Monday, May 30, 2011

Memorial Day-2011


 
To all those who serve, I thank you. For all those who have lost their lives defending the United States, I remember you and to all those who have lost a loved one my prayers go out to you and your family's.
 
Thank you!
 
 

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Sea Wolves Reading Circle- Random Magic Pirate Tour





Welcome to the Sea Wolves Reading Circle!! Ahoy, matey! Here be a treasure chest of great piratey reads, plucked from shelves by a scandalous crew from near and far.

Tina's Picks for The Best of .....Piratey Reads!


Treasure Island by Robert Stevenson
Published 1881

The Best Pirate Adventure!

The adventure in this story was priceless, while classics tend to be over descriptive, boring {gasp!} and long-winded, Treasure Island truly does its best to avoid boring scenarios. I had to read this with my daughter a few years back and seriously I think I had more fun reading it to her in my best piratey voice than the actual story itself. This is a great family read and fun adventure into the world of the sea.








The Dust of 100 Dogs by A.S King
Feb 2009 by Flux

The Funniest Pirate Themed Book

Yes, I know this story is about a girl who lives a 100 lives as a dog, ALAS- she is a pirate herself. I loved this because it was laugh out loud funny and featured a kick-butt girl to boot. Now this is more a mature teen/ adult read so I wouldn't be sharing Emer's story with the youngish, but for a few hours of hilarious and somewhat risqué moments I would recommended it.







Bloody Jack by L.A Meyer
2002 by Houghton Mifflin 

The Best Teen Pirate Series

Hands down this was awesome! I loved Jacky Faber and her snarky, brave and impressive personality she brought to the page. Meyer offers swashbuckling adventure with the talent of making the story relatable to teenagers and adults alike. 








Random Magic by Sasha Soren
2010 by Beach Books, LLC

The best feel-good Pirates!

Random Magic- the goodness that makes this tour possible makes my list for pirates with heart. Not that Sasha's pirates were all warm and fuzzy but they were seriously funny. My favorite aspect to Random Magic was in fact the few pirate scenes in the novel. I loved that friendship came out the strongest for the main characters in their interactions on deck, it left a lasting impression in the many quirky aspects this book had to offer!







Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly
1997 by Harvest Books

The Best Information on Pirates

Ok so my opinion is a bit biased seeing how this is the only nonfiction pirate book Ive looked at but it was interesting at times. The book is a very dry read ( most nonfiction is) however I learned alot about differences in Caribbean and Mediterranean pirates. So for you hardcore Pirate fans, this is a great resource on everything pirate!







Grab your own copy of Random Magic. Join the Treasure Chest Game check out the list of classic reads and find the whole list of blogs on this tour!!







Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to check out the Next Stop on the Tour at


Songs and Stories
Twitter: @LiederMadchen


Prize



Saturday, May 28, 2011

The Saturday Spotlight- Lena Goldfinch & Giveaway!!





Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, a weekly event hosted by Tinasbookreviews and features indie, self-published, up and rising and debut authors. Basically its all about authors and the books they write. This week I have the pleasure introducing readers to.....

LENA GOLDFINCH


Love in Any Language
by Lena Goldfinch

Romance has a universal appeal. It's all about finding love & happiness, finding a soul mate & life's companion. My author bio says I love a good romance, and it's true! Critics of the romance genre say it's formulaic (and therefore "less than worthy," I guess??) To some extent romance is formulaic: it's "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl," right? But there's so much room within that "formula" for great diversity. In fact, for me, a good romance is not less worthy, it's more worthy. But maybe that's just me. 

The HEA (or "a safe place for all those romantics who read Romeo & Juliet and secretly rewrote the ending") For me, one of the greatest appeals of the romance genre is the promise of a Happily Ever After (HEA). No matter what troubles the hero and heroine face on their journey---and there should be many---there's the promise of an emotionally satisfying ending. It's the appeal of a "feel good" summer movie. And there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot of trouble going on in the world---a lot going on in my world and the world at large. I care a lot, and, because I care a lot, those troubles can weigh me down. Sometimes I need and appreciate a little emotional lift. A really good romance can provide that.


