Christian Fiction Readers Retreat :: 2016

Hello my lovelies! So you may or may not have noticed that things have been a little quiet around here for a couple weeks. Roadtrips to Nashville will do that! :) Surprisingly (probably) I didn't mention much about this trip (or anything about it actually) prior to going. I was a bit worried that things may not work out like I wanted, so I kept quiet. But! I did go and it was AMAZING. I have some stories to share (naturally), but I have no one in real life who wants to listen to my gushing over and over and over about how I still can't believe I actually got to meet all those wonderful ladies. So that means y'all get to listen to me here! (Or not. No pressure to read to the very end of this wordy post. I completely understand the commitment it requires! ;)

As you see above, I went to the Christian Fiction Readers Retreat. It was basically a chance for readers and bloggers to meet with the authors we love so much. A few authors spoke about their stories and what inspired them to begin writing, we had chances to ask them questions and just chat about how much we loved their books, and we got to have books signed and take pictures galore. The entire experience was a delight! I loved the whole feeling of the day. These were my people! They understood me, they knew my passion for reading, and they felt the same. It was glorious!!

Laura Frantz, Gabrielle Meyer, Kristi Ann Hunter

The Bloggers

First and foremost? The most unexpected and happiest of surprises? I got to meet Rel of Relz Reviewz!!!!!

I found out just a couple days prior to leaving that she was going to be visiting the US (she lives in Australia) and was going to be in the same city as I. I couldn't believe I would be that close and totally miss her! I tried to brainstorm some scheme to try and meet up, but I am not savvy and awesome like that so I came up with nothing. *cue sadness* However! She somehow decided to make a late afternoon appearance just as our retreat was ending and I was SO EXCITED. There are no words for how thrilled I was to see her! Seriously. I never imagined that I would ever get the chance. Australia is far, far away from my little spot in the world.

(Incidentally, I told her that meeting her was an honor because I was meeting REL. She is deserving of all caps and glitter! If you're part of the Christian Fiction blogging community, I know you've heard of her because she is just that amazing. She tried to tell me that she's perfectly normal and nothing extraordinary, but I, respectfully, beg to differ. :)

I pretty much gushed all over her and she was gracious enough to let me. She even seemed to like me too! Still pretty giddy about that. :)

And yet!

There is still more awesome to talk about because I met Jamie from Books and Beverages too! So I spent my day with one of the nicest and sweetest ladies around. She was another I was extra nervous about because, while I love chatting online with her, I was a bit worried she might not like me so well in person. I know! That's crazy talk, but I have to be honest. Good thing I was wrong! Because she was wonderful. Even if we didn't get to chat about Tolkien and Lewis nearly as much as I wanted. Next time, right Jamie? ;)

Krista Phillips, Pepper Basham

I remember looking in the doorway and seeing her in there already setting up. It's just the weirdest, craziest, most awesome thing to see a person for real! When you've seen their picture and had many a convo, when you feel like you've known them for years yet never met them, and then suddenly see them right in front of you, it's just....I don't really have the words to describe the feeling. It's just cool, is what it is!

There were several other bloggers there that I'd heard of but had never interacted with them. Namely Annie and Carrie, who helped host, along with Bonnie. (Those ladies worked tirelessly to get this day set up. They deserve all the kudos and cookies in the world!) I'm blanking on who else I met right now, but suffice it to say, there were many. And still more were there that I never even said hello to, I found out later. Next year I'm totally planning ahead better! :)

The Authors

• Mary Connealy and Ruth Logan Herne are absolutely hilarious! I could have listened to them all day long. Someone called them "the Laurel and Hardy of Christian Fiction", which is a perfect description. 
• Mary's last name is pronounced "kuh-NEAL-ly" NOT "KAHN-nelly". I've been saying it wrong for years! (At least I'm not the only one? Others were remarking on this too.)
• Ruthy is wonderful. She is so full of life and enthusiasm! I loved getting to know her a bit better.
• Laura Frantz is the nicest! Chatting with her felt like talking with an old friend.
• Julie Lessman has a beautiful heart. It radiates out when you meet her.
• Tamera Alexander, Carrie Turansky, Kristi Ann Hunter, Kate Breslin, Gabrielle Meyer, Jennifer Slattery, they all were so gracious and kind (even when I had to admit that I hadn't read Kate's or Jennifer's books yet, they both sweetly signed a book plate thing for me anyway).

