First of all, Happy Birthday to ME! ;) I'm now officially 19 years old! Thank you to everyone who wished me happy birthday! I really appreciate it. :)
Now, here is the winner of the four cowboy books:
Virginia! (vrush729@...)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A Stranger's Wish by Gayle Roper ~ 3 stars
A Stranger's Wish
Gayle Roper
Amish Farm Trilogy #1
Harvest House
About the book:
Englischer Kristie Matthews’ move to an Amish family farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, starts on a bad note as the young schoolteacher is bitten by a dog.
A trip to the local ER leads to an encounter with an old man who hands her a key and swears her to silence.
But when Kristie’s life is endangered, she suspects there’s a connection to the mysterious key. While solving the mystery (and staying alive), Kristie must decide whether her lawyer boyfriend, Todd Reasoner, is really right for her....or if Jon Clarke Griffin, the new local man she’s met, is all he seems to be.
My review:
This is a pretty good book, and I liked the mystery, but it was a little odd in some places. Also, I was surprised at some of the things they said about the Amish people and customs. At times, what was said was completely different from what I had read about the Amish in other books. (So I don’t know if this book is factual, or not considering the different information.) Although this was a romance, it wasn’t very romantic. At times, I wasn’t even sure if the couple would end up together, honestly. It could have gone either way, and I wouldn’t have been surprised. That’s all I’m going to say, as I don’t want to rag on the book. It wasn’t terrible or anything, I just didn’t love it. I wouldn’t recommend this to everyone, but I’m sure some people will enjoy it. It just wasn’t my type of read.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wild West Giveaway Party!
Welcome! I hope you all enjoy this as much as I do. :) I just adore Cowboys and the Wild West, and could think of no better time to feature them and their writers than during the week leading up to my 19th birthday(March 31)!
So, here you go, guys... Enjoy! :) (And be sure to read to the bottom to learn how to enter and get extra entries to increase your chances of winning!)
What is your favorite birthday memory?
Denise: Birthday’s weren’t a huge deal in my family, so I never had a birthday party . . . until husband surprised me on my 30th birthday. I thought I was going to a family Thanksgiving dinner, and all my closest friends and family were there for my party instead. :)
Linda: From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, I had been sick for a number of years with undiagnosed Crohn's Disease and was about fifteen pounds underweight. One February, my mother had come to visit for my birthday. She just stayed overnight, but on “the day,” she kept asking me what my husband had planned for me. I really didn't know. Over the years, our birthdays began going by relatively unnoticed for some reason. I wasn't sure whether he'd do anything for me or not.
Linda: From the late 1990s to the early 2000s, I had been sick for a number of years with undiagnosed Crohn's Disease and was about fifteen pounds underweight. One February, my mother had come to visit for my birthday. She just stayed overnight, but on “the day,” she kept asking me what my husband had planned for me. I really didn't know. Over the years, our birthdays began going by relatively unnoticed for some reason. I wasn't sure whether he'd do anything for me or not.
He was late coming home, so I had hopes he was engaged in some last-minute shopping, although I couldn't imagine what he could get without spending quite a bit of time. But he came home, only twenty minutes later than usual, with several grocery bags bundled in his hands.
That day, my husband illustrated how well he knew me by buying every single snack I love—salty, savory, and sweet; cashews, snack crackers, Whoppers, Cheetohs, and more. Everything. Then he made the ultimate sacrifice: he promised to stay out of them!
I managed to gain a bit of weight over the next week or so.
Mary: I’ve never been real fond of my birthday. I was born in March, on the 20th and I was raised to always claim I was born on the first day of spring. The trouble with that is, March 20th is apt to be a disgusting day. I had so many birthdays ruined by cold and rain and snow and mud. Throw in it was supposed to be the first day of Spring and it was a big disappointment all around.
If you could invite one person you have never met to your birthday party who would it be?
Mary: I can’t believe how hard I’m thinking to answer this question. It’s really hard. The trouble with famous people I admire is, I’m afraid I’d hate them. I imagine most famous people are kind of strange in real life, like movie stars, don’t you? I’m going to go for Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman. She’s got the best blog ever and it’s hugely successful. If she met me she’d mention me on her blog wouldn’t she? And then I’d sell a zillion books.
What is your favorite thing to eat on your birthday?
Denise: I’m not a big fan of cake, so we usually head to the best chocolate shop in the world, which happens to be in our area. They have fabulous chocolates and a dark chocolate and raspberry sundae that’s too die for. (They ship too! http://www.debrand.com/)
Linda: That differs from year to year. My birthday is February 11, and this year I craved Chinese food. Nobody seemed to pick up on my hint until weeks later. Meanwhile, I had terrific Mexican food at a place my husband chose, and a great traditional pot roast at a restaurant my mother favors.
If, for your birthday wish, you could be a character in any movie, who would you be?
Denise: I’d choose one of the Jane Austen movies, if for no other reason than to talk in a beautiful English accent and wear those gorgeous gowns.
Linda: This may be cheating, but long ago, there was a series based on the Laura Ingalls Wilder books, Little House on the Prairie. They also made a couple of movie-length episodes, or made-for-TV movies. I want to be Laura. I've always wanted to be Laura. I've considered myself an anachronism since I was a teenager. Really, give me my indoor plumbing and electricity, and send me back to the prairie. (I admit, I'm spoiled to modern conveniences!)
Mary: Carmen, these questions!!!!! Do you make them up after fifty cups of coffee or what??????? A character in a movie….I don’t want to be a heroic character because they inevitably have to fight for their lives. That would be unpleasant. I want to be a happy character, and who makes movies about them, huh? No one, that’s who. I’ll be Doris Day in The Thrill of it All, with James Garner as her obstetrician husband. Very sweet and funny.
What is your favorite thing about cowboys?
Denise: I think the biggest appeal is their ruggedness. They’re men’s men, tough, and masculine. Such a beautiful contrast to the feminine heroine.
Linda: Cowboys have a code I truly respect. I've heard it summed up in two words: “no excuses.” Get the job done. Don't shirk. Don't whine. Don't procrastinate.
Granted, this may be idealized. Many of the cowboys I know are one way on the job, and another way off. Cowboy wives may have more of an insight!
But this image impresses me. I wonder what would happen if everyone held to that creed.
Mary: I'm just never having more fun than when I have the cowboy lift the brim of his Stetson with his thumb and say, "This here, looks like shootin' trouble, little missy. You best get back and let me handle it."
I love their take charge ways. The life that makes them battle nature everyday…and win. The way they never say a paragraph when a sentence will do, and never say a sentence when a word will do and never say a word when a grunt will do. It's just a fun type to create.
RULES:
**USA addresses only, please**
The winner will receive autographed copies of each of these books:Sharpshooter in Petticoats and the 3-in-1 "Lassoed in Texas Trilogy" by Mary Connealy
A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter
and Give the Lady a Ride by Linda Yezak.
Don't those look great?!? :)
TO ENTER:
*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you do not want to be entered.
(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.
+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.
+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Love Amid the Ashes
+2 Post about this giveaway, or put up one of by special banners which can be found HERE. (More directions w/the banners)
+2 Ask one of the authors a unique question (or something you just REALLY want to know!)
+1 For each person you get to come and enter this giveaway who metions you by name (up to four). (Be sure they use your specific name so I know who to give the point to.)
**You can earn a total of 12 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**
*The contest will run from today (March 25) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 31). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 1st, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.
Good luck! Thanks for visiting.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Love Amid the Ashes winner!
Jessica! (angelcat714@...)
Banners for Wild West Party
Okay, here they are...
Be sure to include a link so that people know where to go:
http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2011/03/wild-west-giveaway-party.html
If you have trouble grabbing these pictures send me an email at booklovercb[at]yahoo[.]com and I will send them to you in an attachment.
The taller one should fit perfectly in a sidebar, while the wider one should work best for a post. :)
Be sure to include a link so that people know where to go:
http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2011/03/wild-west-giveaway-party.html
If you have trouble grabbing these pictures send me an email at booklovercb[at]yahoo[.]com and I will send them to you in an attachment.
The taller one should fit perfectly in a sidebar, while the wider one should work best for a post. :)
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Love Amid the Ashes by Mesu Andrews ~ 5 stars
Love Amid the Ashes
Mesu Andrews
Revell Publishing
About the book:
An epic story of love and forgiveness, suffering and restoration
When her beloved grandfather Isaac dies, Dinah must follow his final command: travel to Job's household to marry his son. After Job's world comes crashing down, Dinah finds herself drawn to this great man brought low. What will she risk to fight for his survival?
Mesu Andrews weaves an emotional and stirring account of Job and Dinah. Love Amid the Ashes breathes life, romance, and passion into the classic biblical story of suffering and steadfast faith.
My review:
Well, this book certainly captured my emotions! I cried so often while reading this book. It is a very touching story. (I even got really mad at Job’s friends/family when they came to see him. I was truly angry at them! LOL) The author did an amazing job of portraying the time period, family squabbles, and inner battles that the characters faced. The romance was sweet and I loved how everything turned out! The ending was just wonderful. It was all very well done. Also, this book has definitely aroused my curiosity to read more about these characters in the Bible! In my opinion, this is a great romantic Biblical fiction novel.
Available March 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday Funnies Update
First, I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to vote on my poll. :) I aprreciate it, and it helped me to make my decision.
Second, is my announcement that I WILL be keeping Sunday Funnies. Only, I'm changing it to a biweekly thing, rather than every week. I've been looking for ways to cut back on blogging time since I'm going to be experiencing lots of changes in my life in the near future. (Especially graduation, and college!) I need to have a more flexible schedule so I can easily adjust to changes.
My plan is to keep blogging and reviewing. I just need to make it a little less time-consuming. ;)
Thanks for all your support! :D
Second, is my announcement that I WILL be keeping Sunday Funnies. Only, I'm changing it to a biweekly thing, rather than every week. I've been looking for ways to cut back on blogging time since I'm going to be experiencing lots of changes in my life in the near future. (Especially graduation, and college!) I need to have a more flexible schedule so I can easily adjust to changes.
My plan is to keep blogging and reviewing. I just need to make it a little less time-consuming. ;)
Thanks for all your support! :D
Friday, March 18, 2011
Mesu Andrews ~ Interview + Giveaway!
*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*
Today author Mesu Andrews is telling us about her new book, Love Amid the Ashes. She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!
Welcome, Mesu! Tell us a little about yourself.
I lived in Indiana most of my life until my husband accepted a teaching position at Multnomah Bible College in 2007. Now we love the Pacific Northwest and have convinced our two grown daughters to start their married lives here, too! I have a PhT degree…that’s a “Putting Hubby Through” degree for those unfamiliar with the term. We were married just before Roy’s junior year of undergrad. He taught and coached in high school for a few years, and then he attended seminary when our girls were six and four. When he wasn’t in school, I was blessed to be a full-time mom and part-time everything else, putting my Associate’s Business degree to work in a variety of settings. Our first pastoral ministry began in 1993, and we served in two churches over fourteen years in Northern Indiana. We lived in a small town completely surrounded by Amish farms, and our daughters went to school with many of the Amish children (in public school). It was a fantastic (and unique) place to raise our kids. Great memories!
Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was raised in a Christian home. I knew without a doubt that there was a God…I just wasn’t quite sure who He was. I call myself a spiritual mutt – Dad was Quaker, Mom charismatic, grandparents were Pilgrim Holiness turned Nazarene and finally settled into Wesleyan. Life was interesting when we talked Bible. I rebelled and was an alcoholic by the time I was nineteen. A failed relationship put me on the edge of eternity. Then my best friend set me up with a good friend of ours from high school. He’d been as pagan as the rest of us in school, but he’d gone down to a Texas Christian college on a basketball scholarship and “got religion,” so she warned me that he was a little nuts now. I thought I could handle him like I handled all the other crazy Christians around me…but he was different. I saw a peace in him that I wanted. I needed. Within three weeks, he led me to a saving relationship with Jesus, and within seven months we were married! (Nine months and two weeks later, we had our first child; but that’s another story)
How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I handle disasters really calmly – while they’re happening – and then I fall apart when everything resolves. I’m strong, resourceful, all “we can do this!” in the moment, but I end up in a puddle of “help God!” by the time it’s over.
My favorite thing is Wick’s Sugar Cream Pie. They make it in Richmond, IN, and I think they only sell it in the freezer section of central Indiana grocery stores. It’s FABULOUS! But probably 2000 calories per slice!
What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
I love Jill Eileen Smith’s, Wives of King David series and I’m looking forward to reading Bathsheba because the second book, Abigail, was one of my favorite reads.
What is your favorite time of day to write?
ALL DAY! The time of day doesn’t matter as much to me as the amount of time in one sitting. To write my characters at the level of emotion they need, I must be fully invested in the scene; and that takes time.If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
I really admire Francine Rivers and Lynn Austin. Both women have written biblical novels that captured my attention and my heart. I’m not sure I write like them, but I’d like to! I think my novels are PG simply because of the subject matter. In Love Amid the Ashes, Job is inflicted with very serious health issues, and Dinah’s history at Shechem is a mature topic. I never describe any sexual scene, but the love between a husband and wife is understood when I close the door on a scene.
What are you working on now or going to write next?
We’re in the editing and marketing phase of my second novel, Love’s Sacred Song. It’s the story of King Solomon’s early years and the love of a shepherd girl that shaped his character and his nation. It releases with Revell in March 2012. I’ve also started research on four more biblical novels. I love to find famous (or infamous) male figures and then search and dig for interesting information about the women in their lives. Stay tuned to discover which shadowy characters are revealed in the next four Old Testament tales!
Back cover blurb:
When scandal and murder rock Dinah’s life, the daughter of the great patriarch Jacob is sent away to Job’s household. After Job’s own world comes crashing down, Dinah finds herself drawn to this great man brought low. What will she risk to fight for his survival?
What research did you have to do for this book?
It’s important to remember that commentators differ on many details about Job. Since there are so many possibilities broached by various theologians (all of whom are WAY smarter than me!), I read a variety of commentaries on Job and his friends. I then came to a conclusion that seemed most common to the majority. This lead me to study rabbinical tradition, preserved through the ages more by verbal tradition than written. In those cases where rabbinic tradition contradicted Scripture, I used the biblical truth; however, in those cases where Hebrew tradition filled in missing information, I included it and let it fuel the fictional rendering of my story. But it’s very important to remember that Love Amid the Ashes is FICTIONAL. I have maintained every detail of Scripture (to the best of my knowledge), but the story built around God’s Word is strictly my imagination.
Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
Job – George ClooneyDinah – The woman on the book cover, or Katherine Heigl
Nogahla – Dakore Egbuson
Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?Discussion questions: http://mesuandrews.com/books-by-mesu/love-amid-the-ashes/discussion-questions/
Bible study questions: http://mesuandrews.com/books-by-mesu/love-amid-the-ashes/bible-study/
How can readers get in contact with you?
http://mesuandrews.com/
~~~~~
**USA addresses only, please**
Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Love Amid the Ashes!
TO ENTER:
*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you do not want to be entered.
*Here are the ways to get entries:
(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.
+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.
+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Invasion
**You can earn a total of 4 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**
*The contest will run from today (March 18) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 24). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 25th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.
Good luck! Thanks for visiting.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Bathsheba, and LFY in Camelot, Tennessee winners!
Anita Yancey (ayancey@...)
And the winner of Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee by Janice Hanna is:Doreen (priviesandprims@...)
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Invasion by Jon S. Lewis ~ 5 stars
Invasion
Jon S. Lewis
C.H.A.O.S. series #1
Thomas Nelson
About the book:
Colt McAllister is drawn into a war against things he thought only existed in comic books.
After a car wreck takes the lives of his parents, Colt moves to Arizona to stay with his grandfather. There, an informant tells him that his parents were actually murdered because his mom, a journalist, was getting ready to write a story exposing Trident Industries.
Along with Oz and Danielle, his new comrades at Chandler High, Colt vows to uncover the truth. But the more they learn, the more bizarre reality becomes. Mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles only scratch the surface of what they discover.
Colt is recruited by a secret organization called the Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural. But the battle isn't just against an out-of-control giant corporation. A gateway to another world is opening, and the invasion has already begun.
My review:
I was pleasantly surprised with this book! It is definitely not my typical read, so I wasn’t sure what I would think, but I really enjoyed it! It was fast-paced, adventurous, and I can’t wait for the next book in the series to come out. (Though, the fact that it’s going to be a whole YEAR before the next book comes out is kind of frustrating.) I was a little surprised at the basically non-existent faith factor in the book. I mean, it doesn’t promote secular ideals, but it doesn’t have a God-element, either. It wasn’t a big deal for me, but it might be for other people. All in all, this is a fun, interesting read, and I believe that it will go over well with fans of this genre.
Thanks to BookSneeze for my free review copy of this book.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
You're Invited to My "Birthday Party"
Hey!
So, to celebrate my 19th Birthday, I'm hosting a party here on my blog that features two of my favorite things: ROMANCE and COWBOYS! :D
Make sure you come, it's going to be a blast!
So, to celebrate my 19th Birthday, I'm hosting a party here on my blog that features two of my favorite things: ROMANCE and COWBOYS! :D
Make sure you come, it's going to be a blast!
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Sunday Funnies #52!
This is especially funny to me because I have three friends who golf. :)
We have made it to one year's worth of Sunday Funnies! Thank you my lovely readers! :D
Friday, March 11, 2011
Janice Hanna ~ Interview + Giveaway!
*You can earn up to 2 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*
Today author Janice Hanna is telling us about her new book, Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee (March 2011). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!
Award-winning author Janice Thompson also writes under the pseudonym Janice Hanna. She got her start in the industry writing screenplays and musical comedies for the stage. Janice has published nearly seventy books for the Christian market, crossing genre lines to write cozy mysteries, historicals, romances, nonfiction books, devotionals, children’s books and more. In addition, she enjoys editing, ghost-writing, public speaking, and mentoring young writers. Janice formerly served as Vice-President of CAN (Christian Authors Network) and was named the 2008 Mentor of the year for ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). She was thrilled to be named the 2010 Barbour/Heartsong Author of the Year, with three books on the top ten list for that house. Janice is active in her local writing group, where she regularly teaches on the craft of writing. Her online writing courses have been helpful to many who want to earn a living with their writing. Janice is passionate about her faith and does all she can to share the joy of the Lord with others, which is why she particularly enjoys writing. She lives in Spring, Texas, where she leads a rich life with her family, a host of writing friends, and two mischievous dachshunds. She does her best to keep the Lord at the center of it all. You can find out more about Janice at http://www.janiceathompson.com/ or http://www.freelancewritingcourses.com/.
Welcome, Janice! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I grew up in church and felt the Lord’s tug from the time I was young. I committed my life to Him at age eleven and have never looked back!
How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I try to laugh my way through every situation. It doesn’t always happen, but I try. When I went through a particularly difficult season several years ago (multiple deaths in the family, all in a row) I found myself turning to Robin Jones Gunn’s light-hearted books. There’s something about comedy (or light-hearted stories) that really lifts my spirits.
Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I bake wedding cakes on the side. It’s true! I’m not the best decorator in the world, but I can bake a mean cake.
What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
I loved One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Her beautiful literary style blew me away, but the content of the book is really what sealed the deal. The book is a personal expose on living life with an attitude of gratitude, no matter what you’re going through.
What is your favorite time of day to write?
I write all day long, but my best time of day is in the late hours of the night. I’m a night owl, so this just seems to work best for me.
If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
Hmm. I’ve been told my writing is a bit like Lisa Wingate’s. I think it could also be compared to Kristin Billerbeck and/or Robin Jones Gunn. I write light-hearted romance that’s definitely G rated!
What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m writing Love Finds You in Daisy Oklahoma, while marketing Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee, (which just released).
Back cover blurb:
Steve Garrison is the newly elected mayor of the tiny town of Camelot, Tennessee. When his childhood friend Amy Hart comes up with a plan to revive the town’s economy, he jumps onboard. The townspeople will perform the musical “Camelot” in the city’s park, drawing in nightly crowds. While excitement is high, talent is lacking. Amy casts several of the parts but is stumped when it comes to the role of King Arthur. In desperation, she turns to Steve. Will he pull the sword from the stone and save the day? Steve reluctantly agrees—on one condition. In exchange for his willingness to wear tights, Amy must play the role of Guinevere. And when a handsome newcomer cast as Lancelot takes an interest in Amy, the stage is set for a little tension—and perhaps love.
What research did you have to do for this book?
I went to college in East Tennessee, so I was pretty familiar with the Knoxville area. The story is close to my heart, because I performed in the musical “Camelot” while in college (less than two hours away from the area where this story takes place).
Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
Follow Janice at:
Website: http://www.janicehannathompson.com/
Writing Courses Website: http://www.freelancewritingcourses.com/
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/jhannathompson
Reader’s Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Janice-Hanna-Thompsons-Readers-Page/303537684650
Blog: http://janiceathompson.com/blog/?cat=1
Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
I love writing romantic comedies and I love musical theater, so combining both of these elements in Love Finds You in Camelot Tennessee was such a blast. The story was especially dear to me since I attended college in Tennessee.
~~~~~
**USA addresses only, please**
Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee!
TO ENTER:
*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you do not want to be entered.
*Here are the ways to get entries:
(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.
+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.
**You can earn a total of 2 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**
*The contest will run from today (March 11) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 17). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 18th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.
Jill Eileen Smith ~ Interview + Giveaway!
*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*
Today author Jill Eileen Smith is telling us about her new book, Bathsheba (The Wives of King David series, book 3 -- March 2011). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!
Jill Eileen Smith is the best-selling author of Michal and Abigail, books one and two in The Wives of King David series. She has more than twenty years of writing experience, and her writing has gathered acclaim in several contests. Her research into the lives of David's wives has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.
When she isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family; in person, over the webcam, or hopping a plane to fly across the country. She can often be found reading Christian fiction, testing new recipes, grabbing lunch with friends, or snuggling one or both of her two adorable cats. She lives with her family in southeast Michigan.
Welcome, Jill! Tell us about your salvation experience.
I would love to share this! Because of it’s length, I will give you the link to my website where you can read the whole thing. http://www.jilleileensmith.com/bio/
How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
It’s hard to say because each circumstance is different. God’s grace comes and carries us through times that are toughest. Sometimes we have to jump in and tackle the disaster. Other times I might sit and cry and journal and pray. Still others, I reel from the shock for a while before I can do anything at all.
Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
If I could live anywhere I wanted to, I would spend time in Israel and California. I would love to live at least part of the year near the ocean and live in a climate that is sunny more than cloudy. Cloudy days wear me down.
What is one book that you recently read and would recommend to your readers?
Only one? :) Okay, since it's a recent read I will pick The Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent. It's not fiction but it reads like a story and is a memorable read.
What is your favorite time of day to write?
I actually write morning, noon, and night, but I prefer late morning best, if the words are flowing. I prefer to catch up on emails and social networks later in the day.
If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
I’m not sure about the style, but readers of Tamera Alexander, Julie Klassen, Siri Mitchell, and other historical Christian authors may like my books. In Bathsheba the romance rating would be PG. Sex is implied, never shown. This would be true in all my books.
What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just turned in Sarai, book one in the next series – The Wives of the Patriarchs. I am currently working on book two about Rebekah and Isaac.
A single moment changed her life – will she ever regain all she’s lost?
Can love triumph over treachery?
Bathsheba is a woman who longs for love. With her husband away fighting the king’s wars, she battles encroaching loneliness–making it frighteningly easy to succumb to the advances of King David. Will one night of unbridled passion destroy everything she holds dear? Can she find forgiveness at the feet of the Almighty? Or has her sin separated her from God—and David—forever?
With a historian’s sharp eye for detail and a novelist’s creative spirit, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the passionate and emotional story of David’s most famous—and infamous—wife. You will never read the story of David and Bathsheba in the same way again.
What research did you have to do for this book?
I had already researched King David's life pretty well for the first two books and the years of study before that. I have a list of resources I used under Bonus Features on each book's page of the series' website (http://www.thewivesofkingdavid.com/). The only new thing I did for Bathsheba was to get some military expertise to understand Uriah's character better, which helped immensely!
Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
I do pick actors and actresses to be my characters as I write the stories, but they are chosen for their looks, not their acting ability. If I had the privilege of seeing one of my books on the silver screen, I would be more concerned with finding a great director and trust him or her to choose the actors. Two of my favorite choices for director are Steven Spielberg (he does quality work) and the Cohen brothers (I especially liked True Grit).
These are the two people who "played" David and Bathsheba on my Idea Board. Phoebe Cates is amazingly close to the model Revell found to portray Bathsheba on the cover. Eric Bana has been my "David" choice through all three books.
Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
http://thewivesofkingdavid.com/bathsheba/
Click on the link on the right side to download the chapter.
How can readers get in contact with you?
They can find me on my website (which is also my blog) – http://www.jilleileensmith.com/
The series website: http://www.thewivesofkingdavid.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Eileen-Smith/10924241028?ref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/JillEileenSmith
Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Thank you for your interest in my work! I am grateful for every person who takes the time to read my books. I hope the stories help you to see the biblical characters as real people with real hopes and dreams and failings just like us. They are great examples of God’s great grace!
~~~~~
**USA addresses only, please**
Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Bathsheba!
TO ENTER:
*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you do not want to be entered.
*Here are the ways to get entries:
(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.
+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.
+2 Read and leave a comment on my review of Hearts Surrender.
**You can earn a total of 4 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**
*The contest will run from today (March 11) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 17). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 18th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.
Good luck! Thanks for visiting.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Hearts Surrender by Marianne Evans ~ 4 stars
Hearts Surrender
Marianne Evans
Woodland series #2
White Rose Publishing
About the book:
Kiara Jordan is a sophisticated modernista, but beneath an engaging personality and super-model looks, her heart hungers, and she longs for deeper meaning in her life.
Ken Lucerne is the charismatic young pastor of Woodland Church; he's adjusting to life as a widower and copes by keeping as busy as possible with his parish and missionary work.
A home-building mission in Pennsylvania brings them together, and forces them to look hard and deep at the relationship they share, and where God means for it to go. Already bound by mutual respect and caring, love dawns, a love that takes them to a life-point neither would have expected.
After all, can a chic, vivacious woman find fulfillment within the quiet, mission-centered life of a clergyman? Can they trust God's hand strongly enough to surrender their hearts to one another...forever?
My review:
Well, I saw a marked improvement between the first book in this series, and this one. The writing was stronger, and the characters were understandable and easy to connect with. I could see their struggles, and enjoyed watching each of them grow in their faith. I especially loved when they were on the mission trip and wished more time could have been devoted to that part of the book. Such a wonderful opportunity to help others! Aside from a few belief differences, I had no real problems with this book. It was a quick, fun read. I look forward to continuing to see this author grow and write more in the future.
Thanks to Marianne for my free review copy of this book!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
MaryLu Tyndall ~ Interview + Giveaway!
*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*
Today author MaryLu Tyndall is telling us about her new book, Surrender the Night (Surrender to Destiny series #2 -- March 2011). She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can leave a comment on this post to find out the answer!
Hi, I’m MaryLu Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist, and best-selling author of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series. That’s right. You heard it correctly. I wrote an inspirational series about pirates. Christian pirates, that is. Oddly enough, I believe it was that strange combination of pirates and faith that opened the doors of publishing for me. Since then, which was only about six years ago, I have a total of nine books published with five more under contract. My books are known to be fast-paced, adventurous, and intensely romantic while also interwoven with deep spiritual themes. Though I was raised in Florida and would love nothing more than to live in the tropics again, I have lived in Northern California for almost thirty years with my husband, six kids, and three stray cats.
Tell us about your salvation experience.
It’s a rather long story, but suffice it to say I didn’t come to know God until my mid-thirties after I’d made a mess of my life! Every thing I did, every party, every relationship, every material possession I bought, every success I achieved, ultimately left me alone and empty until at age thirty-five, my second marriage was failing, I hated my dead-end job, my youthful beauty was fading, and my teenage kids were rebelling (wonder who they learned that from?) I remember wanting to kill myself, get it over with. I felt no hope for the future. I was a drinker back then. Alcohol helped numb the pain of life. So, I had a hidden bottle of Tequila in my closet. Whenever life overwhelmed me, I’d sneak in there and have a drink or two. One dark day, while sitting in the closet, I glanced upward and saw my old Bible sitting on a shelf. I dusted it off and began to read, promising myself that I would read it from cover to cover to see if anything happened. What did I have to lose? I wanted to believe so badly that God was real and that He loved me, but I had grown very skeptical.
I read it every night before I went to bed. Somewhere in the middle of Ezekiel, something began to happen. Passages prophesying how Israel would be scattered all over the world and then in the last days would return to their own land, flew out at me from the pages. You see, Israel was in the news a lot back then. Suicide bombings and rumors of war were a common story each night. And I knew enough history to know that Israel had only become a nation a few years before I was born. The stunning revelation that God had predicted them returning to their land sped through me like a cyclone. I remember saying out loud. “You’re real.” And then God’s presence fell upon me. I shivered. I got on my knees and began to sob. I gave my life to Him that night. I knew God was with me now. I knew He loved me and had a plan for my life. Suddenly my life had meaning and my heart was full. This is what I had been searching for!
Are you:
A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Scheduled, if you mean that I write at a certain time of day. But Spontaneous if you mean that I write without a detailed outline or plot.
Stubborn, or compliant?
Stubborn (But working on being more compliant!)
Organized or completely chaotic?
Organized chaos.
How do you handle disasters/BIG problems?
Weird, but I usually handle disasters very calmly, slowly working to solve the problem. But later on, after things are better, I usually break down with sobs and trembling.
In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
Best: Ability to empathize with others
Worst: Worry wort
Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I had 8 step-fathers growing up.
If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
Linda Chaikin or Laurie Alice Eakes. Romance is PG. Kissing but never beyond that.
What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m currently working on a novel entitled Veil of Pearls. It’s the story of a one-quarter black girl and X-slave who falls in love with the spoiled son of a rich plantation owner in 1811 Charleston, South Carolina.
How can readers get in contact with you?
Website: http://www.mltyndall.com/
Blog: http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=205124586170908&set=a.205124206170946.59683.205121426171224#!/pages/MaryLu-Tyndall-Swashbuckling-Romance/175344859169475
Book blurb:
A timid American farm girl at the mercy of the enemy. . .A wounded British sailor driven into hiding. . .
Both are about to change the course of history forever.
When British soldiers invade Baltimore amid the War of 1812, Rose McGuire, alone on her family farm, is easy prey for a brutal lieutenant. In the midst of the attack, she’s saved by British 2nd Lieutenant Alexander Reed. Will she now have to heal, as well as hide, this enemy soldier?
Alex hadn’t meant to kill his superior, nor get shot in the process. Now badly wounded, he’s at the mercy of this tomboy who obviously hates him. Can he trust her or will she turn him over to the Americans?
Rose is having trouble keeping Alex hidden from her family, the townspeople, and the man intent on courting her. Will the discovery of Alex’s presence force her to accept an abhorrent proposal?
As their love blooms, trouble looms, for the British are on the move again. This time, their target is Washington DC. Will these young lovers at heart find themselves enemies at war?
Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
Actress Romola Garai plays Rose McQuire
Actor Colin Firth plays Alexander Reed
Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Thanks for taking the time to read my interview and also for your interest in my writing. I love my readers and like to correspond with them one on one. My ultimate goal is to make God real to people, to show His love and power in their daily lives, and to show that there’s a reason they are here on this earth at this time and place.~~~~~
**USA or Canada addresses only, please**
Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Surrender the Night!
TO ENTER:
*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment AND your email address.
*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you do not want to be entered.
*Here are the ways to get entries:
(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.
+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.
Read and leave a comment on one of my recent book reviews.
+2 Hearts Crossing
**You can earn a total of 4 entries if you do all of the above entry options. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**
*The contest will run from today (March 4) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (March 10). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 11th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.
Good luck! Thanks for visiting.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Hearts Crossing by Marianne Evans ~ 3 stars
Hearts Crossing
Marianne Evans
Woodland series, #1
White Rose Publishing
About the book:
"How do you feel about God, Collin?”
“I don’t.”
Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church of Christ, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.
Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God and the community of Woodland. But lately she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.
A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists—but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better.
Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.
Can Daveny trust in Collin’s fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?
My review:
I am not giving this book “3 stars” because I disliked it, but because I saw room for improvement. Mainly, the grammar and wording needed work, but the story itself was very sweet. It is a quick, fun read, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you can’t get past things like grammar issues. The plot was engaging, and I was interested to read how the author would resolve the issues between characters. I will be reading book 2 in this series, and I look forward to watching this author grow in her writing!
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