What are the key elements of a good romance for me? The worthy heroine... This is hard to nail down to one quality; I just know it when I'm reading. I'm with this person and I'm rooting for her. There's something vulnerable about her, but she also has a core inner strength. She's someone I can admire.I gravitate toward the honorable hero, a man with a protective nature and an air of responsibility, but with just enough of something else, an edge maybe, that keeps him from being totally boring, you know? LOL

I think of Bruce Willis in Die Hard. The guy had his imperfections, but in the face of danger, he rose to the occasion, not only because it was the right thing to do, and not only because he was a trained, off-duty police officer, but he was driven to protect those he loved. I'm also drawn to kind of old-fashioned (although I prefer to call them timeless) values like: love, family, duty, honor, and an inner call toward The Greater Good, that inner something that makes these characters rise above their weaknesses. Not unlike Bruce Willis in Die Hard. 

In the end, I want to have this feeling that these two people really belong together. I can't be sitting there imagining their relationship is going to implode in a few weeks or years. When I reach the last page, I kinda want to hug the book to my chest and sigh happily. (Yeah, I'm a total sap)

Favorite kiss scene in a movie: The Bourne Identity

Remember that scene where Jason Bourne cuts Marie's hair? Despite all that's driving him to maintain a distance from everyone, he locks onto this girl and his defenses crumble. He's tough, almost indestructible, but he still needs human contact; he needs love. A+ for intensity! We won't talk about what happened in the sequel!




What's your favorite kiss scene or favorite romantic couple in a book or movie? Or, for you, what makes for a great romantic hero?

**Lena Goldfinch loves a good romance. She's been a past finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests, and has been previously published in short fiction. She lives in scenic New England with her husband/mad inventor, two kids, and a very spoiled black Lab. Her fascination with stories began at a very young age at the town library, a place where she still loves to hang out. In her not-so-murky past, she's worked as a software engineer and a web designer, and has now found her true passion in writing fiction. You can visit Lena online at www.LenaGoldfinch.com.


Thank you Lena for stopping by today, that was fun reading!! Id have to say my favorite kiss in a movie was Noah and Ally from The Notebook, after the seven years apart on the dock in the rain.....AHHHH that kiss gets me every time. 



GIVEAWAY

So thanks to Lena, I have one ebook copy of The Language of Souls to giveaway to a reader of this blog. Everyone is welcome to enter, please just leave a comment. Winner will be chosen on June 4, 2011.



The Langauge of Souls

Actions speak louder than words… 

Solena, a young healer with a generous heart, is desperate to heal her dying grandfather. When she ventures into hostile territory to find a rare herb, she finds out just how much she’s risked when she’s captured by the enemy and accused of being a spy. 

Rundan, a soldier, has struggled all his life to please his father, a ruthless army commander. When he’s ordered to take the beautiful trespasser to the royal courts, where she’ll be summarily tried and executed, he’s plagued by the most inconvenient desire to protect her at all costs. 

Terrified and anxious to escape, Solena is confused by the handsome young soldier who cruelly captures her and then displays uncommon kindness. When he risks his own life to save her, she discovers she may have risked more than her life...she may have lost her heart.





Thursday, May 26, 2011

Shelf Cravings (19)


Welcome to Shelf Cravings, a weekly event hosted by me and features new release books, coming soon, just discovered and cant wait to read..This week Im excited for....



~Coming Soon~




Gravestone by Travis Thrasher
June 1, 2011 by David C. Cook


His Fear Will Soon Turn to Anger….   At first, Chris Buckley was simply warned. And watched. But as Chris unravels the haunting riddles of the town of Solitary, he finds that much more than the life of a town is at stake.   Whether facing a pastor with a house full of skeletons or a cousin he never knew existed, Chris is forced to choose between light and darkness, life and nightmarish death. Every choice he makes reminds him that the unthinkable has already happened—and if he trusts the wrong person, it may happen again.   This second book in the Solitary Tales continues Chris’s journey toward finding out who he is and what his own role is in the darkness suffocating his tiny new hometown. Filled with shocking twists, Gravestone is a tale of a teenager thrown into a battle over a town, a secret—and ultimately his own soul. 





Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
September, 2011 by David C. Cook

When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series. 
Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times.   But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.  







Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley
June 21, 2011 by Waterbrook Press


When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man. 
Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.
Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When the feud turns violent and Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without the repayment of an ancient debt—the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.





The Canary List by Sigmund Brouwer
June 21, 2011 by Waterbrook Press

Protected by the dark of night, Jaimie Piper runs. But is anywhere safe when Evil is hunting you?

She’s just a twelve year-old girl, bumped around between foster homes and relegated to school classes for challenged kids, those lagging in their test scores or with behavioral issues. But her real problem is that she can sense something the other kids can’t—something dark. Something compelling her to run for her life.

All Crockett Grey wants is to mark the anniversary of his daughter’s death alone. 
But when his student Jaimie comes to him, terrified, her need for protection collides with his grief, and a tangled web of bizarre events sends them both spiraling toward destruction.
Crockett’s one hope of getting his life back is to uncover the mysterious secrets of Jaimie’s past and her strange gift. It isn’t long before his discoveries lead him to a darker conspiracy, secrets guarded by the highest seat of power in the world—the Vatican.





~Just Discovered~




Clarity by Jenna Kay 
Feb 2011 by RJP Publishing

CLARITY MILLER always thought of her life as semi-normal. She had friends that would do anything for her, a boyfriend that was madly in love with her, and a roof over her head that she shared with her aunt. 
Everything seemed to be falling into place. That is, until the day she met Sam.
When Sam informs her that he’s her guardian angel and that she has been given the gifts of a Seer, her life starts spiraling out of control. She wants nothing to do with the spiritual realm.
All she wants is to have a normal life as a teenager, but when a tragedy occurs that causes the whole town of Garlandton to fall to its knees she realizes that she has a very important decision to make. Should she embrace the life of a Seer? Only time will tell . 



~Cant Wait to Read~




Roadside Assistance by Amy Clipston
April 12, 2011 by Zondervan


A very bumpy ride.Emily Curtis is used to dealing with her problems while under the hood of an old Chevy, but when her mom dies, Emily's world seems shaken beyond repair. Driven from home by hospital bills they can't pay, Emily and her dad move in with his wealthy sister, who intends to make her niece more feminine---in other words, just like Whitney, Emily's perfect cousin. But when Emily hears the engine of a 1970 Dodge Challenger, and sees the cute gearhead, Zander, next door, things seem to be looking up.But even working alongside Zander can't completely fix the hole in Emily's life. Ever since her mom died, Emily hasn't been able to pray, and no one---not even Zander---seems to understand. But sometimes the help you need can come from the person you least expect.




Ok- so I think Im Lisa Bergren's new fangirl.....finishing Cascade was epic and now I may chew my own face off waiting for Torrent to come out...however I like my face so I probably wont do that!! I cant wait to see where Travis takes Chris, ride in the Dodge with Emily, see why Clarity is so freaky, be thrilled by shape-shifting angels and get all tangled up in the Vatican's secrets.....!!!



Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Book Spotlight- Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins

CFBA Book Spotlight




Over the Edge by Brandilyn Collins
May 1st 2011 by B&H Publishing Grp
Paperback, 352 Pages 

Torn from the front lines of medical debate and the author's own experience with Lyme Disease, Over the Edge is riveting fiction, full of twists and turns—and powerful truths about today's medical field.

Janessa McNeil’s husband, Dr. Brock McNeil, a researcher and professor at Stanford University's Department of Medicine, specializes in tick-borne diseases—especially Lyme. For years he has insisted that Chronic Lyme Disease doesn't exist. Even as patients across the country are getting sicker, the committee Brock chairs is about to announce its latest findings—which will further seal the door shut for Lyme treatment.

One embittered man sets out to prove Dr. McNeil wrong by giving him a close-up view of the very disease he denies. The man infects Janessa with Lyme, then states his demand: convince her husband to publicly reverse his stand on Lyme—or their young daughter will be next.

But Janessa's marriage is already rocky. She's so sick she can hardly move or think. And her husband denies she has Lyme at all.........Welcome to the Lyme wars, Janessa.


About the Author


Brandilyn Collins is an award-winning and best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e..."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is now working on her 20th book.

