Wednesday, April 30, 2014

WoW #41: Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:



Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund
Series: Michigan Brides, #3
Bethany House, July 2014

About
It is 1814 and the British have taken hold of Mackinac Island and its fort, forcing American residents to swear an oath of loyalty to the British crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a voyageur--a fur trader who left his family home to find freedom and adventure. He's been gone five years and when he returns, his family's farm is at the mercy of the British invaders.

Torn between the life he's grown used to and guilt over leaving his brother and mother, he's drawn back into the loyalist fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique Labelle, a beautiful local girl who's been befriended by the daughter of the British commander. As tensions mount and the threat of violence increases, both Angelique and Pierre must decide where their loyalties rest, how far they will go to find freedom, and how much they will risk to find love.

Why I want to read it
I really enjoyed all of the books this author has written (well, ok A Noble Groom wasn't my favorite) but I absolutely loved Rebellious Heart. She understands history and has a knack for writing good historical fiction - a genre I love.

Pre-order it:
Amazon ($11.24 / $9.99) and ChristianBooks ($8.99 / 9.69) and Barnes and Noble ($11.09 / $10.49)
(Prices good as of April 26, 2014, check for yourself before purchasing.)


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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl

Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl. Bethany House, 2014. 408p. (9780764210280) Series: Tales of Goldstone Wood, #6

Normally I don’t read time travel books because I find the idea too implausible and mind boggling. This story takes place in two (three?) time periods, but Anne Elisabeth makes it completely plausible and believable. It’s still a bit mind boggling but very well explained. I highly recommend this book and series! (But you already knew that. :-)

Goodreads Summary:
She will take your own two hands
to save your ancient, sorrowing lands.

By her father's wish, Lady Daylily is betrothed to the Prince of Southlands. Not the prince she loves, handsome and dispossessed Lionheart, but his cousin, the awkward and foolish Prince Foxbrush. Unable to bear the future she sees as her wedding day dawns, Daylily flees into the dangerous Wilderlands, her only desire to vanish from living memory.

But Foxbrush, determined to rescue his betrothed, pursues Daylily into a new world of magic and peril, a world where vicious Faerie beasts hold sway, a world invaded by a lethal fey parasite . . . .

A world that is hauntingly familiar.

My Review:
Lumé love us, is this a good book! It pulls you into the Wood and along with Lady Daylily and Foxbrush you lose all sense of time. Though, fortunately, unlike them you probably won’t encounter sylphs who push, poke, prod, tickle, pull and play with mortals to death (unless rescued of course).

More dangerous though than losing all sense of time is being pulled through time and finding yourself in a time that is not your own. Which is exactly what happens to the main characters of this epic adventure. How else do you describe a tale that takes place centuries ago and in the present? Where the outcomes of what happens in the past shapes the future beyond the present more than ordinary history shapes what comes after.

Confused? It does take a bit to get used to. Shadow Hand is a complicated story and to make sense of it and to grasp the import of Redbeard, the Haven, Imraldera and Eanrin, Sun Eagle and his beads, South Land itself and many other things you really ought to read all of the other books in the series.

And then after you read Shadow Hand for the first time you should reread it. As I’m writing this review I’ve been flipping back trying to find various bits and I keep coming across things at the beginning that tie in to the end. For example, the sylph tells Leo something on page 87 that we don’t completely learn about and don’t realize the full importance of until pages 382 and 402 (out of 408). Or, what would have happened in the present and the past and the future if Foxbrush hadn’t gone back and picked up that paper? The tiniest of actions can make a world of difference.

Fangirl moment: yes, I shouted aloud at that scene in chapter six of part two; and then sighed at the following scenes. Oh Eanrin.

Read this series if you enjoy fantasy and complicated other worlds and stories about love (and not just romantic love either!).

Five stars: Go buy, borrow or beg this book right now!


Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon  ($11.54 / $3.99); Buy it from ChristianBooks.com ($9.99 / $3.95); Buy it from Barnes & Noble ($11.51 / $5.99)
(Paperback/ ebook prices good as of April 26, 2014; always double check for yourself)


Disclosure: I received this book for free from the author and publisher (thank you Anne Elisabeth!). I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.


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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Top Ten Characters Who Are Librarians


Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Top Ten Characters Who Are Librarians

This week's topic was Top Ten Characters Who X (you fill in the blank) and I choose librarians, since I'm one and it always warms my heart to find a librarian in a book.

1. Imraldera from Starflower, Dragonwitch, and Shadow Hand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
She's not a librarian at first, but she later looks after books and writes down the histories and stories of the lands.

2. The Chronicler (and Mouse) from Dragonwitch by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
The Chronicler as drawn by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Image Source
3. Princess Cimorene from Searching for Dragons by Patrcia C. Wrede

4. Dottie Morgan and Violet from Baby it's Cold Outside by Susan May Warren

5. Alice from Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin

6. Miss Braithwaite from The Rose Garden Husband by Margaret Widdemer
One of my favorite books! And you can get it for free from Project Gutenberg.

7. Celia Thatcher from The Soul of the Rose by Ruth Trippy
Ok, so she's not quite a librarian - she works in a book store. But she could be a librarian if she wanted to be one.

