V is for Vengeance by Sue Grafton

Private Investigator Kinsey Millhone witnesses two women shoplifting in the local mall. One is caught, the other tries to run her down in the parking garage. The next thing Kinsey knows is that the woman that was caught has jumped off a local bridge. Kinsey is hired by the woman's fiance to find out what really happened. He does not believe that his fiance was suicidal. Kinsey is soon embroiled in a shoplifting ring with mob-like connections and also "dirty" cops.

Once again Sue Grafton has crafted a "fresh" and exciting Kinsey Millhone novel. I love Kinsey Millhone as a character. She is fun, witty and sassy. I noticed something different in this novel. Instead of the entire novel being written in Kinsey perspective Sue Grafton added a couple of chapters from a few other characters perspectives. It added a bit more dimension to the story and it was interesting. For the most part I enjoyed this latest installment of Kinsey Millhone's adventures. Kinsey has always had a "potty" mouth, but I noticed it a lot more in this novel. I don't know if the author sprinkled in more language or if I am just not remembering it from other novels. It does take Sue Grafton 2-3 years between novels so it could be I just don't remember. Four more novels to go in the alphabet! What will W bring us? W is for...

Holiday Break Reading Challenge 2011-2012

Ok folks! The Holiday Break Reading Challenge starts over at Edifying and Edgy on December 16th, 2011 and runs through January 1st, 2012. Hop over to E and E and get all of the details and sign up to participate. Books will be given away each day of the challenge. Some of the challenges will be a bit more involved than others, but that's part of the fun! The Holiday Break Reading Challenge is usually hosted by my friend Karin at this site: http://holidaybreakreadingchallenge.blogspot.com/

Go check out former years' challenges and see how much fun we have!

This year Karin and I (Karin is the Edgy half and I am the Edifying half of Edifying and Edgy) will be joining forces on our blog and hope that you will join us in the fun!

We have lots of books to share with you this year so go sign up for the fun!

Invite all of your friends to join us! Grab the button on the right and share on your blog! 

Snipesville Chronicles by Dr. Annette Laing

A while back Dr. Annette Laing was kind enough to send me copies of her Snipesville Chronicles series:

Don't Know Where Don't Know When

A Different Day A Different Destiny







Her 3rd book in the series, "Look Ahead, Look Back" is coming out in March and she has asked me to review it on My Only Vice. I'm excited to do so and look forward to receiving it. She is also offering the first 2 books on sale for Kindle and Nook owners:

o   Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Where-Snipesville-Chronicles-ebook/dp/B0011T2VQU/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2

o   NOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-know-where-dont-know-when-annette-laing/1022159032?ean=2940012135681&itm=1&usri=annette+laing

  

Click on the titles above to see my review of each book. I enjoyed them both very much.

Also Dr. Laing was kind enough to do a guest post for my blog. Click HERE to read that post. 

You may notice when you click on the links to the books and the guest post that you are taken to my "old" blog at Wordpress. I'm sorry I don't know how to fix that. All of my old reviews before I started using Blogger are still directed to the old site. But it's still me! 

Cliques, Hicks, and Ugly Sticks Confessions of April Grace by K.D. McCrite

Eleven-year-old April Grace Reilly is starting Jr. High. She thinks that all will be the same. She is mistaken. One of her best friends is now the leader of a Clique of girls and won't even speak to April Grace.

At home April Grace notices that her mother is not looking the same. She instantly starts worrying about her. But all of the adults in her life tell her that there is nothing to worry about.

Circumstances prevent April Grace's mother from directing the church pageant this year. So April Grace recommends Isabel to be the director. Isabel is not a church member and she also has a demanding spirit about her that concerns the pastor. But April Grace and her sister volunteer to help Isabel direct so that she won't go too overboard.

The story is being told by April Grace who happens to be a hoot! I love the way April Grace just tells it like it is. She is outspoken as only an 11 year old can be. Yet her character has a love for family and friends and a diplomacy about her that seems mature beyond her years. I really enjoyed this story.

Last Breath by Rachel Caine

Once again something bad is happening in Morganville. Vampires are disappearing. Nobody knows where they are going once they disappear.

Michael and Eve are determined that they will be married even though Amelie refuses them permission to marry. Both human and vampires alike are against the union.

Amelie obviously knows what is happening in Morganville, but she refuses to share with Claire and her friends what is going on. Amelie is determined to get all of the vampires out of Morganville.

Unfortunately an evil more powerful than Claire and her friends have ever faced before has arrived in Morganville. When tragedy strikes none of them are prepared for what happens next.

At first I thought oh no, here we go again. Claire and her friends are once again fighting for their lives. But Rachel Caine has managed to bring a new twist to their fight for survival that has me once again sitting on the edge of my seat waiting breathlessly for the next book!

Women of Faith Conference-Oklahoma City

Thanks to BookSneeze I received two free tickets to the Women of Faith conference in Oklahoma City this weekend. I was able to take my friend Gloria with me.

