Emily of Deep Valley by Mitali Perkins

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Emily of Deep Valley Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Reprint edition (October 12, 2010) by Mitali Perkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from Mitali: Who In The World Is Mitali Perkins?

That's a good question. I've been trying to figure it out myself, spending most of my life crossing borders.

I was born Mitali Bose in Kolkata (Calcutta), India, and always tried to live up to my name—which means “friendly” in the Bangla language. I had to! Because my family moved so much, it was the only way I could make new friends.

By the time I was 11, I'd lived in Ghana, Cameroon, London, New York and Mexico before settling in California just in time for middle school. Yep, I was the new kid again, in seventh grade, the year everybody barely makes it through.

My biggest lifeline during those early years was story. Books were my rock, my stability, my safe place as I navigated the border between California suburbia and the Bengali culture of my traditional home.

After studying political science at Stanford and public policy at U.C. Berkeley, I taught in middle school, high school and college. When I began to write fiction, my protagonists were often—not surprisingly—strong female characters trying to bridge different cultures.

Mitali Perkins is the author of several books for young people, including SECRET KEEPER (Random House), MONSOON SUMMER (Random House), RICKSHAW GIRL (Charlesbridge), and the FIRST DAUGHTER books (Dutton).

ABOUT THE BOOK

Often cited as Maud Hart Lovelace’s (of Betsy-Tacy fame) best novel, Emily of Deep Valley is now back in print, with a new foreword by acclaimed young adult author Mitali Perkins and new archival material about the characters’ real lives.

Emily Webster, an orphan living with her grandfather, is not like the other girls her age in Deep Valley, Minnesota. The gulf between Emily and her classmates widens even more when they graduate from Deep Valley High School in 1912. Emily longs to go off to college with everyone else, but she can’t leave her grandfather. Emily resigns herself to facing a “lost winter,” but soon decides to stop feeling sorry for herself. And with a new program of study, a growing interest in the Syrian community, and a handsome new teacher at the high school to fill her days, Emily gains more than she ever dreamed...

In addition to her beloved Betsy-Tacy books, Maud Hart Lovelace wrote three more stories set in the fictional town of Deep Valley: Winona’s Pony Cart, Carney’s House Party and Emily of Deep Valley. Longtime fans and new readers alike will be delighted to find the Deep Valley books available again for the first time in many years.

If you would like to browse inside Emily of Deep Valley, go HERE.

Teaser Tuesday ~ The Choice

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, f hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along, so I thought I would play for un! 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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Carrie was just latching the chicken coop after throwing feed to the bossy leghorns when she heard Andy's screams coming from the barn.  She dropped the bucket she was carring and ran down to see what had happened.

~ taken from p. 146 of Suzanne Woods Fisher's The Choice

Mailbox Monday ~ Nov. 29, 2010

Join Mailbox Monday meme
@ The Printed Page

Let Every heart Prepare Him Room by Nancy Guthrie
Dear Sparkle by Sparkle the Cat
The Spiritual Fitness Checkup for the 50 something woman by Sharon V. King, PhD
Mercy Rising by Amber Robinson

It already has begun...

It's that time of year again (although it may be a little early for some) and I am announcing The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge. I actually hosted a Christmas Reading Challenge last year through my book blog, but I changed the name this year and decided to host it over here. I hope you will join me!

Now, on to the details and sign up:  Click here to sign up~  Please note this is not my challenge so do not sign up on my blog.  thanks

* challenge will run from Friday, November 26, 2010 (Black Friday) through January 6, 2010 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).
* cross overs with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!
* These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore or a book of Christmas short stories (sorry, no children's books, but YA novels are okay).
* visit this POST for a list of new Christmas books for 2010. Also, Richard Paul Evans has a new book out this year, Promise Me. His Christmas books are among my favorites during the Christmas season.
* Levels:

--Candy Cane: read 1 book
--Mistletoe: read 2-4 books
--Christmas Tree: read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)

* Please sign up in the linky below. On the day the challenge starts, I will post a linky for reviews.
* Most of all, have fun!

Here are some that I have on my book shelf screaming my name.

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room by Nancy Guthrie

Uncle Eben's Christmas by Stephen Alan Slater

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Love finds You Under the Mistletoe by Irene Brand and Anita Higman

Christmas Peril by Margaret Daley and Debby Giusti

Grace by Shelley Shepard Gray

Love Finds you in North Pole Alaska by Loree Lough

A Blue & Gray Christmas by McDonough, Bliss, Murry and Turansky

That Christmas Feeling by Catherine Palmer

The Christmas Lamp by Lori Copeland

Christmas Miracles by Cecil Murphey and Marley Bibson

One IMPerfect Christmas by Myra Johnson

The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren

(will I get them all read?????  Probably NOT!  but I can dream big)

FIR Question #9

This year Katrina who hosts the Fall into Reading challenge is posting a weekly question for us to meme on. I'm a little late again posting the question and my response, but non-the-less here is this week's question:

Once you begin a book, do you feel compelled to finish it? Or have you been known to give up in the middle of a book, to walk away from a book that is just too annoying, boring, etc.?

