Really Random Tuesday #2

The lovely lady Suko says...

        Welcome once again to another "edition" of Really Random Tuesday! Really Random Tuesday is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes--any blogging and book-related things you can think of.

Today is last day of August and I do not know where the month went...time flies :o)

We have completed 10 days without any help. and I think we are doing great with Aarya. Of course he is not interested in his toys or rolling over... or anything else... but he sure loves hitting the piano with his Daddy and putting things in his mouth and pulling my hair or scratching me up :D

I am right now reading Manifest by Artist Arther and The Carriage House by Carla Neggers.

The first one is from NetGalley about a ghost-whisperer and more. I definitely started out not really liking the tone and the fell of this one. But now I am waist-deep into it and actually am enjoying it :) .. dis any book do that to you?! This again #1 in a series, and the 2nd one is coming out in Feb, 2011. Maybe by the end of this I will be in a mood to continue tis series :o)

The 2nd one was gifted to me by Stacy! She is a super cool blogger, and has random giveaways on her blog! Thanks Stacy :) I am enjoying this one.

The other day, I went to Cym's blog only to find the tailer of The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo! Ph my! why do I always get to such things LATE :) I want to see this movie and I hope they release it here too :)

I am hoping I will like it too... I am sure the people behind this movie will have to work really hard, because this one is not a easy one to show it in a movie :))

We are planning on a trip in October and I hoping it will be ok for Aarya to travel and he will throw few tantrums :D. It is a long journey to our homeland, but we have to do it with him... I hope it works out :)

I hope all of you are having a great week... and I end this post with a quote I really liked,

A paler bit of flesh winks under the collar, and perhaps he feels her eyes on it, for he shifts a bit, pulls his cap down lightly, and this is a relief since it shadows those eyes so like the sky over an orchard on a clear day with the white clouds billowing by fast and senseless as dreams, and she can’t look away on her own. 

- pg. 62 of Captivity by Deborah Noyes

Brighid’s Quest (Parthalon #3) by P.C.Cast

Brighid’s Quest (Parthalon #3)
by P.C.Cast
Published by Harlequin Teen
Paperback, 512 Pages

Synopsis from the Author's Website:

Fleeing her centaur clan's increasingly militant beliefs, Brighid Dhianna has begun to find peace and acceptance among the humans of Clan MacCallan. Still, she agrees to leave her newly formed friendships to guide her clan chieftain's grieving brother home. As she journeys, Brighid discovers that the long-dormant Shaman blood that runs so thickly in her veins will no longer be silenced. As seductive new powers begin to beckon, Brighid glimpses a future that is more impossible -- and more magical -- than any she could have dared to imagine.

But when tragedy summons her back to the Centaur Plains, Brighid must make a decision that will affect not only her friendship with the humans, but the centaur herd and indeed the world. For the Great Goddess Epona has set her on a new path that demands everything she has to give.

When the whole world is turning to her for help, healing the heart of a warrior doesn't sound so daunting . . .

This is a coming of age book and has a lot of things woven together. After seeing Elphame's concern for her brother who has gone to bring back the New Formaorians to Clan McCallan; Brighid decides to put her clan's chief's heart at peace and takes up the journey to find Cu and aid him in bringing the New Formorians back! But what Brighid does not expect is her struggle with her own powers, finding love and finding her destiny...this journey will change what Brighid Dianna stood for and will stand for, for time to come.

The land is still shrouded in darkness, but the sky had begun to blush in anticipation of the sun...

- Brighid's Quest

Brighid's Quest is the 3rd book in the Young Adult Parthalon Books by P.C. Cast! I had no clue when I selected this book from NetGalley that it was part of a series. I felt sorry I had not read the 1st 2 books because I have come to LOVE Cast's writing. It is so beautiful and vivid! When this book started, I really was a bit confused as I had no clue what was happening. But 10 pages into it and I was reading non-stop. This book is addictive in a way, I cannot explain. I loved Brighid, Cu and Elphame! I love the world that Cast has so beautifully crafted.
I LOVE her lyrical writing... I know I am saying it again... but I think I cannot express my love for this book enough.


Dwelling on tragedy makes grief become like a dipping icicle that begins as a small, harmless silver of coldness. But slowly, as winter of mourning progresses, layer after dripping layer hardens into an unbreakable dagger of pain. 
- pg. 67


The connection between dawn and sunset was like a coin with 2 faces. Alike, yet seperate. Similar, yet not the same. There was a simplicity and rightness to thinking of the two as reflections of one another... beginning and ending... and then beginning again...just another part of the great circle of life.
- pg. 271


Some things in life can't be placed tidly on sides of good or evil. We are often in the midst of a balancing act, where the scales are hopefully tipped toward the good and away from the evil. But sometimes evil wears the face of friends and family. And good looks like the outlander."
- pg. 288

You know that prejudice is not logical, which is why it is so hard to overcome."

Just like a coming-of-age novel, this one is predictable. I mean you know what is going to happen, but how and what all really happens - you have to read the book to really find out! On a side-note, I do not like the cover at all :(

I am waiting to get a chance to read all the books in this series. And I recommend this book HIGHLY!

I hope you guys give this series and this author's other books a try!

