December Reflections

This month I read 46 books.

My top five:

Pete the Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
Beholding Bee. Kimberly Newton Fusco. 2013. Random House. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Kate DiCamillo. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
The 5th Wave. Rick Yancey. 2013. Penguin. 457 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Children's Books

1. Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2010. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Pete the Cat: Rocking In My School Shoes. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2011. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Pete the Cat And His Four Groovy Buttons. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
4. Pete The Cat Saves Christmas. Eric Litwin. Illustrated by James Dean. 2012. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Pete the Cat And His Magic Sunglasses. Kimberley and James Dean. 2013. HarperCollins. 40 pages. [Source: Library]  
6. The Smallest Gift of Christmas. Peter H. Reynolds. 2013. Candlewick. 40 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
7. My Pen Pal, Santa. Melissa Stanton. Illustrated by Jennifer A. Bell. 2013. Random House. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
8. Star Wars: A Very Vader Valentine's Day. Scholastic. 2013. 16 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Middle Grade and Young Adult Books

1. Serafina's Promise. Ann E. Burg. 2013. Scholastic. 304 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
   
2. Beholding Bee. Kimberly Newton Fusco. 2013. Random House. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
3. Better To Wish. (Family Tree #1) Ann M. Martin. 2013. Scholastic. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
4. The Long Way Home (Family Tree #2) Ann M. Martin. 2013. Scholastic. 240 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Jane of Lantern Hill. L.M. Montgomery. 1937. 274 pages. [Source: Bought] 
6. Anne of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1939. 274 pages. [Source: Bought] 
7. The 5th Wave. Rick Yancey. 2013. Penguin. 457 pages. [Source: Review copy]
8. Unsouled. Neal Shusterman. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 416 pages. [Source: Library] 
9. Dangerous. Shannon Hale. 2014. Bloomsbury. 400 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
10. Across A Star-Swept Sea. Diana Peterfreund. 2013. HarperCollins. 464 pages. [Source: Library]
11. The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles. Julie Andrews Edwards. 1974. Scholastic. 288 pages. [Source: Bought]
12. Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures. Kate DiCamillo. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
13. The Book of Lost Things. (Mister Max #1). 2013. Random House. 400 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
14. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Babies, Burglars, and Other Bumps in the Night. Lenore Look. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2013. Random House. 183 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
15. Bluffton: My Summer with Buster Keaton. 2013. Candlewick Press. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
16. Vader's Little Princess. Jeffrey Brown. 2013. Chronicle Books. 64 pages. [Source: Library]
17. Darth Vader and Son. Jeffrey Brown. 2012. Chronicle Books. 64 pages. [Source: Library] 
18. Star Wars: Jedi Academy. Jeffrey Brown. 2013. Scholastic. 160 pages. [Source: Library] 
19. Star Wars Science Fair Book. Samantha Margles. 2013. Scholastic. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
20. Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out. Based on the TV Special. 2013. Scholastic. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]   

Adult Books

1. Cousin Kate. Georgette Heyer. 1968/2009. Sourcebooks. 384 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Charity Girl. Georgette Heyer. 1970/2008. Sourcebooks. 282 pages. [Source: Review copy]
3. Lady of Quality. Georgette Heyer. 1972. Sourcebooks. 300 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. The Story of Britain. Rebecca Fraser. 2003. Norton. 828 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Viking: The Norse Warrior's (Unofficial) Manual. John Haywood. 2013. Thames & Hudson. 208 pages. [Source: Library]
6. How To Create the Perfect Wife: Britain's Most Ineligible Bachelor And His Enlightened Quest to Train the Ideal Mate. Wendy Moore. Basic Books. 344 pages. [Source: Library] 
7. I Will Repay. Baroness Orczy. 1906. 220 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
8. Shift by Hugh Howey. 2013. CreateSpace. 608 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 
9. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. George Lucas, Alan Dean Foster. 1977. 247 pages. [Source: Own] 
10. Star Wars: Episode V: Empire Strikes Back. Donald F. Glut. 1980. 214 pages.  [Source: Bought] 
11. Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi. James Kahn, George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan. 1983. 181 pages. [Source: Bought]

Christian Fiction and Christian Nonfiction 

1. Isaiah Chapters 1-35 (Thru the Bible). J. Vernon McGee. 1991. Nelson. 225 pages.  
2. Adventure Bible Storybook: Deluxe Edition. Catherine DeVries. Illustrated by Jim Madsen. 2009. Zonderkidz. 288 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
3. When Hope Springs New. Janette Oke. 1986. Bethany House. 216 pages. [Source: Book I Own]
4. What is Biblical Theology: A Guide to the Bible's Story, Symbolism, and Patterns. James M. Hamilton Jr. 2013. Crossway. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
5. A Light in the Window. Julie Lessman. 2013. Ten Talents Press. [Source: Book I Bought]
6. An Amish Christmas. (Brides of Amish Country). Patricia Davids. 2010. Steeple Hill Love Inspired. 224 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
7. A Home for My Heart. Anne Mateer. 2013. Bethany House. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

November Reflections

This month I read 44 books! 

My top five:

Paperboy. Vince Vawter. 2013. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Library] 
The Boy on the Porch. Sharon Creech. 2013. HarperCollins. 160 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
Fortunately, The Milk. Neil Gaiman. 2013. HarperCollins. 114 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
Magic Marks the Spot (Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates). Caroline Carlson. 2013. HarperCollins. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy]
Rose Under Fire. Elizabeth Wein. 2013. Hyperion. 368 pages. [Source: Library]

Picture Books:

1. Olive And The Big Secret. Tor Freeman. 2012. Candlewick Press.  32 pages. [Source: Library] 
2. Olive and the Bad Mood. Tor Freeman. 2013. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Middle Grade and Young Adult:

1. Paperboy. Vince Vawter. 2013. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Library]  
2. The Boy on the Porch. Sharon Creech. 2013. HarperCollins. 160 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
3. Fortunately, The Milk. Neil Gaiman. 2013. HarperCollins. 114 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
4. Allegiant. Veronica Roth. (Divergent Series #3) HarperCollins. 544 pages. [Source: Library] 
5. The String Quartet. Dan Hupalo. 2013. CreateSpace. 292 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
6. The Year of Billy Miller. Kevin Henkes. 2013. HarperCollins. 240 pages. [Source: Library] 
7. Parallelogram. Robin Brande. 2013. Ryer Publishing. 350 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
8. Rose Under Fire. Elizabeth Wein. 2013. Hyperion. 368 pages. [Source: Library]
9. Ever After High: The Storybook of Legends. Shannon Hale. 2013. Little, Brown. 320 pages. [Source: Library]
10. Magic Marks the Spot (Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates). Caroline Carlson. 2013. HarperCollins. 368 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
11. Mandy. Julie Andrews Edwards. 1971. HarperCollins. 320 pages. [Source: Bought Replacement Copy]
12. Anne of Windy Poplars. L.M. Montgomery. 1936. 288 pages. [Source: Bought] 
13. The Wind in the Willows. Kenneth Grahame. Illustrated by David Roberts. Candlewick. 256 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
14. Heaven is Paved With Oreos. Catherine Gilbert Murdock. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 208 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
15. The Hero's Guide to Saving the Kingdom. Christopher Healy. 2012. HarperCollins. 448 pages. [Source: Library] 
16. The Norman Conquest. Janice Hamilton. 2007. Twenty-First Century Books. 160 pages. [Source: Library]
17. Our Island Story. H.E. Marshall. 1905/? 512 pages. [Source: Bought]  

