Funny Me

Hahahahahaha! I totally forgot about the post I had scheduled here for this morning. My review of Life, In Spite of Me. D'oh!

PBN really is moving, as I'd posted last night. This post right here – the one you're reading this very moment – is the LAST one I plan to do here. So, please, come join me at the new, and getting better every day, Proud Book Nerd!

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Review & GIVEAWAY: Life, In Spite of Me

Title: Life, In Spite of Me: Extraordinary Hope After a Fatal Choice

Author: Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer

From the Back of the Book: Kristen Anderson thought she had the picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook: three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a seemingly bottomless depression.

One January night, the seventeen-year-old decided she no longer wanted to deal with the emotional pain that smothered her. She lay down on a set of cold railroad tracks and waited for a freight train to send her to heaven…and peace.

But Kristen's story doesn’t end there.

In Life, In Spite of Me this remarkably joyful young woman shares the miracle of her survival, the agonizing aftermath of her failed suicide attempt, and the hope that has completely transformed her life, giving her a powerful purpose for living.

Her gripping story of finding joy against all odds provides a vivid and unforgettable reminder that life is a gift to be treasured.

Includes notes of encouragement Kristen wishes she had received when she was struggling most.

My Thoughts: This was an easy, good read. I'm amazed by this woman's strength. After everything she went through, to be so positive and so much a champion for God is absolutely AMAZING! I am humbled by her faith and her testimony. I ache for the pain she felt that led up to her suicide attempt. I can't imagine doing such a thing only to end up still alive and without legs. What amazes me is how she was told repeatedly that she should NOT be alive. Medically, physically (meaning physics of being under a moving train), etc. she should have died. She defied ALL odds – instead of getting sucked up by the force of the train, she was pushed down. Such an amazing testimony of how God came through for her and how He clearly had big plans for her. I pray that her testimony, her book, and her ministry (Reaching You Ministries) all do as she intends: help save lives. Rescue people from the depths of despair. Help people see that there is hope – hope in GOD. And, after making that rescue, help people to truly find God. And then, to never be the same.

My Rating: 3 stars

Source: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Get It: Purchase your own copy HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the Linky below. (Put your name in the first box. The "link" box is optional. Include your e-mail address in the last box.) Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Monday, May 31. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from proudbooknerd(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my other giveaways.

• The giveaway for Wind Warrior ends THIS THURSDAY, May 20.
• The Indivisible giveaway closes on May 25.

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HUGE announcement

I was going to wait to tell you, but I've decided I just wanna do it. So, here it is:

Proud Book Nerd is MOVING! That's right. Moving. And this time is the last time, I promise!

Check it out: Proud Book Nerd

I've decided to get my own domain, and to switch to Wordpress. It's still under construction, but I've decided I want to use the new site and stop jumping back and forth between the two. So, I have already imported all of my posts. I just have to figure out how to get the rest of the stuff on there. I also have to get Google Friend Connect on there. So, please bear with me as we go though our growing pains – and please join me over there!

(Anyone with tips/info that would be helpful, PLEASE send me an e-mail! proudbooknerd (at) gmail (dot) com. I'm also trying to find someone who – for a reasonable fee – would be willing to help me create a new theme.)

Starting NOW, I will be posting everything THERE. So, PLEASE come see me at the NEW Proud Book Nerd!

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On My Wish List, Part 5

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City and runs every Saturday. It's where I list all the books I desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. It's also an event that you can join in with too - Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own "On My Wishlist" post. If you want to know more click here.
All descriptions are from Goodreads.com.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

I have seen this one a bit here and there – mostly on friends' reading lists on Goodreads. It really sounds good.

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin the difficult process of healing. In the hands of a brilliant novelist, this story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

This one has always interested me. It sounds good. Plus, I think its cover is GORGEOUS!

Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah- they're totally hot for each other.

But a week before their joint Sweet Sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away.

When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the source of Cam's distance isn't another girl- it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their “perfect” love can weather an uncertain future.

