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Showing posts with label The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge - Completed Successfully

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge- COMPLETED
hosted by Roof Beam Reader


WRAP UP POST AT Roof Beam Reader.com

Goal: Specify and read 12 books that must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. (All published prior to 1/1/2014.)
I made a few adjustments but finalized my list by 1/10/15.
(The links go to my review of the book as I post them.)

1. Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw September 4,2009
2. Homespun Bride Jillian Hart May 4,2009
3. Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed.. Lara Adrian May 4,2009
4. Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson Audible Nov 2011
5. Awaken His Eyes: The Awakened Book One Jason Tesar May 2011
6. The New World (FREE short story) (Chaos Walking) Patrick Ness Nov 2010
7. On the Run (The Elijah Project) Bill Myers, James Riordan Nov 2010
8. The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Psalm 23 Mysteries #1 Debbie Viguie Oct 2010
Dead Reckoning Ronie Kendig Sept 2010
9. Sheltering Hearts (Virgin River) Robyn Carr Sept 2010
10. Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel Irene Hannon April 2012
Spying in High Heels (High Heels Mysteries #1) Gemma Halliday Sept 2011

Alternates:
11. Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1) Richard C Hale July 2012
12. Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Audible Oct 12

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Book Review: Homespun Bride by Jillian Hart

I was delightfully pleased by this warm-hearted, sweet romance.
by Jillian Hart
  • File Size: 379 KB
  • Print Length: 288 pages
  • Publisher: Love Inspired Historicals (January 15, 2014)
  • ASIN: B00HAZ6C2I
Genre: Historical Romance, Inspirational
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0


Steeple Hill (February 12, 2008)
Book Description
Montana Territory in 1883 was a dangerous place—especially for a blind woman struggling to make her way through an early winter snowstorm. Undaunted, Noelle Kramer fought to remain independent. But then a runaway horse nearly plunged her into a rushing, ice-choked river, before a stranger's strong, sure hand saved her from certain death.
And yet this was no stranger. Though she could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who had once loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeply held beliefs. Now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a sign that somehow he could find his way home.


Review:
Noelle became blind due to an injury during a carriage accident that killed her wealthy parents. She lives in Montana territory with her Aunt and Uncle and several younger female cousins. Noelle manages to live a fairly normal, if reserved, life with thier loving support. But she has put her dreams of love and family behind her especially since, before the accident, the love of her 16 year old heart left her behind to go wandering and cowboying.

Thad has returned home to help his brother take care of his ailing mother and their struggling family ranch. Thad had loved Noelle when he was 19, but her father made him realize that he couldn’t give her the things that her wealth and position had prepared her for. He had heard about her engagement to another wealthy beau and hoped his heart could stand the sorrow of seeing her with someone else. Thad shocked when he rescues a run-away horse and carriage to discover that Noelle is blind and living with relatives. At first he thinks, and hopes, she will not know who he is. After all, even if she did recognize him he is sure that she could never forgive him for breaking her young heart.

Noelle knows the voice of her rescuer. She doesn’t want to remember the love and doesn’t want to forgive. As Thad helps her Uncle who is trying to learn to manage horses, Noelle experiences again the tender care and responsibility of the young man she loved even though she can’t reconcile that with the boy who abandoned her. Then she learns that there were secrets behind Thad’s desertion that change her perceptions. Still, she believes he deserves a wife who isn’t damaged - a wife who can share building a homestead with him - things she doesn’t think she can do.

This is a truly heart warming story. It is also beautifully written. I was repeatedly struck by the wonderful prose and phrasing that just made the warm story and the historical setting that much richer. I really liked how Ms. Hart portrayed the aspects of Noelle’s blindness. She continually shows the extra efforts necessary for daily tasks which is quite interesting. Ms. Hart does a beautiful job in revealing the underlying characters of Noelle and Thad as they struggle to overcome their hurts and fears to find the joy of their first love. The story moved along nicely as an easy read.

There is some repetition of the self-doubt themes that could become aggravating but still I loved the story and loved the writing. I checked my reading lists and see that I read one book by Jillian Hart in 2005. I have three I have collected in print and three more in my Kindle library. I will work my way to them soon. I recommend this to readers who, like me, are sometimes ready to take a break from the fast pace to enjoy a sweet, warm-hearted romance.

Excerpts:
Noelle:  How did she tell him the truth? She ought to be crying for her uncle, but the tears were for herself. For him. She held on to those bright pieces of joy like a miser did his last pieces of gold. They were shivers of happiness she could not stand to remember. They were bits of sorrow she could not forget. (location 1295.)

Thad: I"'ll never let you fall." He used that wondrous voice of his against her, replete with humor and unspoken dreams. Quiet, secret dreams that had her heart opening and her wishes coming to life. (Location 2493.)

I have had this title in my Kindle library as a free book since 2009. It qualifies for COYER, TBR Double Dare, and 2015 TBR Pile Challenge.
Since this book has been re-released again in 2014 (as well as 2012 which I have also)
I have copied my original purchase order to make sure I get credit in the TBR Pile Challenge:

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge

The Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge
hosted by Roof Beam Reader


Check all rules at Roof Beam Reader.com

Goal: Specify and read 12 books that must have been on your bookshelf or “To Be Read” list for AT LEAST one full year. (All published prior to 1/1/2014.)
The list must be finalized by 1/15/15. I think I am comfortable with the list below so I don't expect changes. My list shows the book, author and date added to my library.

1/10/15 I have updated my list to replace two print books with ebooks although I still hope to read the two print wins during the year. Also, I replaced one audio choice with an ebook. Chances are I'll get to the audios anyway. :-)   The alternates also changed to an older ebook and an older Audible title.
Four books are from authors I have read before (including one of the alternates); the other ten will be new to me.  All of the choices are books I have had since 2012 or earlier.
(The links go to my review of the book as I post them.)

1. Shopping for Time: How to Do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed Carolyn Mahaney, Nicole Mahaney Whitacre, Kristin Chesemore, Janelle Bradshaw September 4,2009
2. Homespun Bride Jillian Hart May 4,2009
3. Kiss of Midnight: A Midnight Breed Novel (The Midnight Breed.. Lara Adrian May 4,2009
4. Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson Audible Nov 2011
5. Awaken His Eyes: The Awakened Book One Jason Tesar May 2011
6. The New World (FREE short story) (Chaos Walking) Patrick Ness Nov 2010
7. On the Run (The Elijah Project) Bill Myers, James Riordan Nov 2010
8. The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Psalm 23 Mysteries #1 Debbie Viguie Oct 2010
Dead Reckoning Ronie Kendig Sept 2010
9. Sheltering Hearts (Virgin River) Robyn Carr Sept 2010
10. Fatal Judgment (Guardians of Justice Book #1): A Novel Irene Hannon April 2012
Spying in High Heels (High Heels Mysteries #1) Gemma Halliday Sept 2011

Alternates:
11. Frozen Past (A Jaxon Jennings' Detective Mystery Thriller Series, Book 1) Richard C Hale July 2012
12. Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel by Kristine Kathryn Rusch Audible Oct 12

Plus for sure I will read Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles Book 1) by Marissa Meyer - I wasn’t positive if I should count this book as it was on my Wish list since 2012 but not purchased until 2/2014. I'm such a fuddy-duddy stickler when it comes to rules that I decided not to include it in the “official” list but it is a definite read for me in early 2015.

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