The Rebel of Fox Hill, Chosen, and MY LAST BOOKS OF THE BIBLE (for now!), books 99-107

Was in between books and found this quick read to hold me over.  It was ok, but certainly not one I will recommend, except maybe to Hallmark to make a movie of it.

Falling for the enemy is dangerous business...Hannah Hawkins has a problem—or two. When a pair of Union soldiers make camp at her coastal Virginia farm, she comes face to face with the enemy. And while one of the soldiers proves to be a scoundrel, the other—Corporal Peter Anderson—is quite the opposite. As their unexpected friendship grows, so do her feelings for the handsome Yankee. But the last thing she needs is to fall for a man on the other side of the war, especially when she's already struggling to keep her and her mother alive.  Peter Anderson didn’t enlist in the war to fall in love with beautiful Rebel girls, but that’s just what happened when he met Hannah. But a battle is brewing on Hannah's farm, and it's one that doesn’t involve cannons and iron-plated ships. Will true love prevail and triumph over the force that threatens to rip Hannah and Peter apart?  (picture and description from Amazon)

Next up was one I wasn't sure I would like or not.  I'm not particularly a fan of historical fiction from Bible Times, because sometimes the author's poetic justice makes me nervous.  But this one is pretty good, in general.  I know this author has other books in this series, but I doubt I will read them. I'd probably recommend this if you like this genre.

Two quotes I loved from this book:

"My hands were outstretched as if I could catch any drop of mercy from heaven ... " p.218

"It is one thing to believe a scripture is true, it is another thing entirely to trust in it and act." p.223

Wrenched from a simple life for her beauty, Esther finds herself at the mercy of King Xerxes. Leaving behind her only relative, her cousin Mordecai, and her first true love, Cyrus, she is thrown headlong into the unrestrained extravagance of palace living.  Quick of mind and strong in spirit, Esther refuses to suffer the fate of her harem sisters and boldly challenges Xerxes to give of his heart before taking his pleasure, thus sealing her place beside him as queen. While conspiracy spins its diabolical web, Esther's mind and spirit waver, and she is forced to confront the past in order to save her future–and thus an entire nation. (picture and description from Amazon)

And in conclusion, I FINALLY FINISHED THE 500 DAY READING PLAN (but really only 250 days and really in ~780 days 🤣)  You can see a post about this on my Facebook page, or here.  To round out finishing off, I read Luke, Zechariah, Song of Solomon, Proverbs, Esther, Romans and last but certainly not least, Malachi!

If you have never read the Bible through, I highly recommend it!  There are so many different ways you can go about it and you will not be disappointed.  As my good buddy Lisa Harper says, Anyone who says the Bible is boring has never read it!

It's almost time for Christmas books!  I hope I have enough on my Kindle!

Melissa

I Did It! I Did It! I really really finally did it!!

Well, I never thought this day would come, and indeed it did. Let me explain.

Back in May 2017 while I was inbetween jobs (story of my life from 2013-2021)  I decided to read my Bible through again.  I had done it at least 3 other times by this point, but I was ready to start again.  Previously I had read it straight through, then I read it chronologically, then I read it in 90 days (not for the faint of heart, but I've always said it's hard to tell Leighann McCoy no).  I was ready for a new and different way, and I had new CSB Bible just for this.  

After searching the internets I came across Professor Horner's Reading plan.  It sounded a little sketchy at first, and pretty ambitious, but I was game.  Using this plan you read 10 chapters a day, hopping back and forth between the Old and New Testament.  Yes, 10 chapters a day is pretty insane, but the kick is you are just supposed to read it and move on, not really go back and study it, research questions you have, etc.  That was the sketchy part to me, but after a while I didn't mind it.  Since I was reading in a new Bible nothing had been highlighted or marked or anything, so it was fun seeing the familiar verses with fresh eyes.  Also, having been reading and studying the Bible for over 50 years now, it was interesting to see little snippets that had perhaps not caught my eye before.