Adult Fiction and Nonfiction:

1. The Nonesuch. Georgette Heyer. 1962/2009. Sourcebooks. 352 pages. [Source: Library] 
2. False Colours. Georgette Heyer. 1963/2011. Thorndike. 520 pages. [Source: library]
3. Black Sheep. Georgette Heyer. 1966/2008. Sourcebooks. 280 pages. [Source: Library]
4. Frederica. Georgette Heyer. 1965/2009. Sourcebooks. 437 pages. [Source: Library] 
5. The Bastard King. Jean Plaidy. 1974. Fawcett Crest. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]  
6. The Lion of Justice. Jean Plaidy. 1975. Fawcett. 320 pages. [Source: Bought] 
7. The Passionate Enemies. Jean Plaidy. 1976. Fawcett. 320 pages. [Source: Bought] 
8. Alfred the Great. Justin Pollard. 2005. John Murray. 368 pages. [Source: Library]
9. How The Barbarian Invasions Shaped The Modern World. Thomas J. Craughwell. 2008. Fair Winds Press. 320 pages. [Source: Library]
10. Becoming Shakespeare: The Unlikely Afterlife That Turned a Provincial Playwright Into the Bard. Jack Lynch. 2007. Walker. 320 pages. [Source: Library]
11. Cymbeline. William Shakespeare. circa 1611. [Source: Bought]

Christian Fiction and Nonfiction:

1. Found In Him. Elyse M. Fitzpatrick. 2013. Crossway. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
2. The Kind of Preaching God Blesses. Steven J. Lawson. 2013. Harvest House. 128 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
3. Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry. 2010. Tyndale. 400 pages. [Source: Book I Bought] 
4. Prodigal Cat. Janette Oke. 1984. Bethany House. 160 pages. [Source: Childhood Copy] 
5. Spunky's Diary. Janette Oke. 1982/1998. Bethany House. 112 pages. [Source: Childhood Copy] 
6. When Breaks the Dawn. Janette Oke. 1985. Bethany House. 215 pages. [Source: Library] 
7. Reliable Truth: The Validity of the Bible in an Age of Skepticism. Richard E. Simmons III. 2012. Union Hill. 192 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
8. Perfectly Matched. Maggie Brendan. 2013. Revell. 352 pages. [Source: Library] 
9. Living for God's Glory. Joel R. Beeke. 2008. Reformation Trust. 414 pages. [Source: Borrowed From Friend]
10. Ducktails. Janette Oke. 1985. Bethany House. 144 pages. [Source: Childhood Copy]  
11. A Cote of Many Colors. Janette Oke. 1987. Bethany House. 144 pages. [Source: Childhood Copy] 
12. The Impatient Turtle. Janette Oke. 1986. Bethany House. 112 pages. [Source: Childhood Copy]
13. Made In Our Image. Steven J. Lawson. 2000. Doubleday. 224 pages. [Source: Borrowed From Friend]
14. Not In The Heart. Chris Fabry. 2012. Tyndale. 432 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

October Reflections

This month I read 50 books. 

My top 5:
Sophie's Squash. Pat Zietlow Miller.
That Is Not A Good Idea. Mo Willems.
Prince of Foxes. Samuel Shellabarger. 
Venetia. Georgette Heyer.
The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabeth England. Ian Mortimer.

Children's Books

1. Sophie's Squash. Pat Zietlow Miller. Illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
2. That Is Not A Good Idea. Mo Willems. 2013. HarperCollins. 48 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. I'm A Frog. (An Elephant and Piggie Book) Mo Willems. 2013. Hyperion. 58 pages. [Source: Library] 
4. Little Bear's Little Boat. Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter.  2003/2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 30 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
5. Big Bear's Big Boat. Eve Bunting. Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
6. The Invisible Boy. Trudy Ludwig. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
7. Tiny King. Taro Miura. 2013. Candlewick Press. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
8. The Silver Button. Bob Graham. 2013. Candlewick. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]     
9. Handel, Who Knew What He Liked. M.T. Anderson. Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. 2004/2013. Candlewick. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]

Middle Grade and Young Adult

1. Through the Looking Glass. Lewis Carroll. 1871. 228 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. North of Nowhere. Liz Kessler. 2013. Candlewick. 272 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. The Fantastic Family Whipple. Matthew Ward. 2013. Penguin. 400 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Roald Dahl. 1964. 155 pages. [Source: Library] 
5.  Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator. Roald Dahl. 1972. 166 pages. [Source: Library] 
6. The Wild Queen. Carolyn Meyer. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 420 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
7. Loving Will Shakespeare. Carolyn Meyer. 2006. Harcourt. 272 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]
8. Divergent. Veronica Roth. 2011. May 2011. HarperCollins. 496 pages. [Source: Library] 
9.  Insurgent. Veronica Roth. 2012. HarperCollins. 525 pages. [Source: Library]
10. Noah Barleywater Runs Away. John Boyne. 2010/2012. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
11. The Last Dragonslayer. Jasper Fforde. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 296 pages. [Source: Review copy]
12. Mistress Pat. L.M. Montgomery. 1935. 288 pages. [Source: Bought].
13. Outcasts United: The Story of a Refugee Soccer Team. Warren St. John. 2012. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Adult Books

1. Great Tales From English History, vol. 2. Robert Lacey. 2004. Little, Brown. 288 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Great Tales from English History, volume 3. Robert Lacey. 2008. Little, Brown. 320 pages. [Source: Library]
3. The Time Traveler's Guide to Elizabeth England. Ian Mortimer. 2013. Viking. 416 pages. [Source: Library]
4. Caroline the Queen. Jean Plaidy. 1968. 415 pages. [Source: Library] 
5. Sylvester, Or, The Wicked Uncle. Georgette Heyer. 1957/2004. Harlequin. 350 pages. [Source: Bought]
6. Venetia. Georgette Heyer. 1958/2009. Harlequin. 368 pages. [Source: Gift]  
7. Charlotte & Leopold: The True Story of the Original People's Princess. James Chambers. 2007. 256 pages.
   