  

  Rel, Kara Isaac, Tamera Leigh,
  Jamie, Dani Pettrey, Becky Wade,
  Pepper Basham, Julie Lessman, Laura Frantz

• I sat beside Melanie Dickerson. The entire day! That moment I looked up and she wanted to slide by me to sit down, I think my eyes sort of bugged out of my head for a second! ;D
• Becky Wade remembered my blog!!! That was a very giddy moment! :)
• Dani Pettrey (pronounced "PET-tree") has never been to Alaska! How is this possible anyway? Because her books clearly indicate that she has! ;) 
• Krista Phillips has an amazing daughter. She shared her journey with a few of us and oh my! That little girl is a walking miracle.
• I haven't read any of Mesu Andrews' (pronounced "MEE-su") books, but after having a chance to hear her tell about them (and because I've heard nothing but good things from fellow bloggers), I bought one and am excited to read it!
• Meghan Gorecki's beautiful smile just makes you feel happy! I love her dimples. :)
• Kara Isaac!!! Aaahhhh, I was SO excited to meet her!! She lives in New Zealand (I know) and aside from having an awesome name ;), she is another I never dreamed I'd get the chance to meet in person! We've chatted via twitter and she remembered me. *happy dance*
• Pepper Basham was absolutely a delight! We bonded over our mutual love of Catherine (and David! ;). 
• It was a total shock to look up and see Tamara Leigh! She wasn't even supposed to be there, so my fangirling probably got a bit out of control. ;) I have loved her books for years. 

L to R: Melanie Dickerson, Gabrielle Meyer, Laura Frantz,
Pepper Basham, Kristi Ann Hunter, Carrie Turansky
(These authors dressed up in the time period in which their books are set.)

Every single moment was so wonderful and I kept sitting there wondering if it was all real. It's incredibly surreal to look around you and see all these people who are so much more than just people to you! Their words bring happiness and have become part of my heart, their books feel like old friends, and there's simply this unexplainable quality about book people, isn't there? To quote myself, "Book people are awesome! Regardless if we read the same genres or no, regardless if we read lots or a little, no matter the differences, book people just get each other. It's true! There is absolutely nothing like talking with someone else who's passionate about stories. Who, when asked to name their favorite authors, whips out a giant list. Who grins secretly at me when I notice we're both standing in line at the library with our arms full. Who sees the book I'm holding and instantly says "Ooo, that's a good one! Have you read....?". There was a lot of secret smiling and general fangirling going on that day. These are my people and I loved every minute. :)

30 Days of Books :: Day 4

Hello my lovelies! I hope August is treating you well. It's been excruciatingly HOT here for the past few weeks, but we're surviving. And right now I'm sitting in air conditioning, in a comfy chair, writing about books, so I'm doing very well! :) By the by, anybody watching the Olympics? I am anything but a sports fan normally, but give me the Olympics and I become this crazy fanatic. Watching all the things, googling all the things, you name it. No matter how boring the sport, I am so there. Although I have decided that there aren't any boring sports at the Olympics. Because it's the Olympics! It's just magic, okay? ;)

Anyhoo, on to the fun stuff.

{joining Jenni}

Day 4 :: Your favorite book of your favorite series

Yay! Another easy one! On my last post, I said my favorite series is The Lunar Chronicles, so my favorite out of the four main books (excluding all the short stories. And I refuse to acknowledge that Fairest exists. I'm sorry. But I just can't.) is Scarlet!! I love the other three books a great deal, but my love of Scarlet knows no bounds. I'm not sure what it is about Scarlet and Wolf exactly (I did write this post about how much I love them though), all I know is they grabbed my heart from the first pages and have refused to give it back. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'm realizing how much I love the Beauty and the Beast fairytale? I know that's not the one their story is modeled after, but it definitely has similarities. Whatever my reasons, I love how these two characters fall in love and proceed to care for each other no matter what happens to them. Their relationship is my favorite of the four main couples! :)

What about you? What's your favorite book of your favorite series?

Review: The Wedding Shop by Rachel Hauck

Once again, I was swept away into a Rachel Hauck novel and happily at that! She simply has a way with words. This wasn't a nail-biting, stay-up-way-too-late type of story for me, but that didn't matter. It was the gentleness and the care in her storyline that kept me picking the book back up again and again. Which probably sounds like it wasn't a great read, but it was! Oh, it definitely was.

