I entered the Missions of Mercy Flip Camera Giveaway  for a chance to win a Flip HD Camera Prize Pack worth over $200! One grand prize winner will receive:

* A brand new FLIP HD Camera

* The entire Missions of Mercy series

Book Giveaway

Julie Lessman's Books

Megan's favorite books »

Giveaway Lady has a guest post by Julie Lessman, author of "The Daughtes Of Boston" series & "The Winds Of Change" series, and is giving away the book of your choice by Julie Lessman. Here is the link to the Book Giveaway!!!!

Two Giveaways!!!

Book Ponderings is having two great book giveaways.
They are giving away all three books of 'The Missions of Mercy' series by Susan May Warren to one lucky winner. Here's the link:
http://bookponderings.blogspot.com/2011/05/surprise-giveaway.html

Also in the other giveaway they are giving away a copy of 'A Great Catch' by Lorna Seilstad. Here's the link:
http://bookponderings.blogspot.com/2011/05/monthly-interview-giveaway.html

Good luck!

Courting Miss Amsel - Kim Vogel Sawyer

I GIVE THIS BOOK .
View all my reviews


Edythe Amsel is delighted with her first teaching assignment: a one-room schoolhouse in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Independent, headstrong, and a firm believer in a well-rounded education, Edythe is ready to open the world to the students in this tiny community. But is Walnut Hill ready for her?


Having raised his nephews since their parents' untimely deaths, Joel Townsend is thrilled to learn the town council has hired a female teacher. His sons could use a woman's influence. But within the first week, Miss Amsel has the entire town up in arms over her outlandish teaching methods. Of course, Joel can't help but notice that she's also mighty pretty --- and just might make a good mother for his boys.


When Edythe decides to take her pupils to hear Miss Susan Anthony speak on the women's suffrage amendment, the town's outcry reaches new heights. Even Joel isn't sure he can support her newfangled ideas any longer. And if can't trust her to teach the boys, how can he trust her with his heart?


MY THOUGHTS
What a charming & entertaining book by Kim Vogel Sawyer. Edythe Amsel was such a lovable, endearing teacher & Joel Townsend was such a caring & charming caregiver to his two nephews. So many times while reading "Courting Miss Amsel" I felt as though this book was a slightly different "Little House on The Prairie". There are a quite a few similarities: Walnut Grove/Walnut Hill, Troublemaker Willie Olsen/Troublemaker William Sholes, Schoolteacher Miss Pringle/ Schoolteacher Edythe.


What I liked about this book:
How much Edythe cared for her students, I love the character of Luthenia, Edythe's landlady, how she always seemed to know exactly what to say to Edythe. I even liked how hardheaded Hank Libolt was towards Edythe, it made the story much more enjoyable.


What I didn't like about this book was how Joel fell so quickly in love with Edythe. From the moment Joel met Edythe he thought about how she would make a perfect wife and mother to his two nephews. Before he had even found out anything about her, he just assumed that she was a believer and when he found out that she wasn't, he just about called her a liar.


'Courting Miss Amsel' is a book I would read again & it is a book that I would completely recommend to anyone, especially those who enjoy historical romance.

Author's Website:

http://www.kimvogelsawyer.com/

Courting Miss Amsel

Interview & Giveaway - Deborah Lynne

Katie McCurdy has an interview with author Deborah Lynne and is giving away a copy of Lynne's book "Passion From the Heart" on her blog. Here's the link - http://katieslegacy.blogspot.com/2011/05/interview-giveaway-deborah-lynne.html.

100 Books In A Year Reading Challenge 2011!

I joined this reading challenge to challenge myself. For the past five years I have made the goal of reading 100 books in a year, but have never reached that goal (though I have come very close). So I think that this will be the extra push I need to reach it.
I'll keep a list of all the books that I've read here, with links to my reviews.