We had a wonderful time and were very blessed by all of the speakers! Friday morning was general seating so we sat fairly close to the stage. Our assigned seating was higher up, but still a great view of the stage. My pictures are from my phone so they aren't very good. We could see much better than the pictures show.

Our host was Lori Robertson who MC'd the weekend wonderfully. The worship team ladies were great. They were enthusiastic and energetic and got the crowd on their feet praising the Lord throughout the day. Our first speaker was Patsy Clairmont

She is a HOOT! If you have never heard her before you are really missing out on a wonderful treat. Patsy started out telling us she wanted us to remember 3 things:
1) Say YES to God
2) Thank You-be grateful
3) Have a pocketful of "Holy No's" to be dispensed at the right time, knowing when to say yes, and when to say no.

I loved this thought she shared: "You want to feel better about yourself? Do what you know you're supposed to do."

Patsy also spoke Friday evening. Here are a few quotes that touched me:
"We are not weird, we are unique and a limited edition"
"We don't have to be slapped around by our feelings"
"Step out of our emotions to do what is right and kind and good."

Patsy also shared Saturday morning. Patsy has a way of making you laugh and cry all at the same time. She shared about her son being so sick. Had us in tears over the situation, but in hysterics over her facial expressions and on-stage antics.

Andy Andrews also spoke a couple of times.

At first I was thinking Oh my goodness if this man doesn't stand still I'm going to go NUTS! But I got used to his speaking style and he had some very good things to share. While Andy was speaking I was watching the sign language interpreter. She was moving around just as much as he was! It was very entertaining to watch! I loved when Andy shared stories of he and his boys. I love to see and hear of a father that takes the time to invest himself in raising Godly, holy men of faith. A quote I wrote down that Andy said was

"Everything you do matters to all of us and for all time"

Lisa Whelchel from the 80's sitcom "The Facts of Life" spoke on friendship:

 I loved hearing her story of trying to find a friend. A couple of things she said
"Be who God made you to be"
"A real friend listens and receives you"
"imperfect=REAL"

Brenda Warner shared her story with us. She was a single mom of 2 when she met her husband Curt Warner, a football player. Her son is special needs and she shared how Curt fell in love with her kids before he fell in love with her. She came on stage and said she couldn't sing and that the only talent she had was doing the splits! And WOW, she did the splits! And then brought her back leg up! I was impressed! She has had a lot of heartache in her life, but she has chosen to still follow Jesus. A couple of things that stuck with me:
"choose to have faith"
"Circumstances don't determine who you are"

Sandi Patty was also a speaker/singer.

She shared about struggling with her weight and why she has had such a struggle with it. She sang 2 very beautiful songs:
We Shall Behold Him, which she sang and signed. So beautiful!
Then she sang with her husband. I'm not sure of the title of the song, but it had the line "Let This Be Our Prayer" WOW WOW WOW! Amazing and beautiful! 

Marilyn Meberg shared about wanting "MORE" A couple of things that stood out for me:

"We were not created to be fully satisfied on this earth"
"He(God) wants us(His creation) to be fully satisfied in Him"
"Yearnings only satisfied with relationship with Him"
"Eternity=one day all yearnings will be satisfied"

Mandisa gave a concert on Friday evening. She has a lovely voice and I loved watching her sing and share about herself.

Deborah Joy Winans shared a couple of skits with us. She can sing and do drama! She just got engaged and so she shared that with us. Congratulations to her!

Amy Grant gave a concert Saturday afternoon. I love her song "Better Than A Hallelujah"

And since I am all about food in my life I can't not mention the box lunches:

This was Saturday's lunch. Sorry about the bite in the sandwich before I took the picture but I just couldn't wait! Friday afternoon our box lunch included a turkey sandwich, chips, apple and cookie. Saturday's lunch had a chicken breast(a real breast!) sandwich, orange, chips and rice crispy treat. Each box lunch also had a napkin, mint and wet wipe. OH, and water! They were both great lunches and very filling and nice that I didn't have to get lunch from a fast food vendor. I did indulge in a frozen yogurt! Obviously a lot of other women couldn't pass up the opportunity either because the yogurt vendors had the longest lines besides the restrooms! All leftover box lunches were taken to The City Rescue Mission.

I had a wonderful time this weekend! I was blessed! Each speaker shared from his/her heart. They shared their failings and their triumphs. We were able to connect with them each in a different way. Next years Oklahoma City Women of Faith will be held August 10th and 11th. My friend Gloria and I would love to go again! Thanks so much BookSneeze for providing free tickets to this event. And thanks to the Women of Faith speakers and entertainers!

Women of Faith

I'm headed to the Women of Faith Conference in Oklahoma City this weekend! I'm so excited. I'll be going with a friend. We were even smart and got a hotel room so that we wouldn't have to travel so early on Saturday! I hope to post pics to facebook while I am there. I'm not very technologically savvy though so we will have to see if I can figure out how to do that with my phone.

I will be posting about the weekend after it is over. Thanks to BookSneeze for the free tickets so that my friend and I can go experience this weekend. I look forward to sharing how blessed we were!

In the meantime, enjoy the video advertising the event.