I guess that just depends on my mood, if the book holds my attention.  If I'm reading it for review or just for pleasure and last but utmost if there is bad language in the book.  If there is lots of bad words it turns me off really quick most books that I don't finish are for that reason.  For the most part I try to finish a book if I start it, but if the language offends me I'll close it.  I know of few books that I wouldn't even donate to the library because of the language sorry to say they went in the trash can, as far as I was concerned that was the best place for them.  I know there are some that say that is narrow minded, but that's just the way I feel.  I'm a Christian and don't want that filth in my mind or before my eyes and I don't want to feed it to others.  What goes in comes out in one form or another.  I love the children's song titled Input/Output it is oh so true. 


How about you? Do you always finish what you start when it comes to reading? Or have you decided that life’s too short to read books you don’t love?

Mr. Ginger and the Disappearing Fish by Chris Wardle

For three days we'll be featuring Mr. Chris Wardle and his Tinfish Series for juveniles.   I was so excited to get in on this book series.  The first two books were featured in April.  I feel in love with Mr. Wardle's animal creatures and their antics.  The first two books hooked me and these last three are no different.  Today the feature is book #5...

I have to be honest I haven't had a chance to start this book yet so I can't post my review yet.  With Thanksgiving and company I am a little behind with my reading.  Probably if I had not had company I would be on schedule, but that isn't happening.  I will post my review as soon as I can get the book read. However, I'm sure that Mr. Ginger and the disappearing Fish will not be a disappointment to the Tinfish Series.  I've totally enjoyed this series.  

Read the first chapter of Mr. Ginger and the Disappearing Fish here.

About the Tinfish Series
‘The ‘Tinfish’ series of children’s books follows the humorous adventures of Mr. Tinfish the penguin and his friends as they try to cope with the impact of climatic change in their community. A sudden rise in the sea level, desertification, and warming ocean currents are amongst the many problems that the ever-changing climate will bring. Luckily for Mr. Tinfish, the other animals and birds all try to support each other, and Mr. Vinegar the walrus organizes numerous expeditions led by Mr. Choli the cat to help the colony adapt to the changing conditions.

Book One: The lighthouse of Mr. Tinfish
Book Two: Mr. Choli’s River Trip
Book Three: Mr. Vinegar and the Frozen Sea
Book Four: Mrs. Cat-biscuit’s search for the downward land
Book Five: Mr. Ginger and the disappearing fish

About the Author
Chris Wardle holds a bachelor’s degree in physical geography as well as a Master’s degree for water supply in developing countries.

Over the last ten years Chris has travelled extensively in developing countries working on charity projects in poor communities. He has been able to draw on his numerous experiences to inspire his creative works, particularly living for long periods in communities with different cultures in Africa and Asia.

An orphaned kitten in Northern Uganda was the inspiration for Mr. Choli’s character in the Tinfish series. He now lives in the UK with Chris’s family (via a few months with a foster family in France to organise his European passport).


A copy of this book was provided for review by Virtual Book tours

Life Choices winner is...

To

Winner of Life Choices

to my Followers....

My faithful followers Don't forget to enter my Gratitude for followers giveaway here. 

Divine Appointments by Charlene Baumauch

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Divine Appointments WaterBrook Press; Reprint edition (September 21, 2010) by Charlene Baumbich

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charlene Ann Baumbich is the author of the previous three books in the Partonville series. A popular speaker, journalist, and author, for several years she has lectured to women’s groups and retreats. Baumbich is also an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Today’s Christian Woman, and numerous other publications. She is the author of six nonfiction books of humor and inspiration.

Charlene says: For over two decades of writing and speaking, my passionate pursuit to entertain and rejuvenate using humor (I love to laugh-especially at myself), uncommon wisdom, and passionate insights has been affirmed through countless calls, letters, and evaluation sheets. A reader recently e-mailed, "There is so much depression and sadness in this world. I applaud you for reminding all of us to treasure the moments in our lives, and for encouraging us to find joy in the little things. What you do helps so many to rise above the heaviness of life and live, and laugh, and face another day, so thanks!!!!" That is exactly why I keep doing what I do.

I am a firm believer in the power of story (short or book-length, funny or insightful, real or fiction, on stage or page) to accomplish my purpose, which is to remind you: Don't Miss Your Life! Whether you're tuning into me live or in print, fasten your seatbelt. I promise you a wild, fun, provocative, heart-warming ride.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Josie Brooks, at the age of 47, thought she was leading an enviable single life. A successful consultant, she calls her own shots, goes where the money is, and never needs to compromise. But her precisely managed world begins to falter during a Chicago contract when an economic downturn, a bleeding heart boss, and the loyalty and kindness between endangered employees ding her coat of armor.

Throw in hot flashes, a dose of loneliness, a peculiar longing for intimacy, an
unquenchable thirst—not to mention a mysterious snow globe with a serene landscape, complete with a flowing river and lush greenery that seems to be beckoning her in—and Josie’s buttoned-up life is on the verge of coming completely undone.