8. Unknown Ajax. Georgette Heyer. 1959. 384 pages. [Source: Library] 
9. Civil Contract. Georgette Heyer. 1961/2009. Harlequin. 432 pages. [Source: Library]  
10. Prince of Foxes. Samuel Shellabarger. 1947. 433 pages. [Source: Library] 
11. Antony and Cleopatra. William Shakespeare. 1608. [Source: Bought]
12. Twelfth Night. William Shakespeare. 1601-02. 272 pages. [Source: Bought]  
13. All's Well That Ends Well. William Shakespeare. 1605. [Source: Bought] 
14. Drood. Dan Simmons. 2009. Little, Brown. 784 pages. [Source: Bought] 
15. Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde. Robert Louis Stevenson. 1886. 144 pages. [Source: Bought] 

Christian Fiction and Nonfiction

1. Return to Me. Lynn Austin. 2013. Bethany House. 464 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2. To Live Is Christ To Die Is Gain. Matt Chandler. 2013. David C. Cook. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]  
3. A Call To Spiritual Reformation. Priorities from Paul and His Prayers. D.A. Carson. 1992. Baker. 232 pages. [Source: Bought] 
4. When Comes The Spring. Janette Oke. 1985. Bethany House. 252 pages. [Source: Library]  
5. A Wreath of Snow. Liz Curtis Higgs. 2012. Waterbrook. 224 pages. [Source: Library]
6. Under A Blackberry Moon. Serena B. Miller. 2013. Revell. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
7. Does Prayer Change Things? (Crucial Questions) R.C. Sproul. 1998. Reformation Trust. 88 pages. [Source: Bought] 
8. The Strength of His Hand. Lynn Austin. 2005. Bethany House. 336 pages. [Source: Bought]  
9. Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery. Eric Metaxas. 2007. HarperCollins. 304 pages. [Source: Bought]
10. Faith of My Fathers. Lynn Austin. 2006. Bethany House. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]  
11. Among the Gods. Lynn Austin. 2006. Bethany House. 352 pages. [Source: Bought] 
12. Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing. Sally Lloyd Jones. 2013 (Leather). Zonderkidz. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
13. The Cat in the Window And Other Stories of the Cats We Love. Callie Smith Grant, ed. 2013. Revell. 192 pages. [Source: Review copy]

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

September Reflections

This month I read 55 books.

My top five:

Every Day After. Laura Golden.
The Phantom Tollbooth. Norton Juster.
Blood & Beauty: The Borgias. Sarah Dunant
Blackmoore Julianne Donaldson.
The Life of Cesare Borgia: A History and Some Criticisms. Rafael Sabatini.

Children's Books:

1. Lost Cat. C. Roger Mader. 2013. (October 2013). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
2. Summer Saltz: I'm So Hollywood. Connie Sewell. Illustrated by Elyse Whittaker-Paek. 2013. Tiny Hands Publishing. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
3. The Girl Who Wouldn't Brush Her Hair. Kate Bernheimer. Illustrated by Jake Parker. 2013. Random House. 40 pages.
4. Things That go (Pop & Play) Simon Abbott. 2013. Kingfisher. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
5. Zoo Animals. (Pop & Play). Simon Abbott. 2013. Kingfisher. 10 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
6. How To Train a Train. Jason Carter Eaton. Illustrated by John Rocco. 2013. Candlewick Press. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
7. Squirrels on Skis. J. Hamilton Ray. Illustrated by Pascal Lamaitre. 2013. Random House. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
8. A Pet Named Sneaker. Joan Heilbroner. Illustrated by Pascal Lemaitre. 2013. Random House. 48 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
9. Dig, Scoop, Ka-Boom! Joan Holub. Illustrated by David Gordon. 2013. Random House. 24 pages. [Source: Review copy]
10. Here Comes Super Grover! Sesame Workshop. Illustrated by Ernie Kwiat. 2013. Candlewick. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy]
11. Abby Cadabby Up and Down. Sesame Workshop. Illustrated by Ernie Kwiat. 2013. Candlewick. 48 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
12. Twin Magic: School Bully, Beware! Kate Ledger. Illustrated by Kyla May. 2013. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Review copy]
13. Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball. Cynthia Rylant. Illustrated by Arthur Howard. 2013. Harcourt. 44 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Middle Grade and Young Adult:

1. A Little Maid Of Provincetown. Alice Turner Curtis. 1913. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. All-of-a-Kind-Family. Sydney Taylor. 1951. 190 pages. [Source: Bought]
3. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Lewis Carroll. 1865. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. Pat of Silver Bush. L.M. Montgomery. 1933. 288 pages. [Source: Bought]
5. The Phantom Tollbooth. Norton Juster. Illustrated by Jules Feiffer. 1961/2011. Random House. 272 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
6. Creative Writing: The Plot Thickens. Mary Budzik. 2013. Kingfisher. 64 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
7. No Shame, No Fear. Ann Turnbull. 2003. Candlewick. 304 pages. [Source: Library] 
8. The Wicked History of the World: History With the Nasty Bits Left In. Terry Deary. Illustrated by Martin Brown. 2006. Scholastic. 96 pages. [Source: Library]
9. Gold in the Days of Summer. Susan Pogorzelski. 2013. Brown Beagle Books. 176 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
10. Every Day After. Laura Golden. 2013. Random House. 224 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
11. The Nine Lives of Alexander Baddenfield. John Bemelmans Marciano. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. 2013. Penguin. 144 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
12. The Elite. Kiera Cass. 2013. HarperCollins. 323 pages. [Source: Library] 
13. Middle Ground. Katie Kacvinsky. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
14. The Year of the Baby. Andrea Cheng. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 176 pages. [Source: Review copy] 

Adult Books:

1. Great Tales from English History, vol. 1. Robert Lacey. 2003. Little, Brown. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Fahrenheit 451. Ray Bradbury. 1953/2003. Random House. 190 pages.
3. The Black Robe. Wilkie Collins. 1881. 320 pages. [Source: Bought]
4. Blood & Beauty: The Borgias. Sarah Dunant. 2013. Random House. 528 pages. [Source: Library]  
5. The Life of Cesare Borgia: A History and Some Criticisms. Rafael Sabatini. 1912. 326 pages. [Source: Bought] 
6. Blackmoore Julianne Donaldson. 2013. Shadow Mountain (Proper Romance). 282 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
7. Madonna of the Seven Hills: A Novel of the Borgias. Jean Plaidy. 1958/2011. Broadway. 320 pages. [Source: Bought] 
8. Light on Lucrezia: A Novel of the Borgias. Jean Plaidy. 1958/2011. Crown. 384 pages. [Source: Bought] 
9. Iola Leroy. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. 1892. 256 pages. [Source: Bought]
10. A Houseboat on the Styx. John Kendrick Bangs. 1895. 194 pages. [Source: Bought]   
11. The Pursuit of the Houseboat Being Some Further Account of the Divers Doings of the Associated Shades. John Kendrick Bangs. 1897. 108 pages. [Source: Bought]   
12. The Enchanted Typewriter. John Kendrick Bangs. 1899. 90 pages. [Source: Bought]
13. Below Stairs: The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey. Margaret Powell. 1968/2012. St. Martin's Press. 224 pages. [Source: Library]
14. Bath Tangle. Georgette Heyer. 1955/2011. Sourcebooks. 368 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
15. Sprig Muslin. Georgette Heyer. 1956/2011. Sourcebooks. 304 pages. [Source: Library] 
    
