Once Upon A Rose by Judith O'Brien

I finished my selection for "O" in the Royal's Romance Reading Challenge: Once Upon A Rose by Judith O'Brien. I LOVED IT! I've discovered a new time travel romance writer! Time Travel Romance is my favorite genre of romance novels. Deanie Bailey, a country singer on location for a music video of the song she wrote as a duet for she and Bucky Lee Denton, stumbles into an enchanted maze and is transported back to 1540. She encounters a very handsome and virile man there in the maze - of course. He helps her make the adjustment to 1540 and King Henry VIII's court. Predictably, they fall in love. Deanie learns a lot about the Tudor era and tries to help some of the characters there. There are little twists and turns in the plot that make you want to keep reading and reading. It was a very entertaining read and I look forward to reading more of Ms. O'Brien's novels.

Women Unbound - A Reading Challenge

Yes, I'm going to do another challenge. My daughters would be proud of me for doing this one - Women Unbound - A Reading Challenge. There is a special blog dedicated to this challenge. For more information, you can go here.

There are 3 questions to answer at the start of the challenge meme:

1. What does feminism mean to you? Does it have to do with the work sphere? The social sphere? How you dress? How you act?
I have always admired strong women. I think feminism has been around for a long time in the persona of women who stood up for their family, their country, their way of life. Personally, I feel it is just a coincidence that the work sphere is involved. You can be a strong woman and stay at home with your kids or even be retired. I don't think it has anything to do with the way your dress. I'm sure, if you are a strong woman, you act like one.

2. Do you consider yourself a feminist? Why or why not?
I don't know if I consider myself a feminist - the burn-your-bra kind. I've taught my daughters to be independent and that they could do whatever they decide is right for them to do, but I'm a stay-at-home Mom who plays the piano at her Church. Not really most people's definition of a feminist. I am very independent and I have my opinions on things although I don't always press them on other people.

3. What do you consider the biggest obstacle women face in the world today? Has that obstacle changed over time, or does it basically remain the same?
The biggest obstacle women face is not believing in themselves. If they believe they can make a difference in this world, they will find a way. It could be just a little thing that they do, but that little thing could make a difference in their world. I think women have always had the potential to change their worlds for the better, some have just chosen to do it in different ways than others.

I'm looking forward to learning more about women's studies with this challenge.

Rock on with Rosie!

Loving Frank by Nancy Horan

Our book club reviewed "Loving Frank" by Nancy Horan today. Overall, we liked the book. There are discussion questions in the back of the book that were very interesting. One of our members put her name on the reserve list for the book at the library, but she wasn't able to get it in time to read. So, she borrowed another book called "The Woman" which told of all of Frank Lloyd Wright's loves. It followed "Loving Frank" very closely, but went on after Mamah died. Frank married two more times after his affair with Mamah. We decided that he really, really loved her and was devastated by her death. We also said that, even though she thought that Frank was her true love, we could not have left our children to pursue him. We all love Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture and we have all visited or plan to visit "Falling Water" near Somerset, PA. This was a very good book with an unexpected twist. I'm not telling what it is though...

Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2

Along with the Christmas Reading Challenge, I'm going to do the Winter Holiday Reading Challenge #2! It runs from November 1, 2009 through January 31, 2010. The books selected have to be about celebrating one of the Winter Holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year's, etc. For more information and to sign up for this challenge go here.

Christmas Reading Challenge - Ho! Ho! Ho!

I have decided to join the Christmas Reading Challenge hosted by The True Book Addict.
These are the rules:
* you can choose 1 - 3 books...I know it seems a small amount, but it's a busy time of year and the challenge is only a little over a month.
* These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore or a book of Christmas short stories (sorry, no children's books, but YA novel is okay).

The Challenge runs from Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009, through New Year's Eve, December 31, 2009. If you love Christmas as much as we do, sign up for the challenge here.

TEASER TUESDAYS

I'm reading "An Echo In The Bone" by Diana Gabaldon (as many people are I'm sure). Here is my teaser:

"Claire," I said briefly. "Sterilization of the instruments. To prevent post-operative infection. As much as possible," I added honestly. Stactoe made a very disrespectful noise at this, but I ignored it. "What do you recommend, Dr. Hunter?"

Operation Actually Read the Bible - update

I was sick last week so I didn't get to keep up with my reading, but I'm getting better now. This week I'm up to Genesis 29; Psalm 19; and Matthew 12: 1-21. Hope you are keeping up, too!

Pendragon by Catherine Coulter

Meggie Sherbrooke is a delightful character. She has been in love with her almost cousin, Jeremy, since she was 13. Unfortunately, Jeremy still thinks of her as a child and sets out to discourage her amour. First of all, he has a fiancee - that's discouraging enough, but he says some obnoxious things about women and how men should treat them. He doesn't really mean the things he says, he's just trying to make Meggie mad at him so she will give up her crush.

Well, Meggie does give up her crush on Jeremy! She meets Thomas Malcombe who teaches her things she is very interested in - like kissing. They have a very quick romance and get married. On their wedding day, Thomas hears Meggie talking to her father about Jeremy and develops a little jealous streak toward him. This affects their wedding night and several other aspects of their relationship. On their honeymoon, they come upon an Inn where a murder has been committed and the innkeeper disappears the next day. They try to discover the culprit and the reason for the crime, but to no avail. So, they continue on to Thomas' home, Pendragon, on the coast of Ireland. Meggie meets Thomas' mother, Madeleine, who doesn't like her very much. Meggie is very anxious to take on the task of running the household - getting it cleaned, having good meals prepared. Then, someone tried to kill her.

The rest of the story deals with Thomas trying to find out who attacked his wife and why. As I said above, Meggie is delightful. She is devoted to Thomas even though there is a twinge of feeling for Jeremy still there - but that is gradually fading.
The book has a lot of sex scenes - not explicit, but nearly so - they are newlyweds after all. In spite of that, the story is a good one. I recommend it.

Operation Actually Read the Bible

Well, it's Saturday again! I've stuck to this program for 2 whole weeks. I've completed to Genesis 18; Psalm 12; and Matthew 8:1-17. Hope all of you are keeping up with your commitment to Actually Read the Bible, too!

Operation Actually Read the Bible

Hey! I have had a great week! I'm to Genesis 7:24; Psalm 6; and Matthew 5:1-20. I've decided to read the Bible every day before I read anything else. I have made it through the entire week. I only have one question - where did Cain's wife come from? I'm planning to check in with how I'm doing every Saturday. Have a great week!