Maybe her solitary existence isn’t as fulfilling as she has convinced herself to believe. It will take a few new friends, a mystical encounter, and an unexpected journey to set Josie on her own path to “right-sizing” and making the life changes that really matter. Filled with laugh-out loud moments and a gentle dash of inspiration, Divine Appointments is another heartwarming charmer from a master storyteller.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Divine Appointments, go HERE.

Mrs. Cat-biscuit's search for the downward land by Chris Wardle

For three days we'll be featuring Mr. Chris Wardle and his Tinfish Series for juveniles.   I was so excited to get in on this book series.  The first two books were featured in April.  I feel in love with Mr. Wardle's animal creatures and their antics.  The first two books hooked me and these last three are no different.  Today the feature is book #4...

In this wonderful series by Mr. Wardle the animals are faced with environmental issues.  The animals learn to be resourceful with the resources that they have available to them.  In this particular book the animals are being faced with ocean current change.  Because of the warmer water fish is becoming scarce.  This resource is becoming insufficient for the community and an investigation team is sent out to see what can be done about the problem.  The reader will find how Mr. Wardle has the animals dealing with this problem. With environmental changes comes a habitat change the animals learn to deal with change and be resourceful.  Each animal has it's own personality and characteristic in this Tinfish series.  I have totally enjoyed this series.  

Read the first chapter of Mrs. Cat-biscuit's search for the downward land here.

About the Tinfish Series
‘The ‘Tinfish’ series of children’s books follows the humorous adventures of Mr. Tinfish the penguin and his friends as they try to cope with the impact of climatic change in their community. A sudden rise in the sea level, desertification, and warming ocean currents are amongst the many problems that the ever-changing climate will bring. Luckily for Mr. Tinfish, the other animals and birds all try to support each other, and Mr. Vinegar the walrus organizes numerous expeditions led by Mr. Choli the cat to help the colony adapt to the changing conditions.

Book One: The lighthouse of Mr. Tinfish
Book Two: Mr. Choli’s River Trip
Book Three: Mr. Vinegar and the Frozen Sea
Book Four: Mrs. Cat-biscuit’s search for the downward land
Book Five: Mr. Ginger and the disappearing fish

About the Author
Chris Wardle holds a bachelor’s degree in physical geography as well as a Master’s degree for water supply in developing countries.

Over the last ten years Chris has travelled extensively in developing countries working on charity projects in poor communities. He has been able to draw on his numerous experiences to inspire his creative works, particularly living for long periods in communities with different cultures in Africa and Asia.

An orphaned kitten in Northern Uganda was the inspiration for Mr. Choli’s character in the Tinfish series. He now lives in the UK with Chris’s family (via a few months with a foster family in France to organise his European passport).



A copy of this book was provided for review by Virtual Book tours

The Lightkeeper's Bride by Colleen Coble

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Lightkeeper's Bride Thomas Nelson (October 19, 2010) by Colleen Coble

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Author Colleen Coble’s thirty-five novels and novellas have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Romance Writers of America prestigious RITA, the Holt Medallion, the ACFW Book of the Year, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, the Booksellers Best, and the 2009 Best Books of Indiana-Fiction award. She writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail and love begin with a happy ending.

A word from Colleen: God has been faithful, though the path has not been easy. Nothing worth doing is ever easy. God wouldn’t let me give up, and I like to think the struggle made me stronger. God has given me so much in my life, most importantly my great family, a loving church family at New Life Baptist Church, and my wonderful publishing family at Nelson Books.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A thrilling romantic mystery set in the lush Victorian age.

Central Operator Katie Russell's inquisitive ways have just uncovered her parents' plan for her marriage to wealthy bachelor Bartholomew Foster. Her heart is unmoved, but she knows the match will bring her family status and respectability.

Then Katie overhears a phone conversation that makes her uneasy and asks authorities to investigate. But the caller is nowhere to be found. Mysterious connections arise between the caller and a ship lost at sea.

Against propriety, Katie questions the new lighthouse keeper, Will Jesperson. Then a smallpox epidemic forces their quarantine in his lighthouse. Though of low social status, Will's bravery and kindness remove Katie's suspicion and win her love. Katie and Will together work to solve the mystery of the missing girl and the lost ship as God gives the couple the desire of their hearts.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Lightkeeper's Bride, go HERE.

Whatcha Reading ~ Mr. Tinfish series by Chris Wardle

This is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works this week...

Go to page 1 type in the first sentence. If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something).

Link up over at Busy Moms Who Love to Read


This week you get a treat.  I'm going to highlight three books I'm reading in a juvenile series.  I'm doing this series tour this week too so be sure to visit the tour on Tues, Wed. and Friday.  It is a very adorable series.

Book #3 in the series is..Mr Vinegar and the Frozen Sea

Mr. Choli used his paw to wipe away the moisture on the inside of the car window.

 Book #4 in the series is... Mrs. Cat-biscuit's search for the downward land

Mr. Choli reached up with his paws and adjusted his ear-muffs.

Book #5 in the series is...Mr. ginger and the Disappearing Fish

Mr. Choli and Mr. Ginger were catnapping on the front seats of the rusty old car which they used as thier home in Daphne Wood.