16. April Lady. Georgette Heyer. 1957/2005. Harlequin. 270 pages. [Source: Library]
17. Rookwood. William Harrison Ainsworth. 1834. 464 pages. [Source: Bought]

Christian Books:

1. Which Bible Translation Should I Use? A Comparison of 4 Major Recent Versions. Andreas J. Kostenberger, ed. 2012. B&H. 224 pages. [Source: Bought]
2. Love's Awakening. Laura Frantz. 2013. Revell. 416 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
3. The Invention of Sarah Cummings. 2013. Revell. 304 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. A Surprise for Lily. Mary Ann Kinsinger and Suzanne Woods Fisher. 2013. Revell. 268 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
5. Sovereign Grace Its Source, Its Nature, and Its Effects. Dwight Lyman Moody. 1891. 90 pages. [Source: Bought.] 
6. One With Christ. An Evangelical Theology of Salvation. Marcus Peter Johnson. 2013. Crossway. 256 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
7. The Romance of Grace. Jim McNeely III. 2013. Libertary Co. 148 pages. [Source: Bought]
8. Prophet by Frank Peretti. 1992/2004. Crossway. 416 pages. [Source: Bought] 
9. God & Kings. Lynn Austin. 1995/2005. Bethany House. 317 pages. [Source: Bought]
10. Song of Redemption. Lynn Austin. 2005. Bethany House. 352 pages. [Source: Bought] 
11. When Calls the Heart. Janette Oke. 1983/2005. Bethany House. 224 pages.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

August Reflections

In August I read 41 books, and I celebrated seven years of blogging! My blogging philosophy is simple: I blog consistently by Whimsy. I let one book lead to another. I follow my interests and passions. I try to cultivate new interests and discover new-to-me authors and/or genres. But, of course, I have plenty of favorites already!!! I read what I want. I will always read what I want. I will always reread books.

My top four:

Cotillion. Georgette Heyer.
Duke. Kirby Larson.
Frozen: Heart of Dread. Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston. 
On Distant Shores. Sarah Sundin.

Children's Books:

1. You Wouldn't Want To Be A Shakespearean Actor. Jacqueline Morley. Illustrated by David Antram. 2010. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Library]
2. You Wouldn't Want To Be A World War II: Air Battles You Might Not Survive. Ian Graham. Illustrated by David Antram. 2009. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. You Wouldn't Want To Be Joan of Arc! A Mission You Might Want To Miss. Fiona MacDonald. 2010. Illustrated by David Antram. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Library]
4.  You Wouldn't Want To Be In Alexander The Great's Army. Jacqueline Morley. 2005. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Library]  
5. A Porcupine Named Fluffy. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
6. It Wasn't My Fault. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
7. Me First. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
8. Listen, Buddy. Helen Lester. Illustrated by Lynn Munsinger. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
9. Now We Are Six. A.A. Milne. 1927. 101 pages. [Source: Library]
10. When We Were Very Young. A.A. Milne. 1924. 100 pages. [Source: Library]  

Middle Grade and Young Adult:

1. Duke. Kirby Larson. 2013. Scholastic. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
2. Mary Poppins Comes Back. P.L. Travers. 1935. Harcourt. 315 pages. [Source: Library]
3. The Road to Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1909. 272 pages. [Source: Bought] 
4. The Boy on the Bridge. Natalie Standiford. 2013. Scholastic. 256 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
5. Paradox. A.J. Paquette. 2013. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
6. Solstice by P.J. Hoover. 2013. Tor. 384 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
7. Unthinkable. Nancy Werlin. 2013. Penguin. 400 pages. [Source: Review Copy]      
8. Counting by 7s. Holly Goldberg Sloan. 2013. Penguin USA. 384 pages. [Review Copy]
9. Secrets at Sea. Richard Peck. 2011/2012. Penguin. 256 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
10. New Lands (Chronicles of Egg #2). Geoff Rodkey. 2013. Penguin. 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
11. Frozen: Heart of Dread. Melissa de la Cruz and Michael Johnston. 2013. Penguin. 336 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
12. Imperfect Spiral. Debbie Levy. 2013. Bloomsbury. 352 pages. [Source: Review copy]
13. Highway Robbery. Kate Thompson. 2008. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Library]

Adult Books:

1. Pride and Prejudice and Kitties. Jane Austen, Pamela Jane, and Deborah Guyol. 2013. Sky Horse Publishing. 208 pages. [Source: Library]
2. Queen Emma and the Vikings. Harriet O'Brien. 2005. Bloomsbury. 288 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Cotillion. Georgette Heyer. 1953/2007. Sourcebooks. 362 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
4. The Toll Gate. Georgette Heyer. 1954. Harlequin. 304 pages. [Source: Library]
5. The Black Dudley Murder. Margery Allingham. 1929. 224 pages. [Source: Bought] 
6. The Unruly Queen: The Life of Queen Caroline. Flora Fraser. 1996/2009. Anchor Books. 560 pages. [Source: Library]
7. Royal Mistress. Anne Easter Smith. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 489 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
8. The Borgia Bride. Jeanne Kalogridis. 2005. St. Martin's Press. 528 pages. [Source: Library] 
9. The Quiet Gentleman. Georgette Heyer. 1951/2005. Arrow. 320 pages. [Source: Library]

Christian Books:

1. On Distant Shores. Sarah Sundin. 2013. Revell. 432 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
2. Captives (The Safe Lands #1) Jill Williamson. 2013. Zondervan. 400 pages. [Source: Library]
3. Undaunted: Daring To Do What God Calls You To Do (Student Edition). Christine Caine. 2013. Zondervan. 208 pages. [Source: Review copy]
4. How to Make Friends and Monsters. Ron Bates. 2013. Zondervan. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy]
5. Love Finds A Home. Janette Oke. 1989. Bethany House. 240 pages. [Source: Owned for decades]   
6. Pleasure and Profit in Bible Study. D.L. Moody. 167 pages. [Source: Bought] 
7. Is The Bible True...Really? Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett. 2011. Moody. 144 pages. [Source: Bought]  
8. Weakness Is The Way. J.I. Packer. 2013. Crossway. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
9. God Knows My Name: Never Forgotten, Forever Loved. Beth Redman. 2010. David C. Cook. 192 pages. [Source: Bought]

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

July Reflections

In July, I read 59 books.

My top five six:

William Shakespeare's Star Wars. Ian Doescher.
Wool (Omnibus Edition, Wool 1-5). Hugh Howey.
Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked. Jarrett J. Krosoczka. 
Death on the Nile. Agatha Christie.
The Magic Pudding. Norman Lindsay. 
All The Truth That's In Me. Julie Berry.

