Books I read in 2015

Happy New Year! Here's my collage of the books I read in 2015. I had really hoped to do more reading, but I ended up only reading half the amount of books I read in 2014! So I'm really going to try to make 2016 a better reading year!

Book Review: The Man of the Desert

The Man of the Desert by Grace Livingston Hill

John Brownleigh had lived the lonely life of a missionary for three years, ministering to his flock of Indians in the desert. Although he longed for companionship, he knew it would take a special type of woman to live his chosen life with him.

Hazel Radcliffe arrived in Arizona by private car on a passing train. She planned to stay for only one day, but circumstances threw her into deep trouble. Saved by Brownleigh, she felt an immediate attraction for the strong, dedicated man. Could two such different people ever find happiness together? Or was their love fated to be put aside forever?

I actually read this book a couple months ago and never got around to writing a review for it, so I thought I best do so before the new year! This was a cute, lighthearted little romance story. I enjoyed it pretty well, though at times it got a little too wordy for me, and the perspective was a bit odd, but I think its style was what was popular for the time it was written, so I'm not going to complain too much. Overall a sweet story that could easily be read in just a couple days. A "cozy" read, if you know what I mean!

Book Review: Doodletopia: Cartoons

Doodletopia: Cartoons by Christopher Hart

Draw, Design, and Color Your Own Super-Fun Cartoon Creations

This is a neat book for learning to draw cartoons! The book is filled with drawing exercises and step-by-step tutorials that are fun and easy to learn. Unlike some drawing how-to books, this one has you draw right in the pages of the book so you don't have to have your own paper or sketchbook at hand to enjoy it! Plus, the book is laced with humor throughout which makes it even more enjoyable! I've done the first two step-by-step drawings and both proved to be quite simple to draw! Everything is explained quite clearly so it's easy to understand and follow along. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys drawing or wishes to better their skills!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Time Chamber

The Time Chamber

A magical story and coloring book

by Daria Song

When a tiny fairy who lives inside a cuckoo clock

decides to explore the world outside, she discovers a

human realm where everything is immense and magical.

Filled with fantastical, intricate pen-and-ink illustrations by artist

Daria Song, The Time Chamber presents a Korean pop art-inspired 

vision of our world made new---and ready for coloring.

I've wanted an adult coloring book for some time now so I was excited when 

I saw that Blogging for Books had one available for review! 

This is a gorgeous book with lots of intricate and lovely pictures ready to be colored.

The cover of the book is also gorgeous and the pages are made of a very sturdy, good quality paper.

I already colored one of the pages, and look forward to coloring the rest! A very lovely book indeed! I recommend it to anyone who enjoys coloring, young or old! (though it's definitely more geared toward women than men!)

I received a free copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Q&A a Day for Creatives

Q&A a Day for Creatives

A 4 year journal

From the back cover: 

Q&A a Day for Creatives is your go-to source for inspiration, whimsy, and idea generation. Each page of this four-year journal features a compelling question designed to get you thinking, drawing, and dreaming. Open the journal to today's date and fill in the appropriate space as you see fit. (Pencil doodles? Watercolor? Musical scales?) As the journal fills year after year, you'll own a showcase of your ever-growing creative output. 

I am super obsessed with journals, so I was ecstatic to get this! I haven't actually started it yet, but I can tell it will be lots of fun! Some of the prompts seem pretty easy, while others are more thought-provoking, which is nice to get you thinking and get your creative juices flowing! I've flipped through several pages and found lots of prompts that I know I'll really enjoy doing, while there are a few I'm not so excited about, but will be good for getting me outside my comfort zone. The book itself is beautifully put together and of a good, sturdy make. The cover is flexible but not flimsy, and the inside cover is a beautiful sky blue color. The book is a good size and easily lays open for you to do your work. The pages seem to be good quality paper that should hold up through whatever artistic endeavors you put them through. (Though some markers would probably leak through.) I am very pleased with this journal, and can't wait to begin! (The only struggle is deciding  whether to start it now or wait until January 1st!)

I received a copy of this journal for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Luther and Katharina

Luther and Katharina 

by 

Jody Hedlund

SHE WAS A NUN OF NOBLE BIRTH. HE, A HERETIC,

A REFORMER...AN OUTLAW OF THE HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.

In the sixteenth century, nun Katharina von Bora's fate fell no further than

the Abbey. Until she read the writings of Martin Luther.

His sweeping Catholic church reformation---condemning a cloistered life and

promoting the goodness of marriage---awakened her desire for everything she'd

been forbidden.

Including Martin Luther himself.

Despite the fact that the attraction and tension between them is undeniable,

Luther holds fast to his convictions and remains isolated, refusing to risk

anyone's life but his own. Katharina longs for love, but is strong-willed. She

clings proudly to her class distinction, pining for nobility over the heart of a

reformer.

They couldn't be more different.

But as the world comes tumbling down around them, and with the threat

on Luther's life a constant strain, these unlikely allies forge an unexpected

bond of understanding, support, and love.

Together, they will alter the religious landscape forever.

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the historical value it held and learning what things were like back then---quite awful, I might say! It was also interesting to learn about Martin Luther and Katharina, and the hardships they faced. It kept my interest through its entirety, and rarely had a dull moment. It was my third read by this author and probably won't be my last. While Jody tends to focus perhaps a bit much on the physical aspect of relationships, her writing is good and she keeps the story flowing at a comfortable pace. I give it four stars.

I received this book for free from Water Brook Press in exchange for my honest review.

Book Review: Sabotaged

Sabotaged by Dani Pettrey (Alaskan Courage book 5)

Growing up, Goody-two-shoes Kirra Jacobs and trouble-maker Reef McKenna were always at odds. Now as they work search-and-rescue together for Alaska's arduous Iditarod race, a growing attraction seems to be forcing aside old arguments. Then Reef catches Kirra sneaking from camp in the middle of the night.

Kirra's uncle, a musher in the race, has disappeared. Kirra and Reef quickly track the man, but what they discover is harrowing: Frank's daughter has been kidnapped. Kirra and Reef, along with the entire McKenna family, are thrown into a race to stop a shadowy villain who is not only threatening a girl's life---but appears willing to unleash one of the largest disasters Alaska has ever seen.

This was a good book! The first I've read by this author, and I'd be interested in reading more by her. Even though it was the 5th in a series it didn't seem to throw me off much, I think that while the books have a lot of the same characters, they don't necessarily have to be read in order. I actually do have one of the other books in this series that I had gotten for free a while back on my iPod, so now I'm looking forward to reading that one! All-in-all a good, suspenseful read that will hold your interest right up until the end.

I received this book for free from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my honest review.