The Literary Road Trip

 Sponsored by   http://www.galleysmith.com/

One of my fellow bloggers turned me on to this after reading my post about wanting to read books set in Wisconsin or by Wisconsin authors.

The Literary Road Trip is a project in which bloggers are volunteering to showcase local authors. This showcase can be anything they want to make of it – book reviews, author interviews, giveaways – as long as we’re working with an author local to us.

I have staked my claim on Wisconsin with one other blogger so far and I have read one book Vinegar Hill by A. Manatte Ansay, but have 2 more books by her to read here on my pile and I plan to write a post after I finish all three.

Remember if you have any books or authors you want to suggest just email me at: dollycas79@gmail.com or post a comment here on my blog. If you want to find out more about The Literary Road Trip and find bloggers from other states just go to: http://www.galleysmith.com/literary-road-trip/

IT'S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

This great idea is hosted by: 
http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

  FINISHED LAST WEEK

• Lye In Wait by Cricket McRae
• Heaven Preserve Us by Cricket MaRae
• Vinegar Hill by A. Manette Ansay
• Fatal Fixer Upper by Jennie Bently 

CURRENTLY READING

• Spackled and Spooked by Jennie Bently

ON DECK

• Sister by A. Mannette Ansay
• High Anxiety by Charlotte Hughes
• The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews
  

It's a 2fer Thursday!!!

Cricket McRae's Home Crafting Series
This series features Sophie Mae Reynolds, her housemate and best friend Meghan Bly and her daughter Erin and their corgi, Brodie. Sophie Mae makes beauty products and runs her business out of the basement of their home, and Meghan is a lawyer turned massage therapist who also works at home.

Lye In Wait Book #1 in the series

The author has you from page one as a body is found in the basement workroom of Sophie Mae. The body is their handyman and next door neighbor Walter Hanover and it appears he has died from drinking a glass filled with lye. Something Sophia Mae keeps on hand for her business in a large supply. Do the police think she s the murderer, No, they rule it a suicide. But Sophie Mae doesn’t believe it for a second and the book takes us on a wild ride as she investigates.

Heaven Preserve Us Book #2 in the Series

Sophie Mae is not only building her business she is now volunteering at a community center answering their help line. After one night she is being stalked by one of her callers. Then her boss at the center dies of food poisoning and her boyfriend also ends up in the hospital with a case of food poisoning but thankfully his case it is not fatal. The police leave everything up to the health department and they think they have found the source, but Sophie Mae doesn’t buy it and is off investigating yet again.

I really enjoyed both of these books, there was suspense, plot twists and turns, and wonderful characters. I can honestly say they were UNPUTDOWNABLE. I am really looking forward to book #3.

For more information about these and the next two books in the series check out the author's website: http://www.cricketmcrae.com/

BOOKS SET IN WISCONSIN

Today I was surfing the internet looking for ideas for my blog and I decided to look for fiction novels that use my beautiful state of Wisconsin as a backdrop. (Like I needed to add more books to my ever growing TBR stacks.)  I have read a few, those that come to mind are "The Elegant Gathering of White Snows" By Kris Radish, "Bittersweet" by LaVyrle Spencer and the Loon Lake series by Victoria Houston.

I quickly found some that interest me, three by A. Mannette Ansay, one of which has been on my To Be Read pile for years. They are Vinegar Hill, The Sister and Blue Water.

I already make sure to follow some of my favorite Wisconsin Authors like Jacqueline Mitchard, Jennifer Chiaverini, and my latest find Deb Baker.

I have decided to challenge myself to read 15 books this year that are set in Wisconsin.  Help me out if you know of any, email me or comment below.  I am also always on alert for authors from the Badger state, so post those too.

I have found a site
http://info.infosoup.org/lists/WisconsinFiction.asp?BooklistID=103
where I found the books above, but please forward any others you may know of.  My stacks will just continue to grow and grow, but all great bibliophiles know "the one who dies with the most books wins!"

IT'S MONDAY! WHAT ARE YOU READING?