8. Miss Finton from Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library! by Eth Clifford

9. Mrs. Byrne from The Report Card by Andrew Clements

10. Eden Spencer from To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer
Thanks Abbi for reminding me of Eden!

Have you read any books with a librarian as an important character? Please share!

Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Blog Tour and Interview: To Die Once by Miranda A Uyeh

Miranda Uyeh
Welcome Miranda! Congratulations on your new book!

1. Could you tell us about yourself?
Glad you asked! I’m a writer, blogger, book/entertainment reviewer for Christian works and a professional blurb constructor.

2. You have a job that many dream of - getting paid to read. :-) How did you become a professional reader?
First, my reading services as a book reviewer are free and I prefer that it remain so. However, I’ll collect payment if I have to construct an official blurb, premise, sales handle or promo sentence for your book. You can learn all about that on my business site.

There isn’t so much story as to how I became a book reviewer. I’ve always loved books, so when I discovered publishers were looking for book bloggers, I opted to become one.

3. Tell us a bit about your book.
Hmm, not sure if I should cut and paste the blurb here or not (just kidding!). Okay, let’s go for a simple description: it’s a romance and friendship story centered on God’s grace, hence the reason the book series is titled, Child of Grace. A lot of the characters come to understand God’s forgiveness and healing power in their unique circumstances.

4. What inspired you to write "To Die Once"?
Aside from the fact that I was itching to write a book, all the books and movies that I’d read in the past converged in my head into one, big plan, and it worked! With God’s help, those ideas came to center on a beautiful story of grace.

5. On your blog your share writing tips, what has helped you the most?
There is no right or wrong rule that every writer must follow. The right rule is the one that makes you a great writer. This lesson first settled in my heart after a series of occasions where I found myself confused because I wanted to follow every rule out there, just so I could attain literary perfection. While some advice helped, others crippled me and nearly killed my author voice. I had to take a step back, shut everything out, and allow the creative juices to flow naturally once again. The experience was amazing! I mean, why else would you need an editor after all? That being said, let me sound a warning that I learned from Author, Randy Ingermanson: not every editor is a good fit for your work. There are some that will never understand your story, and will have you change not just everything, but your entire writing style, therefore clipping your wings. Others, on the other hand, will be gleeful with you, applaud your efforts, gently but thoroughly correct you, and help you spread your wings so you/your book can soar. Thankfully, my editors, Amber Stokes and Rachelle Rea are not only helpful, but are my friends. I haven’t encountered any wrong editors, but I’ve heard an earful about them.

6. One last fun question to finish up, what four books would you want with you if you had to live on an island by yourself for a year?
Hmm, this certainly got me thinking. Well, my Bible DEFINITELY comes first. If I’m allowed to choose a version, it will be the NLT. Secondly, I’d take a journal with me where I could record my thoughts, daily life, and my walk with God. It never hurts to have a book to talk to when no one’s around anyways. Thirdly, I’ll bring with me a notebook or writing pad where I could write down all those ideas that float in my head which I’d later turn into a story, otherwise, I’d just go crazy! And lastly, I’ll carry along Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love. I doubt I could ever get tired of reading that book! Besides, I’ll need a favorite leisure read after all my hard work writing.

Fun choices! I never thought about bringing writing material. Thanks so much for joining us today and sharing about your work!

About the Book
A NOVEL
Two men, one woman, a rosebush …
… a terrible past, an uncertain future
Jennifer, a woman unexpectedly trapped in a path of love and passion against everything she believes.
Rodrigo, a man set to get what he wants at the cost of what matters most.
Stefano, a man with a past, a story to tell and passion to offer.
Chidi, a friend in need, a friend indeed. Or not?
From a culture where good girls follow the norm and live as they’ve been told, Jennifer is no different from any other girl until by happenstance, she meets and falls in love with Rodrigo, a man who’s handsome, rich and foreign. Different. She has no idea who he is or what he does, and is swept into a world of romance and passion. It is not long before she discovers a shocking truth that shakes both her world and his.
Then he is gone.
Stefano shows up at a time when Jennifer has made up her mind about the rules of life. He thinks she’s beautiful and is in love with her. In a bid to convince her to give him a chance in her life, old memories once buried are brought to life. And the events that follow don’t leave anyone unaffected by the truth of the past that was left unsettled.
Meanwhile, Jennifer with her friend Chidi, find themselves on a self-discovery journey that has one of them raising questions.
Some just have to ask, where is God in all this?
… an inspirational romance, from Lagos to Italy.

To Die Once can be found on Goodreads and will appear any day now on Amazon, Apple iBook, and Kobo.

Learn more about the author and be sure to check out her Pinterest board for the book:
Miranda A. Uyeh can be found on her Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Google+, Pinterest, Twitter. To keep up with Miranda and the Child of Grace book series, readers can sign up on her blog here.