In addition, Brandilyn’s other latest release is Final Touch, third in The Rayne Tour series—young adult suspense co-written with her daughter, Amberly. The Rayne Tour series features Shaley O’Connor, daughter of a rock star, who just may have it all—until murder crashes her world.







Monday, May 23, 2011

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren & Giveaway!!


Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren
Feb 1, 2011 by David C. Cook
Paperback, 352 Pages
Review Copy


In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.



Review


Waterfall surrounds the Betarrini family, sisters Gabi and Lia and their mother. Over a year ago the girls suffered the loss of their father and life has moved on with all three of them living in silent grief. Gabi’s life isn’t normal for an American teenager, her parents being archaeologists have traveled the world steeped into their work and have shared much Italian and medieval history with their daughters, not many teens can say they have been worldwide by the age of sixteen and skilled in weapons and foreign languages. In the opening of the story Gabi’s mom is excavating ancient tombs and Gabi is ticked to spend yet another summer of her life at a dig sight. Feeling a bit rebellious her and Lia sneak into one of the tombs to do some exploring and come across an ancient drawing on the wall with handprints. When the girls innocently touch the artifact it heats up and before events can even be processed the girls are flung across time into 1332.

When Gabi wakes, she is still in the tomb, only 700 years ago and without her sister. Freaked out by what happened she makes her way out and stumbles right into the middle of a sword fight. Marcello, the leader of the Forelli family is the one who discovers Gabi, immediately he protects her and gets her to his home for safety. The castle is in an uproar over Gabi’s arrival as they try to figure out where she came from, Gabi quickly makes up a story and tells them she was traveling in from Normandy and got separated from her family. With little hesitation, Marcello and the others accept this to be truth and treat her as royalty. Gabi picks up the medieval garb pretty quickly and begins to blend in, despite her sword skills and scaling walls, which the men are fascinated with. The way she looks and the special “man” skills she possess leave most of the people speechless, but make some very suspicious, especially Marcello‘s betrothed Romana, who has noticed him stealing glances at Gabi. Gabi’s main mission is to find her sister Lia and get them back home, not romance Marcello, despite what his Romana thinks, however a tingly mass of emotion rises up whenever Marcello is near and the castle and a feeling of finally being home begin to change Gabi’s heart, where soon she begins to question leaving.

Waterfall was the best YA I’ve read this year, its writing flawless and non-stop action highly entertaining. Bergren was able to mix modern day girls with a medieval society, something rather hard to pull off, but due to the fact that Gabi’s parents were who the were, helped the girls remember certain things about that era. They knew the layout of the land, they knew how to speak the language and also were accustomed (no matter how drastic) to the culture. Gabi by far is my favorite heroine in a ya novel to date, she emits strength and bravery and was an awesome role model for teen girls, being that she was an everyday teenager dealing with real life struggles in grief, sex and her thoughts on religion without coming across cookie-cutter goody girl who no one could live up to. 


I also loved how this story was able to be daring in its circumstances about war, rape, torture and politics but able to remain graphic free in sexuality and language. Bergren did not shy away from the details of war and what women faced in that century, Gabi herself faced exposure, which in that day due to her appearance in jeans and a camisole could have landed her straight in a dungeon. Most of the society would have of course mistaken her for a witch, so it was lucky that Marcello found her first, intrigued by her bizarre clothes and ways, he is more captivated than suspicious. I thought about that whole idea of medieval culture and how people in that day would react to our culture today….it would be overwhelming for them, I think even as a Christian I would be considered a witch by their standards, my clothes and my whole women’s-rights views, would be enough to send me to the gallows. Gabi also faced men in a society long before women’s-lib, so women frankly had no rights, men decided their futures and even their marriages were arranged for financial and political reasons and women certainly did not fight in wars or wield swords. When Gabi and Marcello discover they have the hots for each other its not just hey lets go see a movie and hang out. Its Marcello breaking a lifelong union with another family of a country, its political warfare with unbelievable consequences, to have a man in that time make a move like that- pretty much suicide, in Marcello’s case he was willing to risk it for true love.

An absolute adventure to read, I loved every minute, every detail and cant wait to finish the series!!