Children's Books:  

1. Not That Tutu! Michelle Sinclair Colman. 2013. Random House. 20 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
2. My Pretty Princess Dress: A Fancy Color Book. Ilanit Oliver. Illustrated by Genevieve Leloup. 2013. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
3. Shoe-La-La. Karen Beaumont. Illustrated by LeUyen Pham. 2011/2013. Scholastic. 32 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
4. A Kiss for You! Joan Holub. Illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church. 2011. 14 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
5. I Love You! A Cloth Book with Mirror. Caroline Jayne Church. 2012. Scholastic. 6 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
6. Horsey Up and Down: A Book of Opposites. Caroline Jayne Church. 2013. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
7. Baby and Me. Emma Dodd. 2013. Candlewick. 16 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
8. Giggle! Caroline Jayne Church. 2013. Scholastic. 10 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
9. Kiss, Kiss Good Night. Kenn Nesbitt. Illustrated by Rebecca Elliott. 2013. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
10. Whose Toes are Those. Sally Symes. Illustrated by Nick Sharratt. 2012. Candlewick. 22 pages. [Source: Review copy] 
11. Away We Go! A Shape and Seek Book. Chieu Anh Urban. 2013. Scholastic. 20 pages. [Source: Review copy]  
12. Rain, Rain Go Away. Caroline Jayne Church. 2013. Scholastic. 12 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
13. Who Says Women Can't Be Doctors? The Story of Elizabeth Blackwell. Tanya Lee Stone. Illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. 2013. 40 pages. [Source: Library] 
14. Louisa May's Battle: How the Civil War Led to Little Women. Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Carlyn Beccia. 2013. Walker Books. 48 pages. [Source: Library]   
15. Look Up! Henrietta Leavitt, Pioneering Woman Astronomer. Robert Burleigh. Illustrated by Raul Colon. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. [Source: Library] 
16. Brave Girl: Clara and the Shirtwaist Makers' Strike of 1909. Michelle Markel. Illustrated by Melissa Sweet. 2013. HarperCollins. 32 pages. [Source: Library]
17. A Big Guy Took My Ball. Mo Willems. 2013. Hyperion. 58 pages. [Source: Library]

   
Middle Grade and Young Adult:

1. The Shade of the Moon. Susan Beth Pfeffer. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 304 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
2. The Magic Pudding. Norman Lindsay. 1918. 144 pages. [Source: Bought]
3. Platypus Police Squad: The Frog Who Croaked. Jarrett J. Krosoczka. 2013. HarperCollins. 226 pages. [Source: Library]
4. Half Magic. Edward Eager. 1954. 192 pages. [Source: Library]
5. The Year of the Book. Andrea Cheng. Illustrated by Abigail Halpin. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 160 pages. [Source: Library] 
6. Second Fiddle. Roseanne Parry. 2011. Random House. 240 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
7. The Water Castle. Megan Frazer Blakemore. 2013. Walker. 352 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
8. Mary Poppins. P.L. Travers. Illustrated by Mary Shepard. 1934/2006. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 224 pages. [Source: Library]
9. Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library. Chris Grabenstein. 2013. Random House. 304 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
10. Ladies in Waiting. Laura L. Sullivan. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 336 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
11. All The Truth That's In Me. Julie Berry. 2013. Penguin. 288 pages. [Source: Review Copy] 
12. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. The Story Behind An American Friendship. Russell Freedman. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 128 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
13. I Saw Esau: The Schoolchild's Pocket Book. Iona and Peter Opie. Illustrations by Maurice Sendak. 1947/2012. Candlewick Press. 160 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
14. Three Rivers Rising. Jame Richards. 2010. Random House. 304 pages.

Adult Books:

1. William Shakespeare's Star Wars. Ian Doescher. 2013. Quirk. 176 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
2. Wool (Omnibus Edition, Wool 1-5). Hugh Howey. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 508 pages. [Source: Library]
3. The White Princess. Philippa Gregory. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 544 pages. [Source: Review Copy]  
4. The Cherry Cola Book Club. Ashton Lee. 2013. Kensington. 272 pages. [Source: Library]
5. Death in the Clouds (Death in the Air). Agatha Christie. 1935. 253 pages [Source: Library]
6.  The Case of the Cautious Coquette (Perry Mason #34). Erle Stanley Gardner. 1949. 230 pages. [Source: Bought]
   
7. Death on the Nile. Agatha Christie. 1937/2007. Black Dog & Leventhal. 352 pages. [Source: Library]
8. Paris. Edward Rutherfurd. 2013. 832 pages. 
9. A Tangled Web. L.M. Montgomery. 1931. 257 pages.  
10. Earth Afire. Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. (The First Formic War) 2013. Tor. 400 pages.  
11. Zoo Station. David Downing. 2007. Soho Press. 304 pages.  
12. The Grand Sophy. Georgette Heyer. 1950/2009. Sourcebooks. 372 pages. [Source: Review Copy]

Christian Books:

1.  A Promise to Love. Serena B. Miller. 2012. Revell. 332 pages. [Source: Library]  
2. The Measure of Katie Calloway. Serena B. Miller. 2011. Revell. 320 pages. [Source: Library] 
3. The Sunroom. Beverly Lewis. 1998. Bethany House. 144 pages. [Source: Bought] 
4. By Grace Alone. Sinclair B. Ferguson. 2010. Reformation Trust. 123 pages. [Source: Borrowed from friend] 
5. The Cost of Discipleship. Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 1937/1959/1995. Simon & Schuster. 320 pages. [Source: Borrowed from friend.]  
6. Chosen by God. R.C. Sproul. 1986/1994/2011. Tyndale. 216 pages. [Source: Bought] 
7. A Big Year for Lily. Suzanne Woods Fisher and Mary Ann Kinsinger. 2013. Revell. 272 pages. [Source: Review Copy]
8. Fatherless. James C. Dobson and Kurt Bruner. 2013. FaithWords. 448 pages. [Source: Bought]
9. Heaven: Priceless Encouragements on the Way to Our Eternal Home. J.C. Ryle. 92 pages. [Source: Bought] 
10. Love Takes Wing. Janette Oke. 1988. Bethany House. 240 pages. [Source: Own]. 
11. Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart. J.D. Greear. 2013. B&H. 128 pages. [Source: Library]
12. UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity...and Why It Matters. David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. 2007. Baker Books. 256 pages.
13. Stealing the Preacher by Karen Witemeyer. 2013. Bethany House. 352 pages.
14. Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life. Stephen J. Nichols. 2013. Crossway. 208 pages.
15. Erasing Hell: What God Said About Eternity, and the Things We Made Up. Francis Chan and Preston Sprinkle. 2011. David C. Cook. 208 pages. 
16. Anomaly. Krista McGee. 2013. Thomas Nelson. 2013. 320 pages. [Source: Library]

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

June Reflections

In June, I read 65 books.

My top five:

Al Capone Does My Homework. Gennifer Choldenko. 2013. Penguin. 224 pages.
The Testing. Joelle Charbonneau. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 344 pages.
The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail. Richard Peck. 2013. Penguin. 224 pages.
They Found Him Dead. Georgette Heyer. 1937. Sourcebooks. 325 pages
The Language Inside. Holly Thompson. 2013. Random House. 528 pages.

