August Reading

Holiday Reading

Seeing Stars by Christina Jones

Quality chick lit by an excellent author, her books have interesting locations and this one features some characters from previous books. Great fun.


Handbags and Halos by Bernadette Strachan

Chick lit but with a little extra, the main character thinks she is too shallow so decides to do something about it. Some annoying characters but reasonably good read.

Get More Like Jesus While Watching TV by Nick Pollard and Steve Couch

Non fiction and thought provoking, how do you watch tv? The idea is the way you watch tv not so much what you are watching, well worth the read, especially if you watch a bit too much tv!

Fame by Karen Kingsbury

Start of the Firstborn series of christian fiction from an excellent author. Interesting characters and different to put it in the Hollywood location. This series does seem to follow on from the Redemption series so I'm thinking I should have read that first!

How Will I Know by Sheila O'Flanagan

Another excellent read from a good author. A nice chunky book so a good and long read. Very enjoyable, recommend any of her many books.


One Day, Someday by Lynne Barrett-Lee

A good author and not a bad story but I did find the main character a little annoying. How could she not realise how terrible her "boyfriend" was and I'm not convinced the " happy ending" could possibly last.

Land of My Heart by Tracie Peterson

Good read, christian fiction, start of the Heirs of Montana series. Very enjoyable historical fiction. I found this a great read and look forward to the rest of the series, well worth a read.

Another week's books

Three books read this week, nothing as deep as my sister has been reading, but I enjoyed all three!
CHERUB: The Recruit by Robert Machamore

This is actually a children's book but as I work in a school I like to browse the school library, there are some great children's books out there, perhaps that should be my next category of books. Anyway this is a teenage spy book, James is orphaned and expelled from school and after staying in a foster home is recruited by CHERUB, a sort of children's MI5. This is a good story, lots of suspense and with a gritty reality, I would recommend it to adults and children. Almost as good as the Alex Rider books, though they are my number one teenage spy books.

Virtual Strangers by Lynne Barrett-Lee

This is a chick-lit book, so not too deep and meaningful, but good fun. It is all about a single mum who is struggling with one son leaving for university, her dad moving in and her best friend moving away. She meets someone online and they form a connection but then she finds out who it is and has to deal with the reality of falling for a married man.

The Perfect Match by Susan May Warren

A christian romance story about a woman fire chief, who arrives in Deep Haven to the shock of some of the locals. She falls for the local pastor and they both have to deal with various issues as well as an arsonist before they can get together. A lighthearted book to read but lots of christian values and ideas to make you think. Very enjoyable and a sequel to Happily Ever After and Tying The Knot.

A New Kind of Christian

I've just finished reading this book by Brian McLaren. I found it really interesting.

The blurb says:

A New Kind of Christian's conversation between a pastor and his daughter's high school science teacher reveals that wisdom for life's most pressing spiritual questions can come from the most unlikely sources. This stirring fable captures a new spirit of Christianity--where personal, daily interaction with God is more important than institutional church structures, where faith is more about a way of life than a system of belief, where being authentically good is more important than being doctrinally "right," and where one's direction is more important than one's present location. Brian McLaren's delightful account offers a wise and wondrous approach for revitalizing Christian spiritual life and Christian congregations.

I'd like to read the next two books in the series now.

Brian McLaren's website

This week's books

Here are the books I have finished in the last week or so.

Theodora's Baby by Penny Culliford

Lighthearted Christian fiction, the third in the series - after Theodora's diary and Theodora's Wedding. Theodora spends the three books trying to find her "ministry", to save her "spiritually degenerate" boyfriend and to eat lots of chocolate. A good read and I enjoyed all three books (best to read them in order).


Not Married, Not Bothered by Carol Clewlow

I thought this book sounded interesting but I have to say I didn't really enjoy it. I ploughed on to the end but it was hard going. Don't read this if, like me, you prefer a story to run from beginning to end not to jump back and forth. Also it helps to like the main character and I just found her annoying.


Hot Pursuit by Gemma Fox

Great chick lit, not a deep and meaningful story but good fun. Its all about mistaken identity and results in a chase across the country. Obviously some romance along the way. An enjoyable read, the sort of book you just want to sit and read in one go. She also wrote The Cinderella Moment - another fun read.

Good Christian Fiction

O'Malley Series by Dee Henderson - Suspense, Romance and Christian values all in one. A great series all about a family who all have different jobs - firefighter, hostage negotiator, paramedic, ...



One Tuesday Morning by Karen Kingsbury - emotional story about the wife of a firefighter who goes to try to save people in the twin towers. Also a good sequel as she tries to move on with her life.




The Yada Yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson - a group of women get together in a prayer group at a conference and decide to carry on with the group afterwards. The good thing about the series of books is that they are not "super-christians" but have their failings like you and me.



The Refiner's Fire series by Lynn Austin - excellent stories set in the American Civil War. Each book is from a different point of view, someone in the north, someone in the south and a slave.




First Impressions by Debra White Smith - Pride and Prejudice in a modern setting, a good read especially if you are an Austen fan. She is writing a whole series and I have enjoyed them all so far.


I have shelves full of good books and when I have a bit more time I'll try to think of another category. Please let me know of any good christian fiction you would recommend.

Read Any Good Books Lately?

I thought I would set up a blog about books I've read, I am completely addicted to books and its always good to get recommendations. So please tell me what you think of some of the books I've read and I would love to hear anyone's recommendations. I love all sorts of books; christian, chick-lit, classics, teenage, ...