Rating

Waterfall is recommended to mature teens and adults. While marketed towards the YA audience, this book will be loved by many adults as well. Contains: Medieval drama, violence, war, romance, attempted rape, attempted murder, time travel and death.

5/5- YA-Historical Fiction 
Huge thanks to Lisa Bergren and David C. Cook for review copy. 


Giveaway

I have 3 signed bookmarks of Waterfall to give away to my readers. These are perfect to put in your Waterfall novel. Open to Everyone, just leave a comment and I will draw winners on May 31, 2011.


Saturday, May 21, 2011

The Saturday Spotlight with Ann Summerville




Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, a weekly event hosted by Tinasbookreviews and features indie, self-published, up and rising and debut authors. Basically its all about authors and the books they write. This week I have the pleasure introducing readers to.....



ANN SUMMERVILLE
Q&A



Welcome to the blog Ann! Please Tell us About Yourself


I spent my childhood in London, England, but have lived in the U.S. since 1980. I have always enjoyed writing and started publishing cozy mysteries three years ago. I now live in Texas.

What inspired you to write High Tide?

I lived in Cornwall on the south west coast of England for a number of years and loved the fishing villages and rugged coastline. Small villages are like an extended family and I thought it would be a great place to use as a backdrop for a cozy mystery. 

What authors have inspired you?

I love Richard Russo and how he brings his characters alive. I especially like Empire Falls. Harlan Coben is another favorite of mine.

How long did it take you to write High Tide and were there any hang-ups?

I wrote the first draft of High Tide in 30 days as part of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) but it took me close to a year to finalize it.


Favorite Music?

I like some of the pop music of the 70s but also like classical and in particular Andrea Bocelli.

What are you reading now?

I'm currently reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I wasn't expecting the book to be in letter form, but am finding the format a great way to get many different views across to the reader. It's very informative about German occupied Guernsey during WWII.

Whats on the Agenda for current or future plans?

I'm now working on a cozy mystery set in a Texas hotel where a young woman disappeared in the 1930s. Her great-granddaughter accepts a job at the hotel and begins finding clues about her great-grandmother's disappearance.

Thanks Ann for stopping by and sharing those fun answers, Ann's book High Tide is available now and can be found on Amazon or Smashwords.



High Tide by Anne Summerville

 Giovanna Matthews settles happily into the English west country village of Lowenna, but a storm is about to rock her world. Distressing the ladies from the knitting circle, a body drifts in with a high tide. Unconvinced the death is an accident, Gia leaves no pebble unturned while sleuthing her way around the village. Her delving further disrupts village life much to the distress of many villagers who want every rock to stay firmly in place. Meanwhile, her boyfriend, David, has an unwelcome visitor who threatens to unravel the bonds that tie him and Gia. Can Gia solve the mystery and encourage the visitor to leave before her anchor in the village is uprooted and she too is cast out to sea? 









Friday, May 20, 2011

The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble


The Lightkeeper's Ball
by Colleen Coble
April 19, 2011 by Thomas Nelson
Paperback, 320 Pages
Review Copy

Olivia seems to have it all, but her heart yearns for more.

Olivia Stewart's family is one of the Four Hundred-the highest echelon of society in 1910. When her sister dies under mysterious circumstances, Olivia leaves their New York City home for Mercy Falls, California, to determine what befell Eleanor. She suspects Harrison Bennett, the man Eleanor planned to marry. But the more Olivia gets to know him, the more she doubts his guilt-and the more she is drawn to him herself.


When several attempts are made on her life, Olivia turns to Harrison for help. He takes her on a ride in his aeroplane, but then crashes, and they're forced to spend two days alone together. With her reputation hanging by a thread, Harrison offers to marry her to make the situation right. As a charity ball to rebuild the Mercy Falls lighthouse draws near, she realizes she wants more than a sham engagement-she wants Harrison in her life forever. But her enemy plans to shatter the happiness she is ready to grasp. If Olivia dares to drop her masquerade, she just might see the path to true happiness.