The reason I enjoyed it so much? The characters, of course. Because I loved Haley. She's quite a force of nature! Now Cora, on the other hand, I wanted to shake her a few times. But Haley? I was right there with her every single step and wanted so badly for her dreams for the shop to come true. And as she dreamed huge, refusing to let pessimism crash into it, I kept hoping right along with her. It did help that I was rather fond of Cole, as well. (Who wouldn't be? ;) As these two worked together, I loved all their little moments. Their relationship is pretty fragile in the beginning, thanks to their past, but oh the sweetness that slowly develops! Definitely a favorite aspect of the novel for me.

Dual storylines can sometimes be confusing, if the writer doesn't differentiate between the characters somehow. I confess that I wasn't expecting all the POVs that we get, but Ms. Hauck handled them all well. Cora's bits were an interesting background for Haley's, and while I was more riveted with Haley and Cole, I did like watching Cora's growth as she figured out what she really wanted out of her life.

The bits of hope and grace that Ms. Hauck tucks into her story were lovely as well! By the time I closed the final page, I was smiling from all the cute and happy moments. And was glad that I had the privilege of reading this excellent story!

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Goodreads :: Amazon :: Barnes and Noble

"I had my adventure. After the air force I was supposed to come home and open the old wedding shop with Tammy." Haley smiled at the memory of playing in the shop with her best friend. "Man, I don't think I've really thought about that since high school. But if she were alive now, she'd be begging, 'Let's open the shop, Hal. Now's the time.'"
"The old wedding shop? What? I never heard this before. Why would you want to open that old place? The city owns the property and last I heard, was about to tear it down, thank goodness." Mom opened the bedroom door and hollered down. "Dave, is it almost halftime? We can do our goals."
Haley was on her feet. "Tear down the shop? Why?" Her dream with Tammy woke up, stretched, and rattled around in her soul.

Review: Told You Twice by Kristen Heitzmann

Oh friends, I was SO excited to read this one! Ever since reading Told You So at the end of last year, and being blown away, I had been anticipating Ms. Heitzmann's next book in the series. I was so sure I'd love it, no matter who it would be about, and guess what? I was so right! I will admit that I was extra special excited though, when I heard it would be Bo's story, because there was just something about that man when I met him in book one. He was so lost in heart-pain, yet the innate goodness inside of him shone through. Grace could see it and so could I. So count me doubly in to find out more about this fascinating character! :)

What a joy it was to discover Bo's heart. He has made and continues to make some really bad choices in his life, but watching as his layers slowly peel back and his true self starts becoming clearer to the others around him, as well as to himself, is a beautiful thing to witness! Of course, Grace (from book one) already knew this, but how much did I love that Exi could see it immediately as well. She is another character with so many layers and bad choices in her past, and it would seem like putting these two together would not be wise. But trust me, they fit each other perfectly! I'm always a bit leery of romances that start when one of the couple is already engaged to someone else, and I admit that Exi made some choices that frustrated me, but I have to give kudos to Ms. Heitzmann for handling that whole situation very gently. There are so many ways she could have taken it and I was very pleased with the way it all ended up.

This is a gritty and painful story. Bo has a lot of growth to undertake and in order for that to happen, he has to pretty much hit rock bottom. We all know rock bottom is not a pretty or clean place to be. But when he begins to let grace and mercy enter his life, it's a glorious moment and so worth all the hard to get to that point. He broke my heart so many times during this story! In all the best ways, of course. And I was rooting for him every single miserable step it took for him to begin to see light in his life. It was always there, he just had to realize it. Exi's storyline is just as compelling, and when she finally starts to understand herself and what she wants her life to be, ah how happy I was!

Together these two characters create a story that is entirely unforgettable! I love the way Ms. Heitzmann interweaves hope and grace in amongst all the chaos and drama. It's so true of real life, how we sometimes have to search a bit harder to find it, but it's always been there and when we go looking it shines bright. This is a story so worth discovering, friends! Read it and fall in love with these characters as much as I, okay? ;)

**I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Goodreads :: Amazon

Eddie studied him so long he squirmed.
Bo slouched back from the table. "My sister Barb never got the leads she deserved. Everything was heaped on me. Even her love and attention. Then she's just wiped out." His hands fisted. "Where's the open arms in that?"
Eddie let the anger splash over him and ebb into a frothy tide. "I believe they're around her now. In the eternal view, she got there first, while you're still floundering here."
Bo stared. He couldn't help it. Barb the lucky one? And yet...
"It's a picture of God's unquenchable love. If you're sorry, weary, and lost, there is a way."