If you wanna join in on the Linky, it can be found HERE.

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Book Blogger Hop: May 14

I have met some wonderful book bloggers through this blog hop. A couple of last week's finds:

• Happy Birthday Author
• Read It, See It

ABOUT THE HOP:
***AS OF THIS WEEK, RULES HAVE CHANGED*** While the information below is correct, there are some additional rules, which can be found HERE.

In the spirit of the Friday Follow, Jennifer at Crazy For Books thought it would be cool to do a Book Blogger Hop to give us all bookies a chance to connect and find new blogs that we may be missing out on! She created this weekly BOOK PARTY where book bloggers and readers can connect to find new blogs to read, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books!  It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs that they may not know existed!  So, grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start PARTYING!!

Your blog should have content related to books, including, but not limited to book reviews.

If you start following someone through the Hop, leave a comment on their blog to let them know!  Stop back during the week to see other blogs that are added!  And, most importantly, the idea is to HAVE FUN!!

For the full rules, see HERE. 

OPTIONAL TWIST:
On your blog hop post, tell us about some of the other great blogs you've found while Hopping around!

TO LINK UP:
See this week's post at Crazy for Books.

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Book Beginnings on Friday 5/12

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.

When you start a new job, most companies provide orientation. ~ The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home by Kathy Peel 

On its own, it's OK. But, once you read the whole first paragraph, it is good. It's comparing how different getting a new job is from entering into motherhood, where what "training" you get is basically sink-or-swim learning.

There's a link list back on Becky's post (see link above), so make sure to add your post to the link if you participate!

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The Friday 56: Conflicts with Interest

This is fun meme hosted at Storytime with Tonya.

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 this blog.
* Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

The nearest book just arrived in the mail today, and I haven't started it yet. It's Conflicts with Interest by Michael Ruddy.

This, a marriage that was founded on love and devotion–now crumbling for unknown reasons as far as Monica was concerned, just arguments and irrational behavior. There was nothing she could put her finger on to explain it.

Add your link to the comments HERE to share with Tonya and others! 

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Write a Review Wednesday: Who Hops?

I can't remember where I originally saw this (sorry), but I followed the link to Tara Lazar to find out more about this meme. It's called Write a Review Wednesday, and it's a way to help support kids' lit. So, I thought I'd make sure to participate. I'm (obviously, I'm sure) a HUGE supporter of reading, and I know how important it is to get kids reading at a young age so they can grow to love books. It won't work for all kids, of course, but even if they don't become a Proud Book Nerd (hee, hee!), literacy is still very important. Anyway, time to get off the soapbox and into the review ...

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Title: Who Hops?

Author: Katie Davis

Summary (from Goodreads): Exploding with color, this engaging read-aloud book takes a fun-filled look at the world of animal movement. Introducing animals that really do hop or fly or swim, Davis ends the sequence with one that certainly doesn't. Birds fly. Bats fly. Flies fly. Rhinos fly. NO THEY DON'T! (At that point, a bedraggled purple rhino, complete with tiny pink wings strapped to his huge body, says, "Great. NOW you tell me.")

My Thoughts: This book is adorable in my opinion, and my kids LOVE it. They think it's HILARIOUS! It's one my daughter has checked out from her school library SEVERAL times over the past two years. (She's only in 1st grade.) She even likes to read it to her younger siblings, who crack up while she's reading. This is definitely one of our favorite kids' books!

My Rating: 5 stars

Source: We do not own this book (although I'd like to), but have borrowed it from the school library.

Own It: Get your copy of Who Hops? HERE. (This is an Amazon link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission. Your support is appreciated!)

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Whatcha Reading Wednesday

Hey, bookworms! This one's for you! Hosted by Busy Moms Who Love to Read, this is just a fun little thing to share a tidbit from what you're reading.