When I started all those years ago, it was before I had a laptop and started making notes in the trusty colorful composition book hidden underneath everything in the picture.  I kept that up for several years, although sadly I did not date every day I wrote something, which still irks me to this day.  Then, several years ago I decided my handwriting was getting really sloppy and I wanted to make notes on my laptop.  The organized side of me got all out of control, but I made this amazing spreadsheet to keep my notes in.  

I also kept track of where I was with a spreads in my Bullet Journal.  However, Acts and Proverbs I had to make new squares for since those two books you read over and over.  (I read both of them 8+ times).  

In full disclosure, his plan has a 500 day checklist, but in all honesty it only takes 250 days to work through all the books of the Bible, which is what I did.  It is divided into 10 lists where you have certain sets of books you read for that list.  When you finish that list, you just start over on that list again.  For example, one list is simply reading Proverbs.  So every time I finished reading Proverbs 31, I would start over the next day on Proverbs 1.  Another list simply had the Gospels, so every time I finished John 21, I'd start over on Matthew 1, and so on.  The lists all have varying amount of days it takes to complete them, so you never end up reading the same 10 books besides Day 1 and Day 251 if you do it again.

Also in my picture below is my ever important list of kings in the Divided Kingdom.  When reading a Bible, I always use to different colors to mark whether the king was over Judah or Israel.  My list helps me keep track to that and I always make notes about if they were a good king or a bad king.  (Spoiler alert, most are bad)

Finally I have my bookmarks.  These are VITAL when doing this plan.  When I started, the ones I made were the only option, now others have jumped on the ship with this and made cuter I ones I probably would have chosen.  These bookmarks have the list you are reading from on them and they hold your place.  I liked to keep the number side up so I can know where to go after I read one chapter, then go to the next.  Honestly, though, after a while you know where you are going because you have done it so many times!

Totals:

2472 chapters read

2275 Pages

~780 days to complete

If you have any questions, let me know!

Always keep reading the Bible!

Melissa

PS: In between all this we also read the Bible through in 2020 as a church, so techinally I've read it through 5+ times now.  And the good news is:  The Church at Station Hill, in fact, all the Brentwood Baptist campuses, are reading the Bible through AGAIN next year church wide!  I'm so excited!!

Remembered and some more, books #89-97

 

Sigh, the last book in the series and the last unread Tamara Alexander book.  I love that this book took a different spin, but still included the people of Willow Springs.  

The threat of war--and a final request--send Veronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood--her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But twenty-five years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Veronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarcely remembers.  His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn't count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains, and how one woman's search will cause havoc with his plans... and his life.  (picture and description at Amazon)

I am also rounding the corner on my Bible Reading Plan.  I finished Hebrews, 1-2-3 John, Genesis, Jude, Nehemiah & Ecclesiasties.  Literally by the time I finish my next fiction I will be DONE with this!!! (but then we are reading the Bible through together again at church next year!)

Happy Reading!  It's almost time to start Christmas books!

Melissa

Revealed and two more, books #88-91

 

Again -- and as always! -- Tamara got me.  I still can't believe this series was first one ever written!  

Annabelle Grayson has been given a second chance at life, but she can't claim it with the cloud of her past hanging over her in Willow Springs. After her husband dies, she advertises for a trail guide to accompany her to land waiting for her in Idaho--and a most unlikely candidate applies for the job.  Matthew Taylor is a man on the run, with consequences of past mistakes pursuing him at every turn. Meeting Annabelle Grayson the first time was unpleasant enough, but when she crosses his path again, her presence in his life--and what she reveals--is devastating. If given a single wish, Matthew would turn back time and right a grievous wrong. If given a second wish, he would make Annabelle Grayson pay.  (picture & description at Amazon)

There is one final book in this series and then I will have officially read every book she has written. 😢  Here new book cant come out soon enough.

Worked through two more books of the Bible, Zephaniah & Haggai.  Only sixteen days of readings left.  I can"t believe I'm almost done after 6 years (off & on)!! 