Mini-Review


The Lightkeepers Ball is the third book in the Mercy Falls Series. The story surrounds Olivia Stewart who is traveling in from New York to seek many questions about the death of her sister. Traveling under a different name and to no clue of her sisters fiancé (when she was alive) Harrison, Olivia is determined to discover foul play. But when Olivia finally does meet Harrison she is astonished to discover a man far from what she had conjured up in her mind. Harrison pretty much falls head over heals for Olivia (aka Lady Devonworth) and Olivia in return falls for him, yet pretends to be someone else for a majority of the novel. Certain drama, betrayals and torn emotions surround the couple as Olivia digs deeper into her sister and fathers story, mixing a tale of romance, historical settings and mystery to enthrall readers.

I wish I would have started at the beginning of this series, I’ve heard that each book can stand alone, but having more information may have helped me understand the family better. Olivia was a very hard character to relate to and I ended the book not really liking her, I think the manipulation and her lies even after falling in love with Harrison was just low-down. I had a hard time feeling any warm and fuzzies to the sometimes snotty socialite. Perhaps that was Cobles intent, for me as the reader to want better for Harrison due to the fact that his character was so honorable. I think it challenged me to try and see the same forgiveness Harrison showed Olivia could easily be the same forgiveness I would show someone I loved. Overall TLB was a pleasant read, the romance was enough to make up for character flaw and meeting Harrison was a great reminder of the rare gem a man can be.


Rating

The Lightkeeper's ball is recommended to adult and mature teen readers and for those who love faith-based Historical Romance. Contains: Scandal (murder, money, blackmail) romance, friendships and issues over lying.

3.5/5- CF- Historical Romance
Thanks to Audra Jennings and Thomas Nelson for review copy






Author Guest Spot with Colleen Coble

Author Interview - Colleen Coble


The Mercy Falls series centers on a small town in California and its lighthouse. Coble uses the lighthouse as a reminder that Jesus is our lighthouse always leading us home. In her latest addition to the series, the main characters must wrestle with their desire to find fulfillment in more than their work and money while being hunted by those who are holding on to resentment and unforgiveness.

With murder, suspense and desire, readers will enjoy peeling back the layers and discovering that this is more than your average romance novel. They will be perched on the edge of their seats trying to solve a mystery while discovering that the true worth of an individual never comes from a name or accomplishments. True worth can only be found in Christ.


Did you always dream of becoming a writer? Why did you choose the romance genre?

I wrote my first story in the first grade. It was about a horse that had twin colts. The teacher praised it and the writing seed was planted. I love illustrating God’s love through romance. I especially love the suspense I put into all my books as well. I have a strong streak of justice and it plays out in the suspense element.


What inspired you to write a historical series based in the early 1900’s? What would you have enjoyed about living in that time period and what would you have found the most difficult?

I happened to read an article about the Gilded Age and it mentioned how that era was so similar to today’s. I was intrigued with that, plus I wanted to choose a time period that wouldn’t be too much of a departure from my contemporary books. In that era, there were still cars and telephones! I would have loved the simpler lifestyle. However, I would miss my jeans! How vain.

Society at the turn of the century was very preoccupied with appearances and impressing other people. How is that not so different than our society today and how can we keep from falling into that same trap?

That’s exactly right! The parallels between the two eras are astounding. I’ve been at the cancer hospital this week with a dear friend, and it was a reminder of how fragile this life is. We seek THINGS when God wants us to seek Him. We need to keep our eyes set on eternity and remember that THIS life is the real dream. When we reach heaven, we will finally start to really live.

Bitterness and unforgiveness led to the death of Olivia’s sister. Why is it so important to forgive those who have wronged us?

An unforgiving spirit hurts us much more than the person we hate. It makes us ugly and crowds out the love we want to show other people. God is love, not hate. Bitterness is the very opposite of the attitude God wants us to have.


This is the third book in your Mercy Falls series. Addie and Katie were the main characters in your first two books. Olivia was given a true gift in the friendship of Katie and Addie. What does it take to find trustworthy and loyal friends? Why do you think that we all desire to find friends like these?

You have to first be a friend. You have to be open and giving of yourself to have those kinds of friends. A true friend tells you the truth in love, and that’s an important component of the give and take of real friendship.

What do you hope that your readers will take away from reading The Lightkeeper’s Ball?

