NEW READ-ALONG: HEIDI by Johanna Spyri

Amber at SEASONS OF HUMILITY is once again hosting a read-along. This time we will be reading HEIDI. I read this book when I was a child and loved it so I am looking forward to reading it again and seeing if I enjoy it as much as an adult. Here are all of the details from Amber's blog. Hop on over there and read all about it and feel free to participate!

• The read-along will start Wednesday, January 1, and end Friday, January 31.

• We'll read 1 chapter per weekday for a total of 23 chapters. (You can use the weekends to catch up or get ahead if you'd like!)  

• Discussions will take place here on Fridays (January 10, 17, 24, 31) for a total of 4 discussions.

• I'll(Amber) provide ideas and questions, and you can take part through commenting on the discussion posts here or creating your own blog posts!

I hope you will choose to join us. Read-Alongs are so fun and I love discussing books any time! 

The Christmas Book Shoppe by Miranda Atchley

Trudy gave up her job as a librarian to come home to Christmas, Arkansas and run her Aunt's book shoppe. Trudy loves her book shop, which also has her apartment above the shop. When her cousin who now owns the book shop decides to close the shop right before Christmas Trudy has no idea what she is going to do or where she is going to live.

The Christmas Book Shoppe is a sweet Christmas read. I enjoyed the town of Christmas, Arkansas and I also enjoyed the characters. Trudy's customers were quite entertaining and her friends were loyal. I thought the romance a bit forced and unlikely, but since it wasn't the central part of the story I can live with it. A sweet novella that is perfect for a quick Christmas read.

Seconds To Live by Susan Sleeman

Dustee and her twin sister are in the Witness Protection program. Dustee is a hacker who has worked with the person known as Phantom. The last known partner of Phantom was brutally murdered so it is imperative that Phantom is caught. Taylor is a WITSEC deputy in charge of keeping Dustee and Dianne safe. Now someone has hacked into the WITSEC computers and may be selling the names and locations of witnesses. FBI Agent Sean Nichols and his team are sent to work with the marshals to find Phantom and secure the leak. Sean and Taylor have had an online friendship for awhile now, but this is the first time they will be meeting and they

are both nervous about what it will mean to their relationship. With Phantom desperate to find Dustee and seek revenge all of their lives are in danger, will they find who they are dealing with before anyone else is murdered?

From the opening paragraphs to the very last paragraph, SECONDS TO LIVE was a roller coaster ride of excitement! There is so much suspense and danger, just like I like! We don't know who Phantom is until the end so that adds to the suspense of the story. Sean and Taylor's relationship is sweet, I like that they had an online relationship so that they at least sort of knew each other when they finally met in person. Both Sean and Taylor had trust issues from circumstances in their pasts and that added another dimension to what I like about author Susan Sleeman's books, there are always spiritual lessons to be learned from her characters. As they learn to trust and put their faith in God, the reader too can relate and hopefully do the same.

A FAVORITE QUOTE:

"One thing he'd forgotten, an important thing: God didn't betray. Didn't turn His back. He was always the same loving God. Always wanting the best for His children."

A great reminder both for the characters and for the reader.

This is book 1 in the Homeland Heroes series. I'm excited to read more!

**I received a copy of the book from Netgalley and also a paperback copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own**