (1997)
  7. Wild Orchid by Cameron Dokey (2009)
  8. Anne of Green Gables by L M Montgomery (1908)
  9. Winter’s Child by Cameron Dokey (2009)
  10. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling (1998)
  11. Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr (1977)
  12. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J K Rowling (1999)
  13. The Young Elites by Marie Lu (2014)
  14. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J K Rowling (2000)
  15. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay (2011)
  16. The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare (2014)
  17. The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton (2014)
  18. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J K Rowling (2003)
  19. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare (2011)
  20. Heir of Fire by Sarah J Maas (2014)
  21. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (original review) (2012)
  22. The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater (original review) (2013)
  23. Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater (original review) (2014)
  24. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J K Rowling (2005)
  25. Blackveil by Kristen Britain (2010)
  26. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J K Rowling (2007)
  27. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margareth Stohl (2009)
  28. Delirium by Lauren Oliver (2011)
  29. Flipping the Scales by Pete Tarsi (2014)
  30. Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren (2011)
  31. Jessica’s Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey (2009)
  32. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (2013)
  33. Maid of Secrets by Jennifer McGowan (2013)
  34. Veritatis Splendor by Pope Saint John Paul II (1993)
  35. The Secret of Pembrooke Park by Julie Klassen (2014)
  36. Catechesi Tradendae by Pope Saint John Paul II (1979)
  37. Epiphany of Love by Livio Melina (2010)
  38. St. Patrick’s Summer by Marigold Hunt (1950)
  39. Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck (2013)
  40. Proportionalism and the Natural Law Tradition by Christopher Kaczor (2002)
  41. General Directory for Catechesis by the Congregation for the Clergy (1998)
  42. Yes or No by Peter Kreeft (1991)
  43. What Catholics Really Believe by Karl Keating (1992)
  44. The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson (1844)
  45. 33 Days to Morning Glory by Father Michael Gaitley (2011)
  46. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (1957)
  47. Jessica Rules the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey (2011)

7. 2016 Book Blog Discussion Challenge hosted by Feed Your Fiction Addiction and It Starts at Midnight

2016-Discussion-Challenge

I am totally a Dabbler when it comes to this challenge as I am so forgetful about posting discussions. I am going to aim for quarterly discussion posts this year which means four discussions. I hope to be able to surpass that number.

Links to Discussions
  1. My Top Nine Plugins {Blog Organization}
  2. What Makes A Good Royal {Royal Discussion}
  3. Scheduling {Blog Organziation}
  4. Introductions and Diversity {Armchair BEA}
  5. Aesthetic Concerns – Books Covers & Blog Design {Armchair BEA}
  6. Beyond the Books {Armchair BEA}
  7. Surviving Fictional Worlds {Armchair BEA}
  8. Why I Don’t Write More Discussion Posts…
  9. 11 Ways High-Functioning Depression and Anxiety are Present in My Life
  10. The Adventure Begins with Airport Drama {World Youth Day – Kraków 2016}
  11. The Adventure Continues in the Czech Republic and Wadowice {World Youth Day – Kraków 2016}
  12. 5 Ways I Deal with High-Functioning Depression and Anxiety during Grad School

amanda

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{Review} The Painter’s Daughter – Married to a Stranger to Escape Scandal

Posted November 25, 2015 in Reading, Review / 0 Comments

{Review} The Painter’s Daughter – Married to a Stranger to Escape ScandalThe Painter's Daughter by Julie Klassen
Publisher: Bethany House (2015)
eARC (464 pages)
Via: NetGalley
Rating:
Also by this author: The Secret of Pembrooke Park, A Castaway in Cornwall
Reading Challenges: 2015 Color Coded, Read 2015

Synopsis

Sophie Dupont, daughter of a portrait painter, assists her father in his studio, keeping her own artwork out of sight. She often walks the cliffside path along the north Devon coast, popular with artists and poets. It’s where she met the handsome Wesley Overtree, the first man to tell her she’s beautiful.
Captain Stephen Overtree is accustomed to taking on his brother’s neglected duties. Home on leave, he’s sent to find Wesley. Knowing his brother rented a cottage from a fellow painter, he travels to Devonshire and meets Miss Dupont, the painter’s daughter. He’s startled to recognize her from a miniature portrait he carries with him–one of Wesley’s discarded works. But his happiness plummets when he realizes Wesley has left her with child and sailed away to Italy in search of a new muse.
Wanting to do something worthwhile with his life, Stephen proposes to Sophie. He does not offer love, or even a future together, but he can save her from scandal. If he dies in battle, as he believes he will, she’ll be a respectable widow with the protection of his family.
Desperate for a way to escape her predicament, Sophie agrees to marry a stranger and travel to his family’s estate. But at Overtree Hall, her problems are just beginning. Will she regret marrying Captain Overtree when a repentant Wesley returns? Or will she find herself torn between the father of her child and her growing affection for the husband she barely knows?

Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository

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{TTT} Thanksgiving Edition

Posted November 24, 2015 in Faith, Life, Reading / 16 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly link-up hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

This week’s list has a Thanksgiving theme. That leaves things rather open-ended and so I have decided to go with the things I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. I know that it isn’t bookish but that’s okay with me. Also, there are only 9 but that’s just the way it is going to be.

1. My Family

I love my family to pieces. My sister is going to be coming home tomorrow and will stay through Thanksgiving weekend. It is going to be great. I am praying though that the roads won’t be too bad. It doesn’t look so good now… 🙁

2. My Faith

My faith is super important to me. You might have noticed that from my blog url. I’m not ashamed of my faith nor am I going to hide it. Sure, I don’t always post about it. Actually, I have realized that I don’t post about my faith much at all. Maybe I should get a few more Catholic-y posts in the making. 🙂

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