I hope the readers who feel they have to earn love will take away the realization that their true worth is that Jesus loves them and died for them. They are valuable beyond comprehension. When we can step into the role of daughters and sons, we can realize our true potential.


Thanks Colleen for all that great inspiring information. If you haven't picked the Mercy Falls series you should defiantly check it out. Be sure to check out my review of The Lightkeeper's Ball later today.



Thursday, May 19, 2011

Shelf Cravings (18)


 
Welcome to Shelf Cravings, a weekly event featuring new release books, coming soon books, just discovered and cant wait to read. This week Im excited for.....
 
 
~Coming Soon~
 
 
 
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz
June 2011 by Harlequin Teen

 
What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

 
Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Conner, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.
But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan.
 
 
 



The Predicteds by Christine Siefert
September 2011 by Sourcebooks

Daphne is the new girl in town and is having trouble fitting in. At least she has Jesse... sort of. He wants to be more than "just friends," but there's something he's not telling her about his past. Something dangerous. When a female student is brutally attacked, police turn to PROFILE, a new program that can predict a student's capacity for drug use, pregnancy, and violent behavior, to solve the case. As the witch hunt ensues, Daphne is forced to question her feelings for Jesse–and what she will do if her first love turns out to be a killer.







Southern Fried Sushi by Jennifer Rogers- Spinola
October 2011 by Barbour Books


Ride the rollercoaster of Shiloh Jacobs’s life as her dreams derail, sending her on a downward spiral from the heights of an AP job in Tokyo to penniless in rural Virginia. Trapped in a world so foreign to her sensibilities and surrounded by a quirky group of friends, will she break through her hardened prejudices before she loses those who want to help her? Can she find the key to what changed her estranged mother’s life so powerfully before her death that she became a different woman—and can it help Shiloh too.






The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
August, 2011 by Aladdin



Quill prevails when the strong survive. Using this notion as the core of their society, the people of Quill partake in a yearly ceremony, wherein children at the age of thirteen are divided into three categories--the Wanteds, the Necessaries, and the Unwanteds. Wanted children will move on to schooling and training to join the Quillitary and fulfill their roles in maintaining an efficient life for all, while Necessaries will take on farm work and similar duties. Any child who has shown a propensity toward emotion or creativity is deemed Unwanted, and sent for elimination. Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret--behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime, where every Unwanted child has been welcomed by a man named Mr. Today. Artime is a special place full of art, music, theater, and magic, where each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation. But it's a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.


~Just Discovered~



Love Letters in the Sand by Diann Hunt
May 1, 2011 by Summerside Press

The tide of World War II washed away her happily-ever-after dreams and left heartbreak in its wake, but Eva Hilton dares to consider another chance at love.
However, the jilted teacher's past catches up with her when battle-scarred Paul Sommerfeld re-enters her life in 1957. Together they attempt to navigate the shifting sands of their relationship as painful truths come to light. Will Eva ultimately discover that, though the tide washed away their once-upon-a-time love letters in the sand, she and Paul have a love that will be forever written upon their hearts?


~Cant Wait to Read~
 
 
Here, Home, Hope by Kaira Rouda
May 1, 2011 by Greenleaf Grp.
Kelly Mills Johnson becomes restless in her thirty-ninth year. An appetite for more forces her to take stock of her middling middle-American existence and her neighbors' seemingly perfect lives. Her marriage to a successful attorney has settled into a comfortable routine, and being the mother of two adorable sons has been rewarding. But Kelly's own passions lie wasted. She eyes with envy the lives of her two best friends, Kathryn and Charlotte, both beautiful, successful businesswomen who seem to have it all. Kelly takes charge of her life, devising a midlife makeover plan.
From page one, Kelly's witty reflections, self-deprecating humor, and clever tactics in executing that plan—she places Post-it notes all over her house and car—will have readers laughing out loud. The next instant, however, they might rant right along with Kelly as her commitment to a sullen, anorexic teenager left on her doorstep tries her patience or as she deflects the boozy advances of a divorced neighbor. Readers will need to keep the tissue box handy, too, as Kelly repairs the damage she inflicted on a high school friend; realizes how deeply her husband, Patrick, understands and loves her; and ultimately grows into a woman empowered by her own blend of home and career.


What a toss-up of books to choose from....Im not crazy about McCann's novel cover, but the story sounds like a fantastic adventure. I cant wait to get my hands on the Predicteds and meet middle-aged Kelly, travel back to 1957, find out what exactly fried sushi is and be spellbound by Emma's story.

 

 
 

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Don't Breathe a Word by Jennifer McMahon


Don't Breathe a Word by
Jennifer McMahon
May 17th 2011 by Harper
Paperback, 464 Pages
Review Copy
 
 
On a soft summer night in Vermont, twelve-year-old Lisa went into the woods behind her house and never came out again. Before she disappeared, she told her little brother, Sam, about a door that led to a magical place where she would meet the King of the Fairies and become his queen.


Fifteen years later, Phoebe is in love with Sam, a practical, sensible man who doesn’t fear the dark and doesn’t have bad dreams—who, in fact, helps Phoebe ignore her own. But suddenly the couple is faced with a series of eerie, unexplained occurrences that challenge Sam’s hardheaded, realistic view of the world. As they question their reality, a terrible promise Sam made years ago is revealed—a promise that could destroy them all.
 
Review

Don’t Breathe a Word revolves around a little girl named Lisa, her older brother Sam and his girlfriend Phoebe. When the novel starts out Phoebe is a 20 year old tramp sleeping with her Ice Cream married boss man. They go to the Magic Finger hotel for hook-ups and she describes in a nutshell what her life is all about and during that little hotel romp, a small girl named Lisa go’s missing in the woods- never to be found again. Flash forward a few pages and Phoebe is a 35 year old women in a relationship with Sam….the same boy who’s little sister went missing that summer 15 years ago, freaky coincidence or could it be the evil Faerie Kings plan, the one Lisa eagerly talked about when she was young? Well we as readers don’t know and that’s exactly where this story takes us, right into its dark and scary mystery as each layer is pulled back.

The story shifts from past to present and Lisa in the past story, reveals an active friendship with real faeries and her obsession with them. Most of her family and her friends blow off the stories, thinking little girl imagination gone wild, but when she disappears alone in Reliance (the freaky town featured in this novel) the family thinks, along with my own confusion that she may have easily walked across the path into faerie world. In the present day with the help of a journal Sam and Phoebe find in an attic, suspicions which soon turn to horror realize that Lisa has returned and has quite the story to tell. The freaked out couple attempt to piece together the mysterious events of that day and question after question begin to pile on top of old questions and the story constantly shifts from creepy to creepier blurring the lines of childhood, fantasy and reality. The future is grim and all these characters are tumbling down with it. The only thing that might save them, is finding out the truth before its to late.

So this was my second McMahon adventure and I do give props to the author that she thoroughly creeped me out. The pull of suspense was so strong in the beginning I had a hard time putting the book down. I love it when a novel takes me down a road of the unknown and intrigues me with its mystery, about midway through however, the writing became very fragmented and choppy, I was frustrated at times to the sheer lack of information to put the pieces together and reading though it felt very claustrophobic for me, I cant even explain how the heaviness of the story began to weigh on me. On a personal note, I had problems with the -“big-reveal”- just like in Promise Not To Tell (where I was shocked but not surprised by surrounding events) I was shocked by what happened to Lisa, so much so that I’m disturbed by this ongoing theme of backyard rednecks in this authors novels. Its kind of like I’m left with this icky feeling, the same one I had after watching that sick movie Deliverance. In all honesty the novel was just too dark for me, the reality of Lisa and Hazel’s (side-character) story made the scary Faerie‘s seem like cotton candy at a carnival, I think that’s why my reaction to the end was off, I felt duped or better yet repulsed like Phoebe was with Ice Cream mans hairy back, yet at the same time freakishly fascinated by its repulsiveness.

Rating

Don’t Breathe a Word is an adult novel and recommended to readers who enjoy creepy novels and can handle dark subject matter. Contains: Frightening paranormal elements, sexuality (semi-graphic) language, violence, kidnapping, death, rape/incest, child abuse, mental disorders.

3.5/5- Contemporary/Fantasy
Thanks to Harper and Tlc for review copy




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