Cool Beans: I Have My Copy!!!!

I received my copy of Cool Beans this afternoon. I am so excited! I am currently reading A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman; so once I'm done that will be the next book on my reading list. I can't wait!

I Always Love A Good Book, Don't You?

I am counting down the days until my favorite writers release their new books. I am a huge fan of Christian Chick-Lit but I am afraid I own all the books already! So I decided to list my must-have books that I am counting on. Hopefully the Publishing companies will release them sooner (fingers crossed, lol). No particular order:
* Book Three in the Sydney Alexander Series- Christa Ann Banister I am not going to explain myself. You need to read Around the World in 80 Dates and Blessed Are the Meddlers to understand why I want to know what will happen next. Can you say "drama"? It leaves so much open that I am anxious to know more.
* Cool Beans (Maya Davis Series)- Erynn Mangum I love the Lauren Holbrook Series (Miss Match, Rematch, and Match Point). I love that I can relate to her main character and the story plot kept you reading and rereading (you don't want to see my books, ear marks everywhere!). I am excited to read about this new character and be introduced into her world.
* Piece de Resistance- Sandra Byrd I love French and I love Chick lit; so put them together and add a awesome plot and you have yourself an addicted reader. I am so anxious to see how this story with Lexi will end (read Let Them Eat Cake and Bon Appetit to find out the cool story).
* Sunset Beach- Trish Perry I am not sure if this is part of the other books (The Guy I'm Not Dating, Too Good to be True, Beach Dreams) but I love how she tells a story and keeps you interested until the very end. A lot of writers can't do that and she does it very well. So until these writers deliver, I will be reading and re-reading my favorite books. I need to add to my collection; I haven't bought any new books in a while.

Favorite Blogs

Every morning, it’s the same thing. I read my Daily Bread, read my Bible for the text that is in the Daily Bread, look up the verse in the Amplified and NIV version, and figure out what I am going to blog about while I read my favorite blogs. So, I decided to share them with you. I think it’s very hard to find a blog for our generation of Christians these days. Either they’re far left or far right. I am the kind of person who wants to read about how God affects your outlook on life, and everything in between. I am trying to figure out how to share everything because I feel that by me being open I might be able to help someone in the same situation as me. That being said let me list my favorite blogs and tell you why I love them. Hopefully you will share in the addiction with me. (They’re not listed in any order.)

1. The Scottish Wisdom (http://www/thescottishwisdom.blogspot.com)
I love this blog because of David’s (the blogger) hilarious topics as well as his blogs that make you think. David is a Christian (He’s a Bible School student) and a musician as well. It’s interesting to see what goes on in the mind of an artist.

2. Girly Girl (http://girlygirl.typepad.com/girly_girl)
This blog belongs to Kristin Billberbeck (author of The Ashley Stockingdale Series). She is a Christian Chick Lit writer, so in lame man terms: I LOVE HER! I love her sense of humor, her honestly about topics that happen in everyday America, I just love HER. The fact that she’s so open about everyday experiences, her minor shopping addiction, her kids, and her opinion of TV (especially American Idol) makes me like her so much more.


3. Bethany Dillon (http://bethanydillon.sparrowrecords.com; http://www.myspace.com/bethanydillonmusic)
Bethany is one of those rare, one of a kind people. You can’t help but love her.
From her music, you can tell she is love with God and wants to make music that shows that. Bethany’s blog is a funny, laid back type of journal. Its like she is talking to her friends and updating you on what you miss. (It’s not updated daily.)

4. Brooke Fraser (http://www.myspace.com/brookefraser; http://www.brookefraser.com/blog )
Okay, I will probably one day not love talking about her as much as I do now…but I highly doubt that. Any who, Brooke doesn’t blog daily. Her blog is more occasional and I like what she talks about. She talks about various topics: concerts she went to, her husband, writing her album, touring, etc.

5. Apricot Tea (http://apricot-tea.com)
Okay, this is the only secular blog I read. I like her blog because she’s a fashion addict like me. She talks about marriage, fashion, her family, experience, etc. She is honest and open about a lot of things. That’s why I like her.

6. Christa Ann Banister (http://christabanister.typepad.com/heythereitschrista)
Christa is another Christian Chick Lit writer (Around the World in 80 Dates & Blessed Are the Meddlers). She writes for magazines and gives reviews on movies and music. She makes you look forward to her blogs.

7. Erynn Mangum (http://www.erynnm.blogspot.com)
I love Erynn! She’s a Christian Chick Lit author that makes me excited that there’s someone out there who writes for Christians. Her humor is very much like mine and I love her characters. Any who, her blog is very hilarious! I love her sense of humor. She also throws in Bible verses, reflective thoughts, etc.

Location, Location, Location!

I love living in New York. Really I do; but when there are things like Blizzard (a Christian youth retreat) in Ohio, Erynn Mangum book signing in Texas, and Christian rock concerts everywhere but New York; I wonder sometimes if New York is the best city to be a young Christian? All these amazing Christian events I read about and love to be apart of are in other states that would require me to fly to get there (mind you, I am afraid of heights). The only event that is in New York is Kingdom Bound, and that's Upstate New York! Oh the humanity! I would love to see Salvador, Above the Golden State (sigh), Leeland (I LOVE THEM!) in concert but it would mean I would have to travel to see them......
Now that I have gotten that off my chest. I am so looking forward to Laura Jensen Walker's new book "Turning the Paige". Its the second book in the "Getaway Girls" series. I absolutely loved the first book "Daring Chloe", it was hilarious. I hope it gives you a follow up to Chloe because I am eager to know what happened to her. Anywho, I am such a dork. I called Barnes and Noble (I am a proud member)and had them order a copy for me (Christian Chick-Lit isn't carried much in bookstores) as soon as the book was released. I was on alibris.com (The Godsend of discount book sites!) and found out that I ordered over 40 books from October 2007 and January 2009! That doesn't count the books I bought from Barnes and Noble. I knew something was up when my books and fashion magazines started to take over my room, lol. I won't complain, because when it comes down to it I wouldn't resell them. I love reading and rereading books. I like that these books entertain me and speak to my spirit (not to mention many of the characters are as crazy as me); so what more can a girl ask for? Well Starbucks, Mr.Darcy, and Haagen-Daz Dulce de Leche ice cream (lol).

Miss Match- Erynn Mangum

So I am re-reading one of my favorite Christian Chick-Lit books: Miss Match by Erynn Mangum. The main character Lauren Holbrook is absolutely hilarious! Miss Match is the first book in the Lauren Holbrook series. What I love about Lauren's character is she's your normal coffee loving (sounds familiar) God fearing, Jane Austen quoting nut! Lauren has discovered her God-ordained calling: match making! and she's in serious overdrive. Lauren's content with singleness but for how long can she convince her friends she's the match maker, not them. Erynn's a genius! I won't give away any more of the plot but I can say that I am sooo looking forward to the new Maya Davis series coming out next year. The first book is called Cool Beans. The complete Lauren Holbrook series is as follows: Miss Match, Rematch, and Match Point. There's mention of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice and Emma. The perfect combination: God, Jane Austen and light hearted comedy. What more can a girl want?