Spring Reading Thing 2009 Wrap It Up!

With today's official arrival of summer (according to the calendar, although our 102 temperature yesterday was certainly not spring-like!), the Spring Reading Thing 2009 hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Days has come to a close. This is always a fun time to set some reading goals and then look back and see what was read over the past 3 months.

In some ways, I didn't do as well as I would have liked this time. I certainly read - that's not the problem. But I didn't get to a few of the books on the list that I made at the beginning, and being the OCD type that I am, that bugs me! I know I just need to get over it.

I also discovered that I had not posted reviews for several books which I thought I had. Some publishers give specific date ranges for reviews and others don't, and I need to come up with a better system for keeping up with the reviews that are not specified. And having my sister for several months this spring (which I didn't talk about really on my blog but which was time-consuming and a bit stressful) and dealing with the bounty I received at the Expo along with all the normal spring activities as school began to wind down, has made it a little harder to keep my head above water.

I know the world will not fall off its axis if I don't post a review, but I do feel a sense of responsibility to follow up on the books I receive. I certainly don't want to misuse the publishers' trust in supplying the books.

Being an over-achieving perfectionist has nothing to do with it!

Anyway, enough philosophical rambling. Here's how I did with my original list:

The Inheritance by Tamera Alexander - loved it; my review is here. I thought I reviewed it!
Beyond this Moment by Tamera Alexander - great book; review is here.
Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney - loved it; arggh - just realized I never posted my review and interview with Deborah Raney!
A Killing Frost by Hannah Alexander - another great medical mystery
Finally Alive by John Piper - this one is still in the stack.
Salty Like Blood: A Novel by Harry Kraus, MD - another incredible book by one of my favorite authors; again, I've been wanting to do an interview with him and post the review.
Plain Pursuit by Beth Wiseman - enjoyed this one; read my author interview here.
Journey by Angela Hunt - final novel in the reprinted series about the family of Joseph; fascinating story
Talking to the Dead: A Novel by Bonnie Grove - this one was recommended to me and I never managed to pick it up
Ambushed by Grace: Help & Hope on the Caregiving Journey by Shelly Beach - sigh - it's still in my stack.
The Note II; Taking a Chance on Love by Angela Hunt - read it and loved it, as expected with Angie's books.

Listed below are the rest of the books I read, most of them books that were sent to me to be reviewed. The ones not linked to reviews are ones I just picked up and read because they caught my eye.

Face of Betrayal by Lis Wiehl
A Flickering Light by Jane Kirkpatrick
Enduring Justice by Amy Wallace
According to their Deeds by Paul Robertson
Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner - this is a beautiful, tender book. Susan has quickly become one of my favorite authors.
Nothing but Trouble by Susan May Warren
Ulterior Motives by Mark Andrew Olsen
Beloved Counterfeit by Kathleen Y'Barbo
Taking Tuscany by Renee Riva
A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman
The Justice Game by Randy Singer - review still to come
Finding Faith in a Skeptical World by Chet Galeska
Dear Mom by Melody Carlson
Deadlock by Robert Liparulo - I still owe a review on this one
A Promise to Believe In by Tracie Peterson
A Love to Last Forever by Tracie Peterson
A Dream to Call My Own by Tracie Peterson - review still to come
A Claim of Her Own by Stephanie Grace Whitson
Stealing Home by Allison Pittman
Saints in Limbo by River Jordan
Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark - a great & suspenseful book!
Bride of Honor by Ruth Axtell Morren - I always enjoy her books and this is no exception
Critical Care by Candace Calvert
Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes by Robin Jones Gunn
A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher
Along Came a Cowboy by Christine Lynxwiler
Reluctant Cowgirl by Christine Lynxwiler
The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns
Night Watchman by Mark Mynheir
Jillian Dare by Melanie Jeschke
The Disappearance of God by Albert Mohler
Above All Things by Deborah Raney
Cloud of Suspicion by Patricia Davids
Her Small-Town Hero by Arlene James
His Small-Town Girl by Arlene James
Protecting Her Child by Debby Giusti
Deadly Competition by Roxanne Rustand
Shadows on the River by Linda Hall
Another Hour to Kill by Anita Higman
Held Hostage by Ken Cooper
Words Unspoken by Elizabeth Musser
Her Last Chance by Terri Reed
Tour de Force by Elizabeth White - review still to come
A Gathering of Finches by Jane Kirkpatrick - review to come
Love's Pursuit by Siri Mitchell - review to come
The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn by Liz Johnson - review to come
The Preacher's Wife by Cheryl St. John
Sometimes a Light Surprises by Jamie Langston Turner
How Sweet It Is by Alice J. Wisler
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist - still need to post review and interview
The Veil by Diane Noble - review to come

So, the grand total is 58 books, I think. And I wonder why we need another bookcase!

Check out what books others have read over at Callapidder Days Wrap-It-Up! And Katrina has a special site set up where the participants have shared some of their reviews of books they read. Right now there are over 400 reviews - surely a book you are wondering about is listed!

Books are not made for furniture,
but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house.
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

Happy Reading - and home furnishing!