Children's Books:

1. Off to First Grade. Louise Borden. Illustrated by Joan Rankin. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. 
2. Monsters on Machines. Deb Lund. Illustrated by Robert Neubecker. 2008. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. 
3. Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Harry Bliss. 2008. HarperCollins. 56 pages. 
4. Utterly Otterly Day. Mary Casanova. Illustrated by Ard Hoyt. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages. 
5. Madeline and the Cats of Rome. John Bemelmans Marciano. 2008. Penguin. 48 pages. 
6. Friday My Radio Flyer Flew. Zachary Pullen. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. 
7. President Pennybaker. Kate Feiffer. Illustrated by Diane Goode. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages. 
8. The Odd Egg. Emily Gravett. 2008. Simon & Schuster. 32 pages.         
9. Yes, Let's. Galen Longstreth. Illustrated by Maris Wicks. 2013. Tanglewood Press. 32 pages. 
10. Ball. Mary Sullivan. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 40 pages. 
11. Giddy-Up, Daddy! Troy Cummings. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. 
12. Pirates vs. Cowboys. Aaron Reynolds. Illustrated by David Barneda. 2013. Random House. 40 pages. 
13. When Mermaids Sleep. Ann Bonwill. Illustrated by Steven Johnson and Lou Fancher. 2013. Random House. 32 pages. 
14. The Green Bath. Margaret Mahy. Illustrated by Steven Kellogg. 2013. Scholastic. 40 pages. 
15. Bad Astrid. Eileen Brennan. Illustrated by Regan Dunnick. Random House. 40 pages.    
16. Who Wants to Be A Poodle I don't. Lauren Child. 2009. Candlewick. 40 pages. 
17. Llama Llama Misses Mama. Anna Dewdney. 2009. Penguin. 40 pages.
    
18. Grumpy Grandpa. Heather Henson. Illustrated by Ross Macdonald. 2009. Simon & Schuster. 40 pages.
19. Not Last Night But The Night Before. Colin McNaugton. Illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark. 2009. Candlewick. 32 pages.
20. Oh, What a Beautiful Day! A Counting Book. Jeanne Modesitt. Illustrated by Robin Spowart. 2009. Boyds Mill Press. 32 pages.
21. Snippet the Early Riser. Bethanie Deeney Murguia. 2013. Random House. 40 pages.
22. The Story of Peppa Pig. Scholastic. 2013. 32 pages.
23. Good Night, Sleep Tight. Mem Fox. Illustrated by Judy Horacek. 2013. Scholastic. 32 pages.
24. Toys in Space. Mini Grey. 2013. Random House. 32 pages.
25.  Ribbit. Rodrigo. Folgueira. Illustrated by Poly Bernatene. 2013. Random House. 32 pages.

Middle Grade and Young Adult:

1. Al Capone Does My Homework. Gennifer Choldenko. 2013. Penguin. 224 pages. 
2. The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail. Richard Peck. 2013. Penguin. 224 pages. 
3. The Belgian Twins. Lucy Fitch Perkins. 1917. 124 pages. 
4. The Jungle Book. Rudyard Kipling. 1894/1895/2012. Random House. 320 pages.  
5. Odessa Again. Dana Reinhardt. 2013. Random House. 208 pages.
6. The Language Inside. Holly Thompson. 2013. Random House. 528 pages.
7. Magic for Marigold. L.M. Montgomery. 1929. 274 pages.
8. Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1908. 148 pages. 
9. The Moon and More. Sarah Dessen. Penguin. 384 pages.
10. Only You Can Save Mankind. Terry Pratchett. 1992. 207 pages. 
11. Emily's Quest. L.M. Montgomery. 1927. 228 pages.
12. In A Glass Grimmly. Adam Gidwitz. 2012. Penguin. 192 pages.  
13. The Testing. Joelle Charbonneau. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 344 pages.

Adult Books:

1. The Blue Castle. L.M. Montgomery. 1926. 218 pages.  
2. The Red Box. Nero Wolfe. (Nero Wolfe #4) 1936. 266 pages. 
3. The Reluctant Widow. Georgette Heyer. 1946/2008. Sourcebooks. 316 pages. 
4. Detection Unlimited. Georgette Heyer. 1944/2010. Sourcebooks. 378 pages.  
5. The Foundling. Georgette Heyer. 1948/2009. Sourcebooks. 439 pages. 
6. The Autobiography of Methuselah. John Kendrick Bangs. 1909. 104 pages. 
7. Arabella. Georgette Heyer. 1949/2009. Sourcebooks. 312 pages. 
8. Death in the Stocks. Georgette Heyer. 1935/2009. Sourcebooks. 314 pages. 
9. Behold, Here's Poison. Georgette Heyer. 1936/2009. Sourcebooks. 330 pages. 
10. They Found Him Dead. Georgette Heyer. 1937. Sourcebooks. 325 pages    
11. Strong Poison. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1930/1995. HarperCollins. 272 pages.  
12. The Five Red Herrings. Dorothy L. Sayers. 1931. HarperCollins. 325 pages.
13. A Blunt Instrument. Georgette Heyer. 1938. Sourcebooks. 309 pages.

Christian Books:

1. The Christian Atheist: Believing in God But Living As If He Doesn't Exist. Craig Groeschel. 2010. Zondervan. 256 pages.
2. Awesome Bible Verses Every Kid Should Know...And What They Mean. Rebecca Lutzer. 2013. Harvest House. 111 pages.
3. The Book of Revelation. Adapted by Matt Dorff. Translated by Father Mark Arey and Father Philemon Sevastiades. Illustrated by Chris Koelle. 2012. Zondervan. 192 pages.  
4. Love's Unfolding Dream. Janette Oke. 1987. Bethany House. 240 pages. 
5. The Holy Spirit: Who He Is and What He Does. R.A. Torrey. Edited by Harold J. Chadwick. Bridge Logos. 343 pages. 
6. In The Steps of the Master. H.V. Morton. 1934. 416 pages.  
7. Creature of the Word. Matt Chandler, Eric Geiger, Josh Patterson. 2012. B&H. 256 pages.
8. The Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan. 1678. 185 pages? 
9. Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Mark. J.C. Ryle. 384 pages. 
10. Name Above All Names. Alistair Begg and Sinclair B. Ferguson. 2013. Crossway. 192 pages. 
11. Children's Favorite Bible Stories. Compiled by Tama Fortner. Illustrated by Natalie Carabetta. 2012. Thomas Nelson. 432 pages.  
12. The Glory of Heaven: The Truth About Heaven, Angels, and Eternal Life. John MacArthur. 1996/2013. Crossway. 224 pages.
13. Done: What Most Religions Don't Tell You About the Bible. Cary Schmidt. 2005. Striving Together Publications. 114 pages.
14. The Cure: The Divine RX for the Body of Christ: Life Changing Love. Harry Kraus, M.D. 2008. 188 pages.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

May Reflections

In May, I read 41 books. It was a lot of fun to discover the Oz books! I plan on reading more in this series! I also read some Victorian novels!