Keep Reading!

MeLissa

Criss Cross, and more books of the Bible, books 82-87

 

Just finished reading this weirdly creepy book for Book Club.  Not sure how I even slept at night, except to know its not my real life. (As compared to when I watched Last of the Mohicans while home by myself in college and I WAS scared there were indians creeping up the stairs to get me!😆)

Safety is just an illusion...

An illusion shattered by the whisper of footsteps in the darkness behind her.  Holly has drifted from one place to the next for as long as she can remember, never settling long enough to build a life. It's the only way she knows how to survive in a world that has no place for someone like her. But when mysterious footsteps follow her home, and she finds a cryptic note taped to her door, she realizes she's stayed too long.  The man she's hiding from has found her. But how?  When people start dying and old, forgotten memories begin to surface, Holly finds herself wrapped up in a terrifying mystery with God, a pushy Southern detective, and a killer with one thing on his mind: her.  (picture and description from Amazon)

Deanie did say she realized later this was a series & hoped it wasn't one that left us hanging.  Well, it did but it didn't ... but i wasn't that impressed with the book style of writing to keep going.

I also finished 1 Peter, Acts (I've lost track how many times now!), Ezra, Nahum & Habakkuk!

Keep reading,

Melissa

Rekindled, and a bunch of books in the Bible, books #74-81

Tamara Alexander, you slay me.  It has been a while since I have read any of hers and I thought I had already read everything she has out so far, but lo and behold, I found I had not read the Fountain Creek Series, her first set of books she wrote! I know some writers have to ease into awesomeness, but she just hits it right out of the park in the first book!  

Ten years ago Kathryn Jennings made a vow. For better or worse. And that promise still holds true, even though her marriage has not turned out as she expected. When her husband fails to return home one stormy winter night, she struggles to keep their ranch, but her efforts are blocked at every turn. After a shocking glimpse into her husband's past, Kathryn uncovers a hidden truth. What she wouldn't give to turn back time and be able to love her husband for the man that he was, not for the man she always wanted him to be. Larson Jennings has spent his entire life running from a broken past, unable to trust, reluctant to try again. One fateful night, his life takes an unexpected twist, and soon he is forced to make a choice. Whatever he chooses, his decision may cost him his life.  (picture and descriptions at Amazon)

I gotta tell you, this book right off made me go "Wait, what?!?" and left you wondering what was going on.  And it took a turn I did not see coming.  But I just absolutely LOVE the way she kept tying everything back to Jesus and forgiveness ~ forgiving yourself and forgiving others.  Needless to say, it's a 5 star must read from me!

The exciting news is she has a new book coming out in November which will be be set in modern times, which is new to her.  I'm certain, however, that it will still be amazing and I can't WAIT to read it!

In other news. I have been back at reading on my BIble plan and have worked through Mark, James, Colossians, Proverbs (for the 8th time!), Micah, Nahum and Acts (also for the 8th time!).  I believe I am down to 25 days!!

Happy reading!

Melissa

 

Memories of Glass, book #73

 

1942. As war rips through the heart of Holland, childhood friends Josie van Rees and Eliese Linden partner with a few daring citizens to rescue Eliese’s son and hundreds of other Jewish children who await deportation in a converted theater in Amsterdam. But amid their resistance work, Josie and Eliese’s dangerous secrets could derail their friendship and their entire mission. When the enemy finds these women, only one will escape.  Seventy-five years later, Ava Drake begins to suspect that her great-grandfather William Kingston was not the World War II hero he claimed to be. Her work as director of the prestigious Kingston Family Foundation leads her to Landon West’s Ugandan coffee plantation, and Ava and Landon soon discover a connection between their families. As Landon’s great-grandmother shares the broken pieces of her story, Ava must confront the greatest loss in her own life―and powerful members of the Kingston family who will do anything to keep the truth buried. (picture and description on Amazon)

Keep reading, even when they are hard books like this.

Melissa