This great idea is hosted by: 

http://j-kaye-book-blog.blogspot.com/

Today I am reading;

• Lye In Wait - A Home Crafting Mystery by Cricket McRae

On Deck Next:

• Heaven Preserve Us- #2 in the Home Crafting Series by Cricket McRae
• Spin A Wicked Web -Book #3 in this series in on my Wish List as is
• #4 Something Borrowed, Something Bleu that comes out July 1, 2010
  

Where Is God? by Dr. John Townsend

I received this book in the mail the day after the earthquake hit Haiti. Watching the destruction, the desperation, the injured, the dead, and the hopelessness, I’m sure I was only one of millions asking “Where is God?”

In 2001 I was severely injured in an automobile accident and I found myself and my family asking “Where is God?” I survived but remain partially paralyzed and while I was not happy, after many days I came to know that God saved me for a reason, I renewed my faith and knew that “God is Good” and He has control of my path. The members of my church called me their “miracle.” I could feel the strength I received from all their prayers. It was a miracle, I should have died, I wasn’t wearing a seat belt, and when others thought I couldn’t hear, I heard doctors and nurses discussing my care and estimating my slim chance of survival, let alone walking again. Today my faith is strong, my brain intact, and my body doing the best it can under the circumstances.

This book was the perfect book for me because it validated a lot of my thoughts. It is a very timely book because it deals with all the things everyone is being touched by in their own lives or by someone close to them. Financial struggles, medical tragedies, personal turmoil, all things brought on by the world today around us.

Dr. John Townsend uses personal anecdotes, real life stories, and scripture to assure us that God is right beside us as long as we are open to Him. His unique insight gives us hope and truth that we can build our lives upon. I was pleased to read the chapters were he acknowledges that there will be “Hard Times” and “doubt” and that “God suffers with us.” If you are struggling with any challenge and think God has forgotten or forsaken you, this book is a must read.  It is also a great read to reaffirm your faith.

As I finished this book I was again watching scenes from Haiti and could actually see God working, in the hands of the hundreds of volunteers there helping the injured and desperate, in the eyes of the Haitian people as they felt hope seeing all the people and supplies that are arriving to help them, and also in their tears and they mourned the loss of loved ones. Where is God? Inside every one of us. Thank you Dr. John Townsend. Your book is a wonderful gift.

Click the link below to order you copy of this book today from Amazon.com

Where Is God?: Finding His Presence, Purpose and Power in Difficult Times

This book was provided to me free of charge by Thomas Nelson Publishers for my honest review. Opinions are mine and mine alone.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Body in the Sleigh by Katherine Hall Page

This is the 18th book in Katherine Hall Page’s Faith Fairchild Mystery series.

The Fairchild family is spending the holiday season at their summer get-a-way in Sanpere, Maine as Pastor Tom recuperates from major surgery on the quiet island. But it doesn’t remain quiet for long, as Faith takes the children, Ben and Amy, to a park to pose for their annual Christmas photo, Faith discovers that her perfect background, a sleigh, does not just have a couple of manikins aboard but also a dead body tucked nicely between them. The victim is a young woman who used to spend summers on the island and is known to many of the island residents, known very well by one resident.

As if the dead body isn’t enough, one of the island residents, who raises nanny goats on her farm, finds a baby boy in her manger on the morning of Christmas Eve, along with a huge sum of money for his care, and calls Faith to help her find the mother. While Faith is trying to sleuth out the mother’s identity, she realizes there is a connection to the body she found in the sleigh.

Once you start this book you will not be able to put it down, but this is not your typical Faith Fairchild mystery, I found it much more gripping than her previous books. The characters are great although I missed some of the regulars, but there are new ones who are very dark and deceitful. There is still the wit and humor, the wonderful backdrop of Christmas, and the faith and hope that everything will work out.

There are also two bonuses in this book. There are more yummy recipes, of course, but the pure treat is a wonderful tribute to librarians. It brought back many memories of my own time spent in the library of my hometown.

For a complete list of the books in this series and to find out more about the author, you can visit her webpage at:   http://www.katherine-hall-page.org/

Click on the link below to order your copy today from Amazon.com
The Body in the Sleigh: A Faith Fairchild Mystery (Faith Fairchild Mysteries)