Check out the author site - P.C. Cast site

Thanks to Harlequin Teen and to NetGalley for my copy of this eBook!

I got to share this...

Now, what do I do get a piece of it?!

(via Wait What?)

Greater Love by Robert Whitlow

Greater Love

by Robert Whitlow

Published  March 16th 2010 by Thomas Nelson (first published 2010)

Paperback, 400 Pages

Synopsis:

No greater love hath man than this: that he would lay down his life for a friend.

As a result of her first-rate work as a law clear, Tami Taylor's been offered a coveted position as associate partner in one of Savannah's oldest and most prestigious law firms. Though her strong faith and convictions are valued by the firm's partners, Tami struggles to discern if God's will for her career is elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Tami must protect a young client named Jessie who is on the run from some shady characters. Her association with Jessie puts Tami in mortal danger. With her life on the line, Tami falls in love and discovers the power of romantic love forged by the activity of the Holy Spirit.

It's hard to predict how much influence we'll have on another person's life. Sometimes we're a comma; other times we're a chapter.

-pg. 294 of "Greater Love by Robert Whitlow"

It is my first time reading Christian Fiction and I am happy to tell you that it was a beautiful read. This book is what I would call a soft, beautiful and heart-warming read. Before picking this up, I did not know it is the final book in the "Tides of Truth" series! But, this one can be read as a stand-alone!
Tami is a strong character and her strength is in her belief in the God and her deep-rooted Christian beliefs. She seeks God's will to choose her career path and also in choosing her life-partner. She is an example on how we can "see" His path and make it our own. It is not a book you can breeze through, but it is one which needs to be read slowly! I agree, that the slow-pace at the start, kind of bugged me but half-way through it picked up pace as Tami struggles to unravel the mystery around Jessie's behavior. Who is Jessie, you ask? Jessie at first seems to be a hard-to-like runaway... but with Tami's help and His "touch" we see the real story. There is a bit of suspense, love and lot of faith added to lovely character's in this book; and it is easy to love Whitlow's writing... it is so serene!

Recommended!
I am not a Christian, but I still loved this book. I believe that all religious beliefs are based on love, faith and an undying belief in love for the people who surround you! God in any form, is one person who leads the way and teaches us ways to lead a happy, satisfying and purposeful life :)

Shorty Talks: For My Wife by Greta Krafsig

Short Story 21: For My Wife
by Greta Krafsig
Available Online @ Free-ebooks.net

This story is about a book that Caleb writes for his wife Kayla.
I don't want to give much away so I am going to keep this short and simple. Go read it! This one has the nice romantic touch to it and a sadness that clenches your throat somehow. You suddenly feel so helpless and suffocated.

It is definitely worth a read. At 22 pages it is a short and a fast read!
4.5 on 5!

Really Random Tuesday #1

This is my first time doing Suko's Really Random Tuesdays!

Suko says,

Really Random Tuesday is a way to post odds and ends--announcements, musings, quotes--any blogging and book-related things you can think of! 

Thanks Suko for hosting this one :)

I think I have many random ramblings going on in my head... and this would be a great me-me to talk about them. 

15th Aug, as many of you know was our Independence day - and well Happy Independence to all my Indian friends! What does independence mean to me?! Ah well, this year it is - Freedom of choice, I celebrate the freedom to be who I am. I CHOOSE who I am, and what I want to do. :o)

What independence did u celebrate this year?!

I have finished 2 books and am going to be posting the reviews soon! Brighid's Quest by P.C.Cast and Greater Love by Robert Whitlow. I enjoyed both of them. 


This week is going to be a busy one for us as we have relatives coming to see Aarya and a festival also at the end of the week. My mom, my biggest help these past few months, is heading back ot our home; and I am slightly scared of doing everything at home alone and of course looking after Aarya alone too! Of course Hubby dear, has been sweet enough o point out that he and I will do a great job together :)
Read Suko's, Really Random Tuesday here.
Have a great week ahead!

Silly Updates...

Hello Guys!
I know I have been away from your blogs and I am missing reading all your wonderful blogs too! This time the main reason is my real bad internet connection, it is still NOT fixed and I having a hard time working as well.
It is been a month now and I am hoping it will be fixed soon. The problem is no one is able to isolate the issue, once that is done we can look for a solution... but finding the problem is ... FRUSTRATING!

Hope!

Aarya, our sweet baby is 4 months old now, and I can tell you that the time is definitely flying. Each day there is something new that he discovers and the simplicity and innocence of his discovery amazes me! He is taught me a lot! There were so many things that I have taken for granted and with him and rediscovering the lost wonders and the lovely giggles :-)

It is wonderful... to be a mom... to breath in the scent of life that is so much you and still so different. LOVE it!

So what are you guys upto?! Because of no internet I spend my time mostly reading eBooks on the computer and of course a LOT of time with Aarya. I just finished Brighid's Quest by P.C. Cast and I LOVE it. I am shocked I never heard of her before and I am shocked that this book is book 3 of a series and I never really felt the need to know, it was as good as a standalone... BUT I want this series... very badly. I will BEG, steal and borrow it :D

oh and I forgot, do you like to put out your tongue out and tease someone? Aarya figured it out 2 weeks back and it is so awesomely annoying to see his tongue out each day LOL!