My Top Five:

Can You Forgive Her? Anthony Trollope. 1865. 848 pages.
Catherine. April Lindner. 2013. Little, Brown. 320 pages.
The Daughter of Time. (Inspector Grant #5). Josephine Tey. 1955/1995. Touchstone. 206 pages.
Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I. Sandra Byrd. Simon & Schuster. 336 pages.
 Nicholas Nickleby. Charles Dickens. 1839. 817 pages.

Children's Books:

1. Penny and Her Marble. Kevin Henkes. 2013. HarperCollins. 48 pages.

Middle Grade and Young Adult:

1.  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1900. 156 pages.
2. The Marvelous Land of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1904. 192 pages.  
3. Ozma of Oz. L. Frank Baum. 1907. 126 pages
4. Emily of New Moon. L.M. Montgomery. 1923. Bantam. 352 pages.
5. Emily Climbs. L.M. Montgomery. 1925. Bantam Books. 325 pages.
6. Mary Marie. Eleanor H. Porter. 1920. 136 pages.
7. Destiny, Rewritten. Kathryn Fitzmaurice. 2013. HarperCollins. 176 pages.
8. This is What Happy Looks Like. Jennifer E. Smith. 2013. Little, Brown. 404 pages.
9. Catherine. April Lindner. 2013. Little, Brown. 320 pages.
10. Cross My Heart. Sasha Gould. 2012. Random House. 272 pages.
11. Hattie Ever After. Kirby Larson. 2013. Random House. 240 pages.   
12. Shades of Earth. (Across the Universe #3) Beth Revis. 2013. Penguin. 369 pages. 
13. Miss Billy Married. Eleanor H. Porter. 1914. 240 pages.
14. The Bronte Sisters: The Brief Lives of Charlotte, Emily, and Anne. Catherine Reef. 2012. Clarion. 240 pages. 

Adult Books:

1.  Nicholas Nickleby. Charles Dickens. 1839. 817 pages.  
2. Can You Forgive Her? Anthony Trollope. 1865. 848 pages. 
3. The Fallen Leaves. Wilkie Collins. 1879. 344 pages.
4. Friday's Child. Georgette Heyer. 1944/2008. Sourcebooks. 425 pages.
5. Bombay Anna: The Real Story and Remarkable Adventures of the King and I Governess. Susan Morgan. 2008. University of California Press. 300 pages.
6. The League of Frightened Men.  (Nero Wolfe #2) Rex Stout. 1935. Bantam. 320 pages.
7. The Rubber Band. (Nero Wolfe #3) Rex Stout. 190 pages.
8. Envious Casca. Georgette Heyer. 1941/2010. Sourcebooks. 396 pages.
9. Duplicate Death. Georgette Heyer. 1951/2010. Sourcebooks. 352 pages. 
10. The Daughter of Time. (Inspector Grant #5). Josephine Tey. 1955/1995. Touchstone. 206 pages. 
11. Kept in the Dark. Anthony Trollope. 1882. 512 pages.
12. A Dangerous Inheritance. Alison Weir. 2012. Hutchinson. 515 pages.

Christian Books:

1. Crucifying Morality: The Gospel of the Beatitudes. R.W. Glenn. 2013. Shepherd Press. 128 pages.
2. God's Power For Your Life: How the Holy Spirit Transforms You Through God's Word. A.W. Tozer. Edited by James L. Snyder. 2013. 224 pages. 
3. The Radical Cross.  A.W. Tozer. Christian Publications. 148 pages.
4. The Scriptures Testify About Me: Jesus and the Gospel In the Old Testament. Edited by D.A. Carson. Featuring essays by R. Albert Mohler Jr., Tim Keller, Alistair Begg, James MacDonald, Conrad Mbewe, Matt Chandler, Mike Bullmore, and D.A. Carson. 2013. Crossway. 188 pages.
5. In The Steps of St. Paul. H.V. Morton. 1935. 528 pages.
6. Love's Unending Legacy. Janette Oke. 1984. Bethany House. 239 pages.
7. The Sovereignty and Supremacy of King Jesus: Bowing to the Gracious Despot. Mike Abendroth. 2011. Day One. 240 pages.  
8. Revelation 14-22 (Thru the Bible Commentary Series) J. Vernon McGee. Thomas Nelson. 204 pages.
9. According to the Pattern. Grace Livingston Hill. 1903. 186 pages. 
10. Words to Winners of Souls. Horatius Bonar. 1877. 72 pages.  
11. Gospel: Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary. J.D. Greear. Foreword by Timothy Keller. B&H Books. 266 pages.  
12. Christ the Eternal Son. A.W. Tozer. 175 pages. 
13. The Bookends of the Christian Life. Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington. 2009. March 2009. Crossway Publishers. 160 pages. 
14. Roses Have Thorns: A Novel of Elizabeth I. Sandra Byrd. Simon & Schuster. 336 pages.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

April Reflections

In April, I read 42 books. I was able to read some fantasy this month! And I spent some time rereading favorite books!

My top five:

Les Miserables. Victor Hugo. 
The Annotated Hobbit. Revised and Expanded Edition. J.R.R. Tolkien. Annotated by Douglas A. Anderson.
Exclamation Mark. Amy Krouse Rosenthal.
Rilla of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery 
The Tutor's Daughter. Julie Klassen.

Children's Books:

1. Who's That...Playing? See How The Animals Play.  Kingfisher. 2013. 14 pages.  
2. Who's That...Eating? See How The Animals Eat. Kingfisher. 2013. 14 pages. 
3. Seek and Peek In the Rainforest. Kingfisher. 2013. 8 pages. 
4. Seek and Peek On the Farm. Kingfisher. 2013. 8 pages. 
5. Exclamation Mark. Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2013. Scholastic. 56 pages.

Middle Grade and Young Adult:

1. A Little Princess. Frances Hodgson Burnett. 1905. 264 pages.  
2. The Apothecary. Maile Meloy. 2011. Penguin. 356 pages.
3. Chronicles of Egg #1: Deadweather and Sunrise. Geoff Rodkey. 2012. Penguin. 288 pages.
4. The Grimm Legacy. Polly Shulman. 2010. Penguin. 325 pages.
5. The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. C.S. Lewis. 1950. HarperCollins. 224 pages.
6. The Annotated Hobbit. Revised and Expanded Edition. J.R.R. Tolkien. Annotated by Douglas A. Anderson. 2002. (1937, original Hobbit pub. date). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 416 pages.  
7. The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop. Kate Saunders. 2013. Random House. 304 pages. 
8. Bliss. Kathryn Littlewood. 2012. HarperCollins. 374 pages.  
9. A Dash of Magic. Kathryn Littlewood. 2013. HarperCollins. 384 pages. 
10. Sever. Lauren DeStefano. 2013. Simon & Schuster. 371 pages. 
11. The Wall. William Sutcliffe. 2013. Walker.  304 pages. 
12. Anne's House of Dreams. L.M. Montgomery. 1917. 227 pages. 
13. Rainbow Valley. L.M. Montgomery. 1919. 256 pages.
14. Rilla of Ingleside. L.M. Montgomery. 1921. 280 pages.    
15. Little House in the Big Woods. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1932. 238 pages. 
16. Little House on the Prairie. Laura Ingalls Wilder. 1935. 335 pages.  
17. Invention of Hugo Cabret. Brian Selznick. 2007. Scholastic. 525 pages. 
18. Whatever After: Fairest of All. Sara Mlynowski. 2012. Scholastic. 170 pages. 
19. Pinocchio. Carlo Collodi.  1883. 272 pages.
20. Stardust. Neil Gaiman. 1998. 368 pages.