1. Psych: The Call of the Mild by William Rabkin
2. The Jewel of His Heart by Maggie Brendan
3. Anna's Return by Marta Perry
4. Pride And Prescience by Carrie Bebris
5. Gold of Kings by Davis Bunn
6. Suspense And Sensibility by Carrie Bebris
7. A Place of Peace by Amy Clipston
8. North By Northanger by Carrie Bebris
9. Plain Perfect by Beth Wiseman
10. The Matters at Mansfield by Carrie Bebris
11. The Girl In The Gatehouse by Julie Klassen
12. Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell
13. A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman
14. Psych: A Fatal Frame Of Mind by William Rabkin
15. The Amish Midwife by MindyStarnsClark & LeslieGould
16. Somewhere to Belong by Judith Miller
17. An Improper Suitor by Monica Fairview
18. Indivisible: A Novel by Kristen Heitzmann
19. The Other Mr. Darcy by Monica Fairview
20. Hearts Aglow by Tracie Peterson
21. Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma by Diana Birchall
22. The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom
23. The Intrigue at Highbury by Carrie Bebris
24. The Voyage of Promise by Kay Marshall Strom
25. Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton
26. Thicker Than Blood - C.J. Darlington
27. Darcy's Voyage by Kara Louise
28. Heart of Lies by Jill Marie Landis
29. Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad
30. Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer
31. When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley
32. Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
33. Princess Charming by Beth Pattillo
34. Two Brides Too Many by Mona Hodgson
35. Hope Rekindled by Tracie Peterson
36. The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper by Kathleen Y'Barbo
37. Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange
38. What Would Mr. Darcy Do? by Abigail Reynolds
39. Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y'Barbo
40. The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo
41. When Lightning Strikes by Kay & Bobby Bronson
42. Inside Threat by Jason Elam & Steve Yohn
43. A Distant Melody by Sarah Sundin
44. A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin
45. No Mo' Broke by Horace McMillon
46. Abe's Lucky Day by Jill Warren
47. Rippler by Cidney Swanson
48. Contingency by Paula Wiseman
49. Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin
50. Coffee at Little Angels by Nadine Rose Larter
51. Most Likely by Craig Hansen
52. Pirate of my Heart by Jamie Carie
53. Seers by Heather Frost
54. Shotgun Groom by Sandra Chastain
55. Healer by Linda Windsor
56. Passion to Action by Beth & Jay Loecken
57. First Sunday by Donald Elton
58. Mail-Order Groom by Lisa Plumley
59. The Seraph Seal by Leonard Sweet & Lori Wagner
60. Megan's Secrets by Mike Cope
61. On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
62. North! Or, Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson
63. Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeh Eulberg
64. Seventh Day by E'yen A. Gardener
65. Catt Chasin' by Shana Burton
66. Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson
67. Cherished by Kim Cash Tate
68. Waking Hours by Lis Wiehl
69. William & Kate: A Royal Love Story by Christopher Anderson
70. There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones
71. Reclaiming Lily by Patti Lacy
72. Becoming Me by Melody Carlson
73. Falling to Pieces by Vannetta Chapman
74. His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons
75. Carbavoid by Cindy Fleck Howlett
76. Tithing & How to Get There by Paul Stephenson
77. Peace at the Edge of Uncertainty by Neil Hanson
78. Amazing Grace...As Christ Walks By by Carol Cline
79. The "What's For Dinner?" Solution by Kathi Lipp
80. The Seed by Fola
81. A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner
82. Nightfall in Mogadishu by Veronica Li
83. Austenland by Shannon Hale
84. A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Grace Whitson
85. Marian's Christmas Wish by Carla Kelly
86. Chameleon by Cidney Swanson
87. Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos
88. Sunrise on the Battery by Beth Webb Hart
89. A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman
90. Shadows From the Past by Ashley Dawn
91. Indemnity by Paula Wiseman
92. Stay Tuned by Lauren Clark
93. The Hope of Refuge by Cindy Woodsmall
94. On the Path with God by Erwin W. Lutzer
95. Not Afraid of Life by Bristol Palin
96. The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall
97. The Deception at Lyme by Carrie Bebris
98. The Christmas Singing y Cindy Woodsmall
99. Farsighted by Emlyn Chand
100. Protection For Hire by Camy Tang.

Historical Fiction Challenge 2011

I came across this reading challenge today and it sounds like a lot of fun! I decided to go for the "Severe Bookaholism" level. I have already read many historical books this year, so this shouldn't be a problem for me.  

Here are the five different reading levels you can choose from:

• Severe Bookaholism: 20 books
• Undoubtedly Obsessed: 15 books
• Struggling the Addiction: 10 books
• Daring & Curious: 5 books
• Out of My Comfort Zone: 2 books

I'll keep track of my progress here, with links to my reviews.

1. Pride And Prescience by Carrie Bebris (4 Stars) 
2. Suspense And Sensibility by Carrie Bebris (4 Stars)
3. North By Northanger by Carrie Bebris (5 Stars)
4. The Matters at Mansfield by Carrie Bebris (5 Stars)
5. The Girl In The Gatehouse by Julie Klassen (5 Stars)
6. Pemberley Ranch by Jack Caldwell (2 1/2 Stars)
7. A Hope Undaunted by Julie Lessman (5 Stars)
8. An Improper Suitor by Monica Fairview (5 Stars)
9. The Other Mr. Darcy by Monica Fairview (4 1/2 Stars)
10. Hearts Aglow by Tracie Peterson (5 Stars)
11. Mrs. Darcy's Dilemma by Diana Birchall (2 1/2 Stars)
12. The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom (2 1/2 Stars)
13. The Intrigue at Highbury by Carrie Bebris (5 Stars)
14. The Voyage of Promise by Kay Marshall Strom (4 Stars)
15. Charlotte Collins by Jennifer Becton (5 Stars)
16. Darcy's Voyage by Kara Louise (5 Stars)
17. Courting Miss Amsel by Kim Vogel Sawyer (5 Stars)
18. Wickham's Diary by Amanda Grange (5 Stars)
19. What Would Mr. Darcy Do? by Abigail Reynolds (4 Stars)
20. His Steadfast Love by Golden Keyes Parsons (4 1/2 Stars)
21. A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner (5 Stars)
22. The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo (5 Stars)