Be sure to enter the giveaway:
10 winners will be drawn every week via the rafflecopter ticket every week making a total of 70 ebook winners all together. The winners will be announced every week on my blog on Sundays, but they will be emailed their ebooks after the tour. The giveaway is International.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, April 13, 2014

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen. Bethany House, 2014. 419p. (9780764210709)

Even though it started out slow this is another enjoyable Regency tale from Ms. Klassen. I was expecting it to be like The Tutor’s Daughter or some of her other books in that it drew heavily from Austen or the Brontes, but it didn’t as far as I could tell.

Goodreads Summary:
Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julia Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul--and hidden sorrows of her own.

Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master--a man her mother would never approve of--but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village. . .and to her mother's tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a "good match" in Regency England.

My Review:
The first half of the book was rather slow going and it took me several days to get through the book – it’s rather long at 419 pages. But at the end events were moving quicker, village and manor secrets were finally being reveled and explained the unofficial rule against dancing.

I liked Alec and his determination to look after his mom and sister and yet try to use his talent for teaching dancing and fencing. Though I thought he made some poor choices in where he practiced his dance steps and how he interacted with Julia. It didn’t make much sense for him to like her as much as he did.

Julia could be a Lydia Bennet in the way she went after what she wanted and didn’t care about societies rules. It took a while for me to like her but she did a lot of growing up over the course of the book and that was well written.

There was a fair amount of kissing, nothing more though; quite a bit of deceiving parents, but also chivalrous behavior (I especially liked the parts with Walter and Tess), the desire to right the wrongs of the past and a sense of fun about the young people that the story revolves around.

3 stars simply because I probably won’t reread it or parts of it (which is what 4 stars means)


Go read it! Find it at a library near you; Buy it from Amazon ($11.26); Buy it from ChristianBooks.com ($9.99) ; Buy it from Barnes & Noble ($11.26)
(Prices good as of March 23, 2014 always double check for yourself)


Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.


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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Friday, April 11, 2014

A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant

A February Bride by Betsy St. Amant. Zondervan, 2014. 120p. ebook (9780310338291) Series: A Year of Weddings, #3

Another lovely cover and cute story in this year of weddings series!

Goodreads Summary:
Happily ever after guaranteed. Allie left the love of her life at the altar—to save him from a lifetime of heartbreak. When a Valentine’s Day wedding brings them back together, she struggles against her family’s destructive history. Can Allie ever realize that a marriage is so much more than a wedding dress?

History repeats itself when Allie Andrews escapes the church on her wedding day—in the same dress passed down for generations and worn by all the women in her family—women with a long history of failed marriages. Allie loves Marcus, but fears she’s destined to repeat her family’s mistakes. She can’t bear to hurt Marcus worse.

Marcus Hall never stopped loving Allie and can only think of one reason she left him at the altar—him. When the two are thrown together for his sister’s Valentine’s Day wedding, he discovers the truth and realizes their story might be far from over.

Can Allie shuck expectation and discover who she is as a bride and in the Bride of Christ? And if she ever walks down the aisle, what dress will she wear?

My Review:
This was a fun read but it doesn’t stick in my memory as much as the previous two books in the series do. It was easy to empathize with Allie but I also wanted to talk some sense into her. Fortunately her best friend, Hannah, and Hannah’s mom are there to do just that.

In a neat twist it is Hannah’s brother that Allie loves and has dumped. Which of course means that it is her once future mother-in-law to be that is showing love and sharing good advice. I enjoyed this novella and look forward to reading some of Betsy St. Amant’s other books.


(Prices good as of March 23, 2014 always double check for yourself)

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission.

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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

WoW #40: Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:



Meant to Be Mine by Becky Wade
 Series: Porter Family, #2
Bethany House - May 2014



About
Ty Porter has always been irresistible to Celia Park. All through high school--irresistible. When their paths cross again after college--still irresistible. This time, though, Ty feels exactly the same way about Celia. Their whirlwind romance deposits them at a street-corner Las Vegas wedding chapel.

The next morning they wake to a marriage certificate and a dose of cold reality. Celia's ready to be Ty's wife, but Ty's not ready to be anybody's husband. As a professional bull rider, he lives on the road and can't bring himself to settle down.

Five and a half years pass. Celia's buried her dreams so that she can afford to raise her daughter. Ty's achieved all of his goals. Or thought he had, until he looks again into the face of the one woman he couldn't forget and into the face of the child he never knew he had.

How much will Ty sacrifice to make Celia's dreams come true, to win her trust, and to prove to her that their spontaneous marriage can still become the love of a lifetime?

Why I want to read it
I absolutely loved My Stubborn Heart and really enjoyed Undeniably Yours. Ty is Bo's brother from UY and Bo was "a fabulous hero" according to my review of that book. So I'm looking forward to meeting more of the Porter family and to reading this next book of hers.

Where you can find it
Amazon ($10.51/$8.99) and ChristianBooks ($8.99/$8.89) and Barnes & Noble ($10.49/$10.49)
Prices are good as of April 9, 2014 for pre-ordering the paperback/ebook edition. Please double check for yourself.


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Remember - Anytime you visit Amazon.com or BarnesAndNoble.com or ChristianBooks.com use an affiliate link to get there. Any purchase you make from a link on my site generates a small kickback. You need not purchase the item I'm featuring, any purchase counts. It costs you nothing extra and is an easy way to support this site.

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