Adult Books:

1. Les Miserables. Victor Hugo. Translated and Introduced by Norman Denny. 1862/1976/2012.
   Penguin. 1232 pages.
2. Pygmalion. George Bernard Shaw. 1912. 96 pages.
3. The English Governess at the Siamese Court: The True Story Behind 'The King and I' by Anna Harriette Leonowens. 1870/1999. 320 pages. 
4. Speaking from Among the Bones. Alan Bradley. 2013. Random House. 400 pages. 

Christian Books:

1. Altar Ego by Craig Groeschel. February 2013. Zondervan. 240 pages. 
2. The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected. Nik Ripken. 2013. B&H. 384 pages. 
3. Love At Any Cost. Julie Lessman. 2013. Revell. 416 pages. 
4. The Tutor's Daughter. Julie Klassen. 2013. Bethany House. 412 pages.
5. Love's Abiding Joy. Janette Oke. 1983. Bethany House. 240 pages. 
6. Iscariot. Tosca Lee. 2013. Howard Books. 336 pages. 
7. When Jesus Wept. Bodie Thoene and Brock Thoene. 2013. Zondervan. 304 pages.
8. Miranda. Grace Livingston Hill. 1915. 224 pages. 
9. Everlasting Righteousness. Horatius Bonar. 1872. 114 pages. 
10. Rhythms of Grace: How the Church's Worship Tells The Story of The Gospel. Mike Cosper. Foreword by Bob Kauflin. 2013. Crossway. 224 pages.
11. The Disappearance of God: Dangerous Beliefs in the New Spiritual Openness. R. Albert Mohler Jr. 2009. Multnomah. 194 pages.
12.  The Truth of the Cross. R.C. Sproul. 2007. Reformation Trust. 168 pages. 
13. Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Matthew. J.C. Ryle. 408 pages.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

March Reflections

This month I read 43 books. It was a GREAT month for loving books. And it was a great month for series!

My top five:

The Case of the Late Pig. Margery Allingham
Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell.
Faro's Daughter. Georgette Heyer.
Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) Robin LaFevers. 
The False Prince. Jennifer A. Nielsen.



Middle Grade Fiction:

1. Understood Betsy. Dorothy Canfield Fisher. 1916. 176 pages.
2. Clementine and the Spring Trip. Sara Pennypacker. 2013. Hyperion. 160 pages.
3. Treasure Island. Robert Louis Stevenson. 1883. 311 pages.
4. The Golden Road. L.M. Montgomery. 1913. 213 pages. 
5. The Little Prince. Antoine de Saint-Exupery. 1943/2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 112 pages. 

Young Adult Fiction:

1. The False Prince. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2012. Scholastic. 342 pages.
2. The Runaway King. Jennifer A. Nielsen. 2013. Scholastic. 352 pages.
3. Grave Mercy. Robin LaFevers. 2012. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 560 pages.
4. Dark Triumph (His Fair Assassin #2) Robin LaFevers. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 387 pages.
5. The Other Countess. Eve Edwards. 2011. Random House. 352 pages. 
6. The Queen's Lady. Eve Edwards. 2012. Random House. 336 pages. 
7. The Rogue's Princess. (Lacey Chronicles #3). Eve Edwards. 2013. Random House. 272 pages.
8. Orleans. Sherri L. Smith. 2013. Penguin. 336 pages.
9. The Lightning Dreamer. Margarita Engle. 2013. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. 182 pages. 
10. Anne of the Island. L.M. Montgomery. 1915. 272 pages.
11. Anne's House of Dreams. L.M. Montgomery. 1917. 227 pages.
12. Dear Enemy. Jean Webster. 1915. 236 pages.  
13. Daddy Long Legs. Jean Webster. 1912. 208 pages.

Adult Fiction:

1. Faro's Daughter. Georgette Heyer. 1941. 288 pages.
2. The Inimitable Jeeves (Jeeves). P.G. Wodehouse. 1923. 225 pages.
3. Hamlet, Revenge! Michael Innes. 1937. 312 pages.  
4. The Case of the Late Pig. Margery Allingham. 1948. 144 pages. 
5. Lord Edgware Dies (OR Thirteen at Dinner). Agatha Christie. 1933. 260 pages. 
6. The Corinthian. Georgette Heyer. 1940/2009. Sourcebooks. 261 pages.
7. Cranford. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1851. 257 pages.
8. Ruth. Elizabeth Gaskell. 1853. 432 pages.  
9. Why Shoot a Butler? Georgette Heyer. 1933. 352 pages. 
10. The Talisman Ring. Georgette Heyer. 1936/2009. Sourcebooks. 316 pages.    
11. Peril at End House. Agatha Christie. 1932. HarperCollins. 287 pages. 

Christian Books:

1. Phoebe Deane. Grace Livingston Hill. 1909. 224 pages.
2.  Comforts From The Cross: Celebrating the Gospel One Day At A Time. Elyse M. Fitzpatrick. 2009. Crossway. 152 pages. 
3. Love's Long Journey. Janette Oke. 1982. Bethany House. 240 pages. 
4. The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert: An English Professor's Journey Into Christian Faith. Rosaria Champagne Butterfield. 2012. (September 2012). Crown and Covenant. 150 pages. 
5. The Gospel Focus of Charles Spurgeon. Steven J. Lawson. 2012. Reformation Publishers. 145 pages.  
6. Gods at War: Defeating the Idols That Battle for Your Heart. 2013. Zondervan. 240 pages. 
7. Thru the Bible Commentary: Jeremiah and Lamentations. J. Vernon McGee. 1997. Thomas Nelson. 216 pages. 
8. The Child's Story Bible. Catherine F. Vos. (1938, 1949, 1958,) 1969. Eerdman's Publishing Company. 733 pages.   
9. Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Joe Thorn. Foreword by Sam Storms. 2011. Crossway Books. 144 pages.
10. Moonlight Masquerade. Ruth Axtell. 2013. Revell. 352 pages.  
11. All of Grace. Charles Spurgeon. 142 pages.
12. Revelation 1-5. (Thru the Bible Commentary Series) J. Vernon McGee. Thomas Nelson. 152 pages. 
13. Thru the Bible Commentary Series: Revelation 6-13. J. Vernon McGee. Thomas Nelson. 192 pages. 
14. Taking God Seriously. J.I. Packer. 2013. Crossway. 160 pages.

© 2013 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews