In honor of my 250th blog post the other day, I decided it'd be a good time to have a giveaway! Woohoo, right!?!?! Yep! I decided to not just give away one book, but FIVE! :o) So.....here's what you have the chance to win:
A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell Wanted by Shelley Shepard Gray One Perfect Gift by Kathleen Morgan A Stranger's Wish by Gayle Roper
The rules are simple....as always....but with a bit of a twist. :o)
1. Leave a comment naming one (or more) titles that you are eagerly anticipating by the end of the year.
2. You must leaveyour email address in your comment.
3. Limited to the US only.
4. Giveaway open through 11:59pm on June 12, 2010.
The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series delivers exactly what readers have been waiting for—smart, confident women who are not afraid to defy convention, live their own dreams and share their lives if the right man comes along. In A Matter of Character, book three in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, it’s 1918, and Daphne McKinley, heiress to a small fortune, has found contentment in the town of Bethlehem Springs. But Daphne has a secret. A series of dime novels loosely based on local lore and featuring a nefarious villain known as Rawhide Rick has enjoyed modest popularity among readers. Nobody in Bethlehem Springs knows the man behind the stories … except Daphne. When newspaperman Joshua Crawford comes to town searching for the man who sullied the good name of his grandfather, Daphne finds herself at a crossroads, reassessing the power of her words, re-thinking how best to honor her gifts, and reconsidering what she wants out of life.
My thoughts:
A Matter of Character is the third and final installment in the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series, and out of the three books, this one was the one I liked the most. Even though Gwen from book one and Cleo from book two were portrayed as strong, confident women and fun to read about, Daphne's character in this book was the most interesting for me. I liked that she was independent, and that she managed to earn a living for herself as a novelist, even though she really didn't need to worry with any sort of a job since she was already wealthy.
Another enjoyable part of the book was the journal written by Joshua's grandfather. At first, I wondered how in the world this would connect to the rest of the story, and whether or not Joshua would ever know the things written there. Fortunately, this part of the storyline is tied up neatly by the end, and done very well.
I do have one criticism, though. Actually, a couple of criticisms....sorry. :o(
Obviously, this book is a historical romance, so it's not like I didn't expect something to happen between Daphne and Joshua. But when Daphne first acknowledges her feelings for Joshua, it's nothing short of infatuation, in my opinion. Maybe that was the author's intent, but it wasn't at all similar of her other novels when her characters begin to recognize their affections.
The other thing I noticed was the lack of Daphne's writings. If I remember correctly, there were only two small passages that were inserted into the storyline...nothing more. Considering that Daphne's occupation is a major part of the story, both with her novels and her newspaper column, I expected to see more of that included in the story in the form of her articles and snippets from her novels. It would've just added a whole other dimension to the story.
I would recommend this series for those who like a light story with a sweet storyline, and a nice dose of romance. Robin Lee Hatcher was one of the first authors I ever read when I started to read Christian fiction, and her earlier novels to this day are still some of my favorites. Personally, while A Matter of Character was a good conclusion to this series, I sincerely hope that the author's future novels have a little more depth than this series did.
3 Stars
**Many thanks to Zondervan through BookTourSpot for providing a copy of this book for me to review.
**Click here to visit Robin's website, here to purchase this book from Amazon, and here to purchase it from BooksChristian.com.
Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow and give her time to decide what to do next. But when she arrives in Etherton, Ohio, she discovers that her grandmother, who she hasn't talked to in years, has passed away and "home" is an empty mansion hundreds of years old. Not exactly the comfort Camden was looking for. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories?
When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, some of those memories start to creep back and Camden wonders if her grandmother's bedtime stories might actually be true. What really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? How was her grandmother involved? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town-and her life-forever.
My thoughts:
Having read another novel by Melanie Dobson earlier this year and really liking it, I really had high expectations for this book. Honestly, this book fell way short. True, it's a totally different genre than the other book I've read by her (which was historical), but I really had a hard time getting through this book, in general.
I guess you could call this a suspense novel....maybe. In a way, I almost consider that a little bit of a stretch because in addition to reading Camden's side of the story, I was also getting the bad guy's side of the story. Sometimes that's good, but I don't know if I felt that it was, in this case. I like for a suspense novel to make me guess a little, even if really don't have it all figured out by the end of the story. There was a small twist at the end that I did not expect, but other than that, I felt the ending was a little anticlimactic.
I also felt no connection to the characters, except maybe a little bit with Camden. She's pretty much on her own, has no money, and has inherited a house that she can't pay to repair. All through her story, I was rooting for her to succeed, and hoping that she would not say yes to the first person to come along and make her an offer on the old house. Grant's character was just okay...nothing really spectacular to me. And the creepy guys were just....well....creepy.
In spite of this book being not so great, I know I'll be reading more from Melanie Dobson in the future. I typically like reading suspense novels, but this one was just a little flat. Overall, I'd give it 3 out of 5 stars.
Unearthing a lost memory may cause her to lose everything she holds dear...but could it also set her free?
Bryn Hennesey, a volunteer at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter, was there the night the shelter burned to the ground and five heroic firefighters died at the scene. Among them was her husband, Adam. Like the rest of the surviving spouses, Bryn must find a way to begin again. But Bryn must do so living with a horrible secret....
Garrett Edmonds's wife, Molly, was the only female firefighter to perish in the blaze. As her husband, it was his job to protect the woman he loved.... How can he go on in the face of such unbearable loss and guilt?
And what started the fire that destroyed the dreams and futures of so many? Investigators are stumped. But someone knows the answer....
My thoughts:
No joke...Deborah Raney gets better with every single book she writes! This has to be her best book yet, and she's written some pretty awesome books! Her trademark is evoking emotion through her characters, which in turn, sucks the reader into an unforgettable story. Another author who does this well is Karen Kingsbury, but I don't think she's got anything on Deborah Raney!
The action begins in the very first chapter, and that is my kind of book. Unfortunately, it starts with a huge tragedy that affects 5 families and the community around them. As the days go by, the questions start to pile up. "Who's responsible?" "What started the fire?" Bryn thinks she knows how it started, but after awhile she convinces herself that she had nothing to do with it. It's not long, though, before the doubt starts to creep in, and she wonders if she truly was responsible.
Garrett's wife, Molly, was one of the firefighters who died in the fire, along with Bryn's husband, Adam. Even though I never got to read about them while they were among the living, I thought Deborah did an awesome job of portraying them after their tragic deaths. She also did an incredible job writing the emotions of the surviving spouses, and the incredible grief that each one felt.
There is so much more about this story I could share, but if I did, I would honestly be spoiling it for you! If you love stories that pull on your heartstrings, make you shed a few tears (I certainly did), and ones that just stay with you for days and weeks, then you need to get your hands on every single Deb Raney book available! I assure you....you will not be sorry! :o)
Amidst a backdrop of thievery and murder in historic Bridal Veil, Oregon, a schoolteacher is torn between the memories of a distant love and the man who could be her future. Margaret Garvey had given her heart to Nathaniel, but he left town years before. Now shes giving love another chance, but her decision to build a new life with Andrew is shaken when Nathaniel steams back into Bridal Veil on a riverboat to work at the nearby sawmill. When disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.
My thoughts:
Just like Miralee's first historical novel, her second venture into this genre does not disappoint at all! This book is rich with descriptions, and easily addictive. In fact, I found that after awhile, I simply couldn't put it down!
The agonizing grief that Margaret felt with the loss of her first love, and then, her father, is simply heartbreaking. That'd be enough to make me want to crawl in a hole somewhere and die, honestly. Instead, she perseveres, and moves on with her life, both with her job as a teacher and her budding relationship with Andrew.
While the romance scenes in the book are small in number, they were enough to steal my breath away! I truly had no idea which man Margaret would choose, even after going back in forth in my own mind with who the lucky fellow would be.
Probably the most interesting aspect of the whole book is tucked away at the very end. (Don't worry...this is not a spoiler.) Miralee shares what inspired her to write this book, most of it coming from her own family history. I imagine that makes this book even more special to her on a whole different level. Several things are scattered through the story that are actual historical events...although, I can't let the cat out of the bag on that one, or I really would be spoiling the story!
Yep, definitely another great book for Miralee, and another fantastic addition to the Love Finds You series! I can't wait to read what she comes out with next! :o)
4 Stars
**Many thanks to the author for providing a copy for review.
**Click here to purchase a copy of Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon.
A Murder in Fergus, Idaho, has the Townswomen Scared...
Gert Dooley can shoot the tail feathers off a jay at a hundred yards from years of test-firing the guns her brother repairs. But long after giving up on marriage, she years for rancher Ethan Chapman to see she's more than a crack shot with a firearm. When murder strikes in the sleepy town, Gert forms the Ladies' Shooting Club to teach the women how to protect themselves, their families, and their businesses.
Ethan Chapman didn't ask to be named sheriff, but he accepts the position and takes on the investigation into the mysterious death of his predecessor. Now he's between a rock and a hard place--being pressured by the townswomen to restore order and safety to Fergus, and by the men who insist Ethan disband the upstart Ladies' Shooting Club.
When another person is murdered, Ethan must turn to Gert and her ladies to help in the investigation. But will Ethan, Gert, and the Ladies' Shooting Club find the murderer before he strikes again?
My thoughts:
This was such a fun book, and I enjoyed every second I spent reading it! From the front cover and the description, I knew that I would be reading a book along the lines of Mary Connealy or Kelly Eileen Hake, and I was exactly right. I loved the small, almost up-start town, all of the townspeople, and the mystery that lurked through the whole book. I also thought the storyline was very unique as I think this is the first book I've ever read full of a bunch of armed women ready to shoot some lead! I cannot wait to read more about this little town with its strange name (Fergus, Idaho), as well as more about the Ladies Shooting Club!
Terri Blackstock’s books have sold six million copies worldwide. Her suspense novels often debut at number one on the Christian fiction best-seller lists, and True Light, published last year, was number one of all Christian books—fiction and non-fiction. Blackstock has had twenty-five years of success as a novelist.
In 1994 Blackstock was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, in addition to the thirty-two she had in the secular market. Her most recent books are the four in her acclaimed Restoration Series, which includes Last Light, Night Light, True Light and Dawn’s Light. She is also known for her popular Newpointe 911 and Cape Refuge Series.
In addition to her suspense novels, she has written a number of novels in the women’s fiction genre, including Covenant Child, which was chosen as one of the first Women of Faith novels, and her Seasons Series written with Beverly LaHaye, wife of Tim LaHaye.
Blackstock has won the Retailer’s Choice Award and has appeared on national television programs such as The 700 Club, Home Life, and At Home Live with Chuck and Jenny. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country and the subject of countless articles. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.
ABOUT THE BOOK
The murder of Krista Carmichael's fourteen-year-old sister by an online predator has shaken her faith and made her question God's justice and protection. Desperate to find the killer, she creates an online persona to bait the predator. But when the stalker turns his sights on her, will Krista be able to control the outcome?
Ryan Adkins started the social network GrapeVyne in his college dorm and has grown it into a billion-dollar corporation. But he never expected it to become a stalking ground for online Predators. One of them lives in his town and has killed two girls and attacked a third. When Ryan meets Krista, the murders become more than a news story to him, and everything is on the line.
Joining forces, he and Krista set out to stop the killer. But when hunters pursue a hunter, the tables can easily turn. Only God can protect them now.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Cat Hoort, Trade Marketing Manager, Kregal Publications for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melanie Dobson is an author as well as the owner of the publicity firm Dobson Media. A former corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family, Melanie has worked in the fields of journalism and publicity for more than twelve years. Her first book is Together for Good. Melanie lives in Oregon with her husband, Jon, and their two adopted daughters, Karly and Kinzel.
List Price: $13.99
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Kregel Publications (March 11, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0825425905
ISBN-13: 978-0825425905
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
The glass door was locked, but that didn’t stop Camden Bristow from yanking on the handle. The imposing desk on the other side of the glass was vacant, and the receptionist who usually waved her inside had disappeared. Behind the desk, the Fount Magazine logo mocked her, whispering that the money she so desperately needed had disappeared as well.
She pounded on the glass one last time, but no one came to the door.
Turning, she moved to a row of windows on the far side of the elevator. Sixteen stories below, swarms of people bustled toward their next appointment. Someplace they needed to be. Not long ago, she’d been rushing too, up and down Park Avenue to attend meetings at ad agencies and various magazines . . . including the suite of offices behind her.
Human rights. Natural disasters. Labor disputes. Whenever the photo editor at Fount needed the most poignant pictures for news articles, he called her, and nothing had stopped her from capturing what he needed for the next edition. She’d dedicated the past five years to responding to Grant Haussen’s calls, but after she came back from Indonesia two months ago, he stopped calling her.
She’d e-mailed him the pictures of the earthquake’s aftermath along with her regular invoice of fees and expenses. He’d used the pictures in the next issue, but apparently discarded the invoice. She never received a check, and he didn’t return even one of her many calls.
A few years ago, she wouldn’t have worried as much about the money—those days her phone rang at all hours with freelance assignments to shoot pictures around the world—but her clients had slashed their budgets and were using stock photos or buying photographs from locals. The current results weren’t as compelling as sending a professional, but keeping the lights on—the rent paid—trumped paying for the best photography.
Her clients may be making rent, but she hadn’t been able to pay hers for two months. Her savings account was depleted. The income from her Indonesia shoot was supposed to appease her landlord and credit card company. Even though she hadn’t heard from Grant Haussen, she held out hope that she might at least recoup the expenses for her trip so she could pay off the whopping flight and hotel charges on her credit card.
All hope shattered when she read the morning’s headline.
Fount Magazine Declares Bankruptcy
Others may have skimmed past this article, but the news stunned her. Three hours ago, she left her studio apartment and started walking until she found herself in Midtown, in the lobby of the Reinhold Building. A few staff members might remain at the Fount office, packing things up. Or if there were some sort of bankruptcy proceedings . . . maybe she could collect a few thousand dollars. Just enough to pay a portion of her bills while she tried to find more work.
It appeared that no one had stuck around to say goodbye.
The elevator dinged behind her, and she turned away from the windows and watched a skinny man in overalls push a mop and bucket into the hallway. He was at least two inches shorter than her five foot six.
She forced herself to smile, but he didn’t smile back. She pointed at the offices. “I need to find someone at the magazine.”
He grunted as he dipped his mop into the gray water and wrung it out. Shoving her fists into the pockets of her long jacket, she stepped toward him. “They owe me money.”
“You and half this dadgum town.”
“Yes, but—”
“They ran outta here so fast last night that the rubber on their shoes was smokin’.” He flopped the mop onto the tile floor and water spread toward his boots. “I’d bet good money that they ain’t comin’ back.”
Camden slumped against the window. Even if she were able to track down Grant, it wasn’t like he would personally write her a check for money the magazine owed. He was probably out hunting for a job already, or maybe he was stretched out on his couch watching Oprah, enjoying the luxury of not having to report for duty. He could collect unemployment while he slowly perused for a new gig.
Unfortunately, there was no unemployment for freelancers.
The janitor swabbed the mop across the tile in straight brushstrokes like he was painting instead of cleaning it, taking pride in his work.
She understood. At one time she had been proud of her work too. There was nothing more exhilarating than flying off to a country rocked by tragedy and immersing herself into an event that most people only read about. She was onsite to see the trauma, feel the aftershocks, though she never allowed herself to get personally involved. It was her job to record the crisis so others could help with the recovery. All she needed to do her job was her camera equipment and laptop.
Because of all her travels, she hadn’t accumulated much stuff over the years. Her landlord had furnished her flat before she moved in, but for almost five years, the apartment and everything in it had felt like hers. It was the longest she’d lived in one place her entire life.
But tonight, her landlord was changing the locks. Her home had been rented by someone else.
The man pushed his mop by her, ignoring her. She couldn’t blame him for his indifference. This city was full of people who needed a job—he was probably trying as hard as he could to keep his.
She would mop floors if she had to. Or scrub toilets. It wouldn’t pay enough for her to make rent, but maybe it would keep her from having to call her mom and beg for cash. If she called, her mother would pass the phone to her latest boyfriend—a retired executive living outside Madrid. Camden would rather sleep in a shelter than grovel to him.
She hopped over the wet trail left by the mop and stepped into the elevator.
Her landlord said she had until five o’clock to pack her stuff and vacate the building. The little credit she had left on her card wouldn’t pay for a week in a Manhattan hotel. And the few friends she’d made when she wasn’t traveling were struggling as much as she was. One of them might let her sleep on a couch, but she’d be expected to help with rent.
The elevator doors shut, and she punched the button for the lobby.
Where was she supposed to go from here?
†
The basement of the town hall smelled like burnt coffee and tobacco. The navy carpet had faded to a dull gray, and the dais at the front of the room was scuffed with shoe marks. Five men and two women sat behind a table on the platform—the bimonthly summit of Etherton’s City Council.
As the town mayor, Louise Danner presided over the city council from the middle chair. Her hoop earrings jangled below the signature Bic pen she propped behind her left ear. Copper-colored bangs veiled her smudged eyebrows.
Three steps below Louise’s chair, Alex Yates drummed his fingers on a stack of proposals and tried to listen as Evan Harper begged the councilors to let him tear down the barn on his property and replace it with a guesthouse.
In the eight months since he’d moved to Etherton, he learned that Louise Danner was almost as permanent a fixture in Etherton as the town hall. Within days of him taking this job, she told him exactly how she became mayor over the eleven thousand people in their town.
She had been born in a small house off Main Street and reigned as valedictorian over Etherton High’s Class of ’67. Armed with a degree from Marietta, she returned home after graduation and worked in several businesses across town until she secured the job of hospital administrator. Louise served on almost every town committee for the next thirty years, from historical preservation to the garden club, but when she landed the mayorship almost eight years ago, she dropped anchor.
She’d spent a boatload of money to retain her position during the last election, and with the state of the town’s economy, she would be fighting to keep her job when voters went to the polls in five months.
Alex rechecked his watch. It was almost lunchtime, and Evan Harper was still pleading his case. Alex saw the dilapidated barn every morning on the short drive to his office. Guesthouse or no guesthouse, he agreed with Evan—someone needed to put the structure out of its misery. A hearty gust of wind would end its life if the council wouldn’t approve demolition.
Alex stifled a yawn as Evan named all the people who could stay in the guesthouse including his wife’s elderly parents and his daughter’s college friends. Apparently, no one had told the man he couldn’t filibuster city council. If the mayor didn’t curtail Evan’s speech, he’d probably pull out the local phone book and read until the councilors adjourned for lunch. And once they walked out of the room, they may not reconvene in time.
Alex couldn’t wait for approval. He needed an answer today.
For the past month, he’d been quietly courting the owner of the ten-acre property at the edge of town—part of the old Truman farm. If the council concurred, the owner was ready to sell the land and farmhouse for a pittance. The town could buy it and use the property to help with their plans to revitalize the local economy.
Alex caught the mayor’s eye and tapped his watch.
“Thank you.” Louise interrupted Evan before he finished listing off every construction supply he’d purchased for the guesthouse. “I think that is all the information we need to make a decision.”
Evan plucked another piece of paper from his stack. “But I haven’t read the neighborhood petition.”
“We appreciate all the time and thought you’ve put into this, Evan.” Louise propped her chin up with her knuckles. “We’ll let you know if we have any other questions.”
Evan sat down on the wooden folding chair at the end of the row, and Alex leaned back as the council began discussing the hot issue of preservation versus progress.
Most of the councilors were successful business leaders and attorneys, passionate in either their pro-growth or anti-development stance. Today he needed to convince them that voting “yes” on his proposal would commemorate the town’s history and lay the foundation for their legacy while generating new revenue and development for the town.
Alex glanced at his watch and sighed. If it took the councilors forty minutes to decide the fate of a rickety barn, how long would it take them to make a decision on his proposal?
When he parted ways with corporate mania last year, he thought he’d left behind the constricting strands of red tape that kept him from doing his job, but he’d learned that Etherton’s residents, along with the city council, rode the high of debate until they were forced to vote. Sometimes the debate lasted weeks, or even months.
Edward Paxton led the charge against development. He didn’t want his town to change nor did he want Alex involved with any of the town’s business. Rumor had it that he wanted his grandson, Jake, to take the economic development position that Louise had created last spring to solicit new business. The only problem was that no one else on the council wanted Jake Paxton to be involved. Edward seemed to hold a personal vendetta against Alex for stealing his grandson’s job.
At least the mayor was on his team. She’d gambled when she hired him, but he assured her and the council that he’d deliver. On their terms.
After almost an hour of discussion, Louise called for a vote, and Evan smacked his knees when they approved his guesthouse with a 4–3 vote. He saluted the row of councilors as he rushed out, probably on his way to rent an excavator. Alex guessed the barn would be in a heap when he drove home tonight.
He sighed. If only getting the council to approve a project was always this easy . . .
Etherton needed the tax revenue from new businesses to fix its brick streets, increase the police force, and build a high school. The city’s officials expected Alex to find a way to merge their small town charm with big city business.
Blending these two ideals was no small feat. Not long after he moved to Etherton, he worked a deal to build a Wal-Mart Supercenter on a piece of farm property at the edge of town. Some towns didn’t want a Wal-Mart, but since their local economy had tanked, he thought most of the locals would welcome the store. After all, most of them drove forty-five minutes each week to visit the Wal-Mart in Mansfield, and this would bring discount clothes, groceries, car care, and—most importantly—jobs to their back door.
He was wrong.
When the council voted last December, residents of Etherton packed City Hall, a chorus of dissension over why their town couldn’t bear the weight of a conglomerate. The icy room turned hot as tempers flared. Small business owners threatened to overthrow the seats of every council member who supported the proposal.
In the end, the council rejected his plan. The town desperately needed the revenue and the jobs, but apparently not enough to put out the welcome mat for a mega store. A local farmer bought the field to plant corn, and Etherton missed out on the much-needed sales tax that would flood into Fredericktown when Wal-Mart opened its doors there this fall.
The council told him they wanted new business, but they wanted something quaint that would fit the town’s celebration of all things old. It was a hard task—but he’d found the perfect solution. If the residents were willing to risk a little, he was ready to deliver both quaint and classy . . . wrapped up in a pretty package and tied together with a sound financial bow.
Louise slid the pen out from behind her ear and tapped it on the table. She dismissed the few people in the audience, explaining that the rest of the meeting was a closed session, and then she pointed at him. “You’re up, Alex.”
He straightened his tie and stood to face the councilors. It was about to get hot again.
Well, I survived my evening with Star Wars...oh, and with the hubby, too. :o) In all honesty, we both really had a great time. And with even more honesty, this is probably one anniversary that I'll always remember...even it did revolve around Star Wars. The concert far exceeded my expectations, but I have to admit that I really love the music from all the movies anyway.
Alex was convinced that it would be okay to take a camera to the show, even though they're normally not allowed at arena events. As soon as we got in the lobby, there were tons of people already there looking at the exhibits that were set up for everyone. And to our great surprise as well, we even got our tickets bumped up. Our seats were originally much higher up, and when we were on our way up to that level, they had the area blocked off. Then, they switched out our tickets which was awesome because we ended up on the first row of a different section! I don't know about you but I absolutely hate sitting behind someone, especially if they can't sit still!
Oh, and one other really cool thing.... Anthony Daniels, the guy who played C-3PO in the movies narrated the entire concert. He would provide a small introduction to each song, and once he even broke out in character as C-3PO. Too cool!
No lie, the whole night was awesome. If this ever comes around to your city, and you've got a die-hard Star Wars family member or friend, you'd be their best friend for life if you suggested this event. Even for someone like me that is not a fan....I had a great time! :o)
Pretty good view, huh? :o)
Alex and Yoda
Alex and Darth Vader
Alex and me with Darth Vader, Princess Leia, and an X-wing pilot (at least, I think that's who he is)
Me next to the costumes for Queen Amidala
Alex and a Storm Trooper (?) - he said later that he used the Force to steal his weapon...crazy hubby of mine!
Wow...I cannot believe that 8 years ago today, I married the love of my life! It is unbelievable how time really does fly. I will not lie to you...there have been some really rocky roads that we've had to travel during our time together, but there have also been so many special moments that I would not trade for anything in this world. Today, I want to share some of my memories with you guys.
This first picture was taken the day after Alex proposed. We had to take a trip to Portland, Oregon for his best friend's wedding, and oh, what a trip it was. Our flights all day long from Nashville to Portland were delayed, and when we arrived, we knew we'd only get to spend that evening with his friend and future bride. Well, what a night we had. The plan was to spend some time in downtown Portland just hanging out, and not really doing anything in particular. As soon as we get down there and park the car, Chris (the groom) locks his keys in his car. Jackie (his bride-to-be) did not have her keys on her at all, either....yep, they were locked in the car as well. So, we spent a lovely hour waiting for a locksmith. (Don't forget now, that this same night was the night that I got a proposal.)
Finally, after the long and cold wait on the curb in downtown Portland, we decide against spending time downtown, and they suggest we check out the Rose Gardens. We all agreed on the new plan, and head on over there. I kid you not, I have never seen so many beautiful flowers in all my life, and every last one of them some different kind of rose. Ahhh....it was gorgeous. We spend a good 20 minutes or so looking around, and I say I need to find a restroom. Fortunately, there was one available right there at the garden. As I'm walking over to the restroom, I turn back and see that Alex is grabbing something out of Chris's trunk. When he sees that I'm watching, he stuffs his hands so far down in his pockets that I knew something was up. So, I finish up quickly in the restroom, and Alex is waiting outside for me when I come out. There was this little bench overlooking the entire garden, and he asked me to sit down with him for a minute. We talk about some inconsequential things for a little bit (cannot for the life of me remember any of that part of the conversation). All of a sudden, he tells me I have something on my back, so I lean up while I "think" he's taking care of whatever it is...I think I thought it was a bug. But no, he used that little diversion (sneaky man I married, I'm tellin' ya) to pull out the ring from his pocket, and say, "I was just wondering if you would want to marry me?" Probably the only time in my life that I have ever been that speechless....seriously. I could not have imagined a more perfect proposal....beautiful night, surrounded by a garden of roses. Oh, and obviously, I said yes. :o)
Nine months later, we got married. I tell ya, I shoulda thought about what I was getting myself into. See, my dear hubby is a Star Wars fanatic, and we're not talking about just a huge fan of the movies. We're talking about a collector. That man has got more figurines of the characters (he's probably got at least 10 different Darth Vaders...shoot, there's probably more than that) than I've ever seen in my life. So, it's been a little interesting through the years when various Star Wars happenings occur around the same time as our anniversary.
First, there was the year we got married--2002. Two days before the wedding, Episode 2 was released in the theatres. Here I am, breaking my back trying to get the church ready when he comes and asks me, "Hon, do you mind if I go see Episode 2?" Wanting to be an agreeable bride and future wife, I say, "Sure, go ahead." That should've been my clue for the rest of my life. On our honeymoon, we had to go see it again (which was mostly to satisfy him that I had gotten the opportunity to watch it, too).
Then, 3 years later--2005. Episode 3 is out, and guess what.....right around our anniversary again. I'm a little sketchy on the details of this one, but I want to say that we went to a midnight showing of this....and yep, still went to work the next morning at the crack of dawn.
So, now, we're at 2010. No more movies to go see, right? Wrong...well, sorta. Guess where we'll be going tonight? To see "Star Wars, In Concert." Yep, I really must love my husband.
Yep, I did it! Didn't really expect that it would be too difficult considering my love of Christian historical fiction. In fact, I've read more of that so far this year than any other genre.
Wanna know what I managed to read? Here's the list for ya! :o) I've linked up the books to the reviews that I've written so far, if you're interested in checking those out, too.
1. The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen--1/8/10
2. A Sinister Silence by Jane Peart--1/9/10
3. Outlaw's Bride by Lori Copeland--1/10/10
4. Michal by Jill Eileen Smith--1/21/10
5. A Place Called Bliss by Ruth Glover--1/31/10
6. A Kiss for Cade by Lori Copeland--2/11/10
7. Abigail by Jill Eileen Smith--2/20/2010
8. Fit to Be Tied by Robin Lee Hatcher--3/2/2010
9. Wind by Calvin Miler--3/16/2010
10. Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson--3/19/2010
11. The Bride Bargain by Kelly Eileen Hake-3/22/2010
12. Heart of Stone by Jill Marie Landis--3/24/2010
13. Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson--4/2/2010
14. The Bride Backfire by Kelly Eileen Hake--4/8/2010
15. The Desires of Her Heart by Lyn Cote--4/15/2010
16. Her Inheritance Forever by Lyn Cote--4/22/2010
17. Her Mother's Hope by Francine Rivers--4/24/2010
18. No Place for a Lady by Maggie Brendan--4/28/2010
19. Petticoat Ranch by Mary Connealy--5/1/2010
20. Calico Canyon by Mary Connealy--5/3/2010
21. Gingham Mountain by Mary Connealy--5/8/2010
22. Paper Roses by Amanda Cabot--5/10/2010
23. A Woman Called Sage by DiAnn Mills--5/13/2010
24. Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon by Miralee Ferrell--5/16/2010
They took away everything she loved...now, she’s out for revenge.
Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever.
Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution. Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it’s found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for.
In this exciting historical romance set in the late 1800s, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, and questions of faith will keep you in suspense until the final pages.
My thoughts:
Ok, seriously, who wouldn't want to read a book about a female bounty hunter? What a unique idea for story, and definitely a profession that would have been frowned upon in the late 1800's. This was my first experience reading one of DiAnn Mills's books, and I have mixed feelings about it.
The beginning....fabulous! I was hooked from the very first page because that's where the action starts. In a matter of minutes, Sage loses her husband and her unborn child thanks to a band of outlaws that are convinced that Sage's husband has something that belongs to them. Unfortunately for the outlaws, they didn't successfully send Sage to an early death, and now, she's out for revenge. She then spends a few years with her Ute ancestors, and after her time there, she becomes a bounty hunter determined to find the men responsible for the deaths of her husband and son.
Sage manages to catch up with Aiden McCaw, one of the outlaws, and brings him into the nearest town to turn him over to the marshall, Parker Timmons, and collect the bounty money. Aiden doesn't last long in jail thanks to his brothers riding into town to bust him out. They beat Parker to a pulp, and leave him unconscious in the jail. His brothers also manage to kidnap two of Parker's nephews. When Sage discovers all of this, she and Parker ride their horses into the mountains to rescue the boys.
**SPOILER ALERT**
For a book to be named after a main character, Sage's role in the story didn't seem to be a very large one after the first third of the book. True, her rescue of Parkers' nephews was very brave, but after that, she spends almost the rest of the story as an invalid recovering from a gunshot wound. My initial desire to read the book was based mostly on the title and the front cover, and after seeing Sage's character basically take a backseat for almost the rest of the story, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed.
Remember the injuries that Parker got at the jail break? Well, when he and Sage return to town after rescuing the boys, it's like they disappear. They're not mentioned again until somewhere at the end of the book, and even there, it's in retrospect. I don't know if the author was trying to focus on what awaited them when they got back to town or what, but this part of the story just did not seem complete.
In short (because this has been a rather long-winded review), the beginning was great, the middle was less than great, and the end seemed a little too tidy. I think if Sage had not spent the majority of the book confined to a bed, and if the action from the beginning had continued all the way through, this would've been a 5-star book for me. As is, I'd give it 3 stars. Hopefully, someone else will enjoy it in its entirety.
3 Stars
**Many thanks to Zondervan and CFBA for providing a copy to review.
**Click here to purchase a copy of A Woman Called Sage.
On the brink of the War of 1812, Marianne Denton must marry to unlock her inheritance. Without the money, her mother can't receive medical care and her sister will be destitute. But Noah Brenin needs to sail his cargo to England before the war commences in order to prove his worth to his father and make enough money so he won't have to marry at all.
Defying his father's wishes, Noah loathes the idea of marrying a woman he finds plain and pompous. Marianne wants nothing to do with the rogue who taunted her as a child, yet she must convince him otherwise or her mother will die.
But when Noah walks out on their engagement party, Marianne chases him down and ends up on his merchantman out at sea. The situation worsens when Noah's ship encounters a British man-of-war and the couple are impressed into the British navy. While a young lad's prophecy of destiny looms over them both, Marianne and Noah are forced to face their darkest fears as they desperately try to find a way to escape and fulfill their destinies-destinies that could change the course of the war and history forever.
Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her husband and children in southern Virginia. To learn more about her, visit May 2010's issue of CFOM at Interview with Gina Holmes or Novel Journey.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Jenny Lucas swore she’d never go home again. But being told you’re dying has a way of changing things. Years after she left, she and her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, must return to her sleepy North Carolina town to face the ghosts she left behind. They welcome her in the form of her oxygen tank–toting grandmother, her stoic and distant father, and David, Isabella’s dad . . . who doesn’t yet know he has a daughter. As Jenny navigates the rough and unknown waters of her new reality, the unforgettable story that unfolds is a testament to the power of love and its ability to change everything—to heal old hurts, bring new beginnings . . . even overcome the impossible. A stunning debut about love and loss from a talented new voice.
The future stretches out in front of Sarah Dobbs like the pure blue Texas sky. Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom, Austin Canfield, a man she has never met but whose letters have won her heart from afar. But there is one problem--he has died. And Sarah cannot go back East. As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically changed, Austin's brother, Clay, struggles with his own muddled plans.
Though he dislikes working on the family ranch and longs for a different life, Clay is driven to avenge his brother's death. But something between them is growing and neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit it. Book 1 of the Texas Dreams series, Paper Roses will sweep readers into the Hill Country with a tale of love and loss, closed doors and beautiful possibilities that will leave them wanting more.
My thoughts:
Oh, how I loved this book! Initially, I expected it to be a rather long, drawn-out tale just because of its page length (378 pages), but how very wrong I was. This story was simple, but complex, and probably the best mail-order bride story to date that I have ever read.
Sarah was such a strong lead character in the story, in spite of the first impression one would get based on her physical ailments. At first, I thought it strange that she did not really mourn Austin's death, nor did she ever visit his grave (strangely, one was never mentioned), but as I kept reading it began to make a little more sense to me. She only knew him on paper, and never had the chance to form any type of physical bond with him. Also, her mind was more on making a life for herself and her young sister in this new place since going back to her home in Philedelphia was out of the question.
It took a little while for Clay to grow on me, though. His part of the story seemed to be more gradual and more hesitant than Sarah's. I think most of that is due to the fact that Clay thought of Sarah as a little bit of an inconvenience, plus he's got his mind thoroughly on finding Austin's killer. And then, ever so slowly, does he start to care for Sarah in the most beautiful way. His feelings for her (and hers for him) were paced just right--not rushed, but almost like it snuck up on them from behind. I truly loved every second of their realization of their feelings for each other.
This isn't just a mail-order bride romance. It's got the romance, plus a nice dose of suspense, some ornery town folk, and a dash of history. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of Scattered Petals, the next book in this series! Paper Roses gets a 5 star rating from me--what an exceptional story!
5 Stars
**This book was provided to me to judge for the 2010 Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest.
Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.
DiAnn believes her readers should “Expect an Adventure.” DiAnn Mills is a fiction writer who combines an adventuresome spirit with unforgettable characters to create action-packed novels.
Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer’s Book of the Year Awards 2003 – 2007, and she is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader’s Choice award for 2005 and 2007. She was a Christy Awards finalist in 2008.
DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer’s Guild.
She lives in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.
ABOUT THE BOOK
They took away everything she loved...now, she’s out for revenge.
Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution.
Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it’s found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for.
In this exciting historical romance set in the late 1800s, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, and questions of faith will keep you in suspense until the final pages.
It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
***Special thanks to Anna Coelho Silva | Publicity Coordinator, Book Group | Strang Communications for sending me a review copy.***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Andrea Kuhn Boeshaar has been writing stories and poems since she was a little girl and has published articles and devotionals as well as 31 novels and novellas. In addition to her writing, Andrea is a certified Christian life coach and speaks at writers’ conferences and for women’s groups. She has taught workshops at such conferences as: Write-To-Publish; American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW); Oregon Christian Writers Conference; Mount Hermon Writers Conference and many local writers conferences. Another of Andrea’s accomplishments is co-founder of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) organization. For many years she served on both its Advisory Board and as its CEO.
to purchase a copy of Paper Roses.