Here's how it works:

Grab the book you are currently reading, open to page 11, find the 11th sentence on the page and type it up. Include the title and author of the book. If, by some odd chance, your two sentences have the possibility of spoiling the story for someone (say, it happens to name the death of a character or reveals a surprise twist), make sure to include **Spoiler Alert** before you share the sentences – that way anyone who'd rather not have it spoiled can opt to skip it! ;-) Then link up on the MckLinky provided HERE! :-)

Here's mine for the week:

Once you've delegated, take another look at the list. ~ The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home by Kathy Peel

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My Reading Habits

I was just getting ready to go to bed when I saw this on Book Crazy (thanks a LOT, Jenn!), and I had to do it!

Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack:

Not usually.

What is your favorite drink while reading?

Dr Pepper. But, then, that's my favorite drink while doing anything ...

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

MARK BOOKS? Are you CRAZY? No, no, no, no, NO!

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

Dog-ears? Laying it flat open? Are you NUTS? N-O – NO! BIG no-no around here! In fact, I'm usually VERY reluctant to lend my books out for fear of these and other forms of mistreatment! Use a bookmark, PLEASE! (FYI: It doesn't have to be an official bookmark: anything thin will work. I have been known to use strips of paper, Post-It notes, envelopes, business cards, magazine subscription cards ...)

Fiction, non-fiction, or both?

Strong preference for fiction, but I'll occasionally read non-fiction.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

I really, really prefer to read to the end of a chapter. But, sometimes it's just not possible. (Life with little kids will do that to ya!) In those cases, I always get to the end of a paragraph, at the very least – better if it's the end of a page – BEST if it's the end of a section within a chapter!

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?

Um, no. That goes back to abusing books – GIGANTIC no-no here!

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

Usually I can figure it out by the context, but if I'm really stumped I'll look it up. That's pretty rare, though, as I rarely come across an unfamiliar word. That said, it's completely different when editing. I look up lots of words – sometimes even words I KNOW – to double check things.

What are you currently reading?

I'm currently in between books. I just finished something about an hour ago. (Review coming next week.)

What is the last book you bought?

Something for the kids – school book fair was last week! :-)

Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

One book at a time. College was hell for me – studying English lit made that IMPOSSIBLE! But, I made it through OK. I will say that I can read more than one if ONLY one is fiction.

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?

Time: anytime. Place: curled up on the couch

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?

So long as it's good, I'll read anything. While I LOVE how involved series can be, I also sometimes like something where it's all done between the covers of one book. I'm the type who, once beginning a series, cannot STOP until ALL of the books (assuming all have been written and published) have been read.

Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?

Yes. Michael J. Sullivan, author of the Riyria Revelations series. AWESOME books!

How do you organize your books (by genre, title, author's last name, etc.)?

Organize? What's that? I have so many books lately, I'm struggling to find a place to put them. But, once I get that figured out, it'll be alphabetical by author's name, then by title (with series ALWAYS kept together, of course).

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A-Z Wednesdays

This is hosted over on Reading at the Beach.

To join, here's all you have to do: Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.

Post the following:

1~ a photo of the book

2~ title and synopsis

3~ link (amazon, barnes and noble etc.)

4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments.

If you've already reviewed this book you can add it also.

Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment. (We all love comments, don't we?)

Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.

THIS WEEK'S LETTER IS: "N"

My book is:

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

Summary (from Goodreads):

Jodi Picoult's 14th novel, Nineteen Minutes, deals with the truth and consequences of a smalltown high-school shooting. Set in Sterling, New Hampshire, Picoult offers a glimpse of what would cause a 17-year-old to wake up one day, load his backpack with four guns, and kill nine students and one teacher in the span of nineteen minutes. As with any Picoult novel, the answers are never black and white, and it is her exceptional ability to blur the lines between right and wrong that make this author such a captivating storyteller.
On Peter Houghton's first day of kindergarten, he watched helplessly as an older boy ripped his lunch box out of his hands and threw it out the window. From that day on, his life was a series of humiliations, from having his pants pulled down in the cafeteria, to being called a freak at every turn. But can endless bullying justify murder? As Picoult attempts to answer this question, she shows us all sides of the equation, from the ruthless jock who loses his ability to speak after being shot in the head, to the mother who both blames and pities herself for producing what most would call a monster. Surrounding Peter's story is that of Josie Cornier, a former friend whose acceptance into the popular crowd hangs on a string that makes it impossible for her to reconcile her beliefs with her actions.

I seem to be on a Jodi Picoult kick! LOL This is yet another one I read before I started writing reviews. I gave it 5 stars, but didn't write anything about it. I do remember that it was VERY good and VERY thought-provoking.

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Teaser Tuesday ~ 5/11

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 & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's mine:

My mom backed her car out of the parking spot. Her hands tightened around the steering wheel. ~ Page 61 of Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson with Tricia Goyer

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your 2 "teasers" in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

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It's Monday! What are you reading?

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. Hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books, it is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

Last week I finished:

• Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann ~ Review & GIVEAWAY
• Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge ~ Review

I'm currently reading:

• Life, In Spite of Me by Kristen Jane Anderson
• The Busy Mom's Guide to a Happy, Organized Home by Kathy Peel

I'm still working on:

• Leave Me Alone, I'm Reading: Finding and Losing Myself in Books by Maureen Corrigan

Next up:

• The Host by Stephenie Meyer
• More Than Conquerors by  Kathi Macias

As mentioned above, Sheila hosts this on her blog, One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. If you'd like to see others' lists and/or share your list with others, she has a Linky HERE.

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Review & GIVEAWAY: Indivisible

Title: Indivisible

Author: Kristen Heitzmann

Special: Click HERE to listen to an interview of Kristen Heitzmann.

From the Back of the Book: Battling his own personal demons, Police Chief Jonah Westfall knows the dark side of life and has committed himself to eradicating it. When a pair of raccoons are found mutilated in Redford, Colorado, Jonah investigates the gruesome act, knowing the strange event could escalate and destroy the tranquility of his small mountain town. With a rising drug threat and never-ending conflict with Tia Manning, a formidable childhood friend with whom he has more than a passing history, Jonah fights for answers—and his fragile sobriety.

But he can’t penetrate every wound or secret—especially one fueled by a love and guilt teetering on madness.

From best-selling author Kristen Heitzmann comes a spellbinding tale of severed connections and the consequences of life lived alone.

My Thoughts: I must have had high expectations for this book. I think it sounds REALLY good. And it is pretty good, but not AWESOME. It didn't shock my socks off. It didn't have me hooked until the last few chapters. In the beginning, a lot of bait is thrown out – many references to past events that we're left guessing about. That only keeps me going so long. Don't throw several "mysteries" at me and then string me along for most of the book. Give me something early on – an appetizer, if you will. I will admit that there were some unexpected twists and turns, and the one at the VERY end (which I will NOT spoil for you) did catch me a bit off guard. I really didn't see that final twist coming. But, of course, looking back, I can see small hints throughout the book. That part was VERY well done. One of those why-didn't-I-catch-that things that I occasionally run into! That said, I wasn't quite satisfied with the end. Too many unanswered questions. What happens with Miles? Is Scout OK? What happens with the mayor? I find myself hoping Heitzmann is planning a sequel in hopes of finding these answers. Do I see myself reading this book again? Honestly, probably not. But maybe.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Source: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Get It: Purchase your own copy HERE.

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*****WIN IT*****

I have one copy to give away to one lucky reader!

To Enter: Submit your entry using the Linky below. (Put your name in the first box. The "link" box is optional. Include your e-mail address in the last box.) Entries will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. (Central) Tuesday, May 25. A winner will be chosen randomly with the help of random.org. I will send the lucky winner an e-mail notification. (It will come from proudbooknerd(at)gmail(dot)com, so make sure to add this address to your safe list or address book to ensure it doesn't get lost in junk/bulk mail.) If I do not get a response within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to readers in the U.S. No P.O. boxes.

Speaking of GIVEAWAYS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway for Wind Warrior. Entries are accepted through May 20.

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