Litfuse Publicity Blog Tour: Grave Consequences

Here's a description of the book:

"The Powerful, Epic Romance Continues, Book 2 in Lisa T. Begren’s Grand Tour series

For Cora Kensington, the journey of a lifetime takes unexpected twists. And her future—her very life—depends on the decisions she’ll make at each crossroad. As her European tour with her newfound family takes her through Austria, France, and Italy, an unseen enemy trails close behind. Meanwhile, a forbidden love continues to claim her heart, putting everyone’s plans in danger.

And as Cora stays one step ahead of it all, what might need the most protection is her own heart, torn between the dramatic pursuit of a dashing Frenchman and a man who has been quietly staking claim to her affections all along. Love has dangers all its own. She must escape the bonds of the past and discover the faith to make the right choices, as each one has grave consequences."

You can read an excerpt from the book HERE.

My Rating

Summer

My Review

With delight I rejoined the Kensington family on their tour across Europe in this second book in Bergren's engaging "Grand Tour" series. The first scene hit with the jolt of a train just starting its departure, and then I was right back into the rhythm of alternating setting descriptions, historical tidbits, family drama, and romance.

I love the adventure these characters manage to embrace at the various places they visit. It provides chances for intriguing plot twists and character growth, which makes for some entertaining read! And it's a lot of fun to be reminded of all the beautiful places in the world I have yet to see. Visiting them through the pages of a book is a nice, cheaper way to thrill the imagination, for the time being. *wink*

With each new place the Kensingtons visit, the risks seem to multiply and the danger to both body and heart seems to escalate. The journey just kept rolling along and holding my interest as the pages turned, and it all came to an end with another jolt. I'm ready to board again for the next leg of the trip!

Cora has a lot yet to learn about love and purpose, but she's wrestling with the concepts, and its enjoyable to see her open up, try new things, and work on understanding - and hopefully moving beyond - her mistakes. I'm eager to see where she ends up at the end of the next book, Glittering Promises! All aboard!

*With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion, to be shared during the Litfuse Publicity blog tour.*

About the Author

"Lisa T. Bergren is the award-winning author of over thirty-five books, with more than 2 million copies sold. A former publishing executive, Lisa now divides her time between writing, editing, parenting three children with her husband, Tim, and dreaming of her next trip to Italy. She lives in Colorado Springs."

To Buy the Book: click HERE

Blog Tour Schedule: Check out all of the reviews from other blog tour participants HERE. 

Litfuse Contest

Celebrate the release of Grave Consequences with Lisa T. Bergren by entering to win an iPad Mini!

One "grand" winner will receive:

• A brand new iPad Mini
• Grave Consequences and Glamorous Illusions will be pre-loaded onto the Mini!

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 23rd. Winner will be announced on March 25th at Lisa's website.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

My Review of Wings of Glass (CFBA Tour)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wings of Glass Tyndale House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Gina Holmes
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey, now called Novel Rocket, and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.

Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass will release this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption.

On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.

When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of Glass, go HERE.

MY RATING

Spring

MY REVIEW

Wings of Glass is a story told in an easygoing style that tackles a very difficult subject. The first-person point of view - from a mother telling her son the story of his parents - is at times engaging, at other times painful or hard to understand. I think the way the story is told is clever and has its own impact, being able to see how one person so deeply affected by a situation deals with the hardships and interacts with the people around her. But in some ways, I feel like the emotions and experiences conveyed might have been even more powerful seen through the eyes of other characters in addition to her own explanations.

That being said, the struggle is very real and gripping. The reader knows how Penny has been separated from her parents, watches her test her wings as circumstances allow her to get out of the house and get a job, rejoices with her as she opens up to friendships with unique secondary characters, and follows her journey of discovering who to trust and where to look for freedom.

Wings of Glass is a story about the little steps one takes toward facing the need for change, healing, and a safe home. It's a story about truly embracing truth. While not a light-hearted adventure or a happily-ever-after romance, it does offer an empathetic look at the trials of a woman trapped and suffering in an abusive relationship.

*With thanks to the publisher through CFBA for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Sundays through the Seasons: Spring in Oz

The promise of spring is one of bright days, splashes of color, and new beginnings. The hours of daylight are increasing, trees are budding, all sorts of flowers are blooming, lambs are being born, and we get ready to celebrate Easter - the day we commemorate Jesus' resurrection, the sacrifice and triumph that paved the way for a new life of forgiveness and hope.

Last night my parents and I went to see Oz: The Great and Powerful in theaters.  There are many issues I could discuss: how I wasn't impressed with the acting, how the plot was filled with unexplained and ridiculous phenomena, how the movie seemed to be mostly a farce with attempts at depth and seriousness thrown in on occasion. Despite its flaws, though, those attempts at seriousness, coupled with some stunning visuals, struck me. And I liked some of the "springtime" promise that was embedded in the movie.

(Potential spoilers to follow)

The story begins with Oz, a circus magician who has a lot of tricks up his sleeve - but no great payoff, no real wonders, and no meaningful relationships. When his flirting ways get him into trouble, though, he escapes in a hot air balloon that heads right into a tornado. (Of course!) Suddenly everything slows down, and the world goes from an historical-feeling, sepia-toned one to one full of vibrant colors and fantastic landscapes, wildlife, and plants.

I loved this aspect of the movie. Oz is introduced as someone who's full of himself, hoping and praying for a chance to prove his greatness, all the while spurning opportunities to look beyond himself and show love to others. But he's given a second chance - a hope that is shown to the audience through vivid and spectacular imagery, like the bold colors of spring flowers and rainbows. Oz considers this a second chance to make a great name for himself (and to become fabulously wealthy), but on his course to "greatness" he begins to take hold of his second chance at "goodness," at caring for other people.

It's certainly not a perfect picture. I mean, Oz seems to base his trust of people on outward appearances, and he continually longs for his own gain throughout the movie. And yet we all fumble with our second chances and we all struggle with selfishness. So as far as simply offering a glimpse of someone's eyes being opened to a world beyond his own, I appreciate that aspect of the show.

Interestingly, Oz sets up a contrast. Theodora the witch falls in love with Oz and makes all sorts of plans for the two of them. But when he sets off on a quest and joins forces with Glinda, Theodora is heart-broken and chooses to do anything to harden her heart. There's a very overt reference to the Garden of Eden when she bites into an apple her sister gives her and her eyes are "opened" to distinguish between the sides of good and evil in Oz - and she realizes she's chosen the side of evil. Sadly, she embraces the transformation and seeks revenge against "the Wizard," spurning any offers of understanding and forgiveness, and ignoring any comments about her downward spiral. When offered a second chance, she refuses to consider it or to be led anywhere in a "good" direction.

With spring we are reminded of the blessing of renewal, of hope sprouting from repentance and growth, brought about only by the ultimate goodness and grace of God. Let's embrace forgiveness and second chances and healing, and enjoy the springtime colors and celebrations that remind us of the hope that we have!

(Movie poster image from IMDb.com.)

My Review of Whispers from the Shadows

Here's a description of the book from Harvest House:

"This exciting and adventurous romantic spy novel is the second book in a new series from Roseanna M. White. Whispers from the Shadows combines fascinating cloak-and-dagger secrets with a tale of love and intrigue during the War of 1812.

Treachery causes Gwyneth Fairchild’s world to crumble. The daughter of a British general, she barely saves her life by fleeing London aboard a ship to America. Her goal is to find refuge with the Lane family in Maryland, having been told by her father she could implicitly trust Winter and Bennet Lane, even though their nations are once again at war. After meeting their son, Thad, she wonders how safe she truly is when she discovers that the Lanes trade in a dangerous commodity—espionage.

Not long after Gwyneth finds refuge in his city, Thad Lane experiences the tug of love, though he fears it may blur lines of loyalty. With family playing the part of enemies and enemies proving themselves friends, a future with Gwyn is uncertain. But at this moment, with the British advancing on Washington and Baltimore, they have only their shared faith in God as a shield about them."

My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

With mystery wrapped in letters and works of art, a tender romance, and historical suspense, Whispers from the Shadows is a great continuation of "The Culper Ring" series. [You can read my review of the first book, Ring of Secrets, HERE.] White has a knack for writing compelling historical romance with interesting details and a smooth style.

This story starts out with a lot of conflict, which takes a bit to get into but fairly quickly engaged me. While Gwyneth's character might be considered too much of a "damsel in distress" initially, I found myself caught up in her struggles and intrigued by the glimpses into her ways of coping and healing. And the handsome, occasionally brooding, often deeply thoughtful Thad certainly shines in his interactions with the heroine. There are definitely some "swoon-worthy" scenes in this book!

With such a great beginning that drew me into the healing and falling-in-love processes of the two main characters, I confess that I was hoping for a little more from the latter scenes. Not that there isn't action and romance towards the end! I think I was just hoping for some different twists - or outcomes - than the ones that occurred.

The themes of whispers and shadows are well-executed and creatively incorporated, and I appreciated the message of paying attention to the right Voice. I wished for a little more - more kindness toward a certain spurned/confused character, more of the initial romance that melted my heart, and more of a focus on the characters than on the strict conveying of historical events in the latter portion of the book. However, Whispers from the Shadows is still a very enjoyable read for those who love historical romance and stories set during the War of 1812.

*With thanks to Harvest House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC e-copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Note: This book will be released August 2013.

Winner and Wonders

First off, it's time to announce the winner of The Little House That Stood DVD giveaway! And the winner is...

Jen!

(Chosen via the List Randomizer.) Congratulations, Jen! An e-mail has been sent to you, so be sure to check your inbox!

And in case you missed it, you can read my review of The Little House That Stood HERE. Thanks again to Propeller for providing my review copy and the giveaway copy!

Wonders

According to Dictionary.com, one definition for a "wonder" is: miraculous deed or event; remarkable phenomenon

I feel like I've been blessed with a lot of wonders in my life, recently!

(Consider this a sort of update on my life, as well as an explanation for my lack of posts recently. There have been some, but yes, I've missed the devotional posts the last couple of weeks - again! *sigh*)

Speedbo

Let's start with Speedbo! If you've been around here for a while, you might remember that I tried to participate in this writing challenge last March. I only logged 7,500 words last time. (It was something, but far from the goal of finishing my WIP!)

Well, I'm participating in the challenge again this year (learn more about Speedbo 2013 HERE, or by clicking the badge in the sidebar). I didn't post about it at the beginning of the month - I mean, let's wait and see if I make some progress before I go embarrassing myself on my blog again, right?? But lo and behold, despite the late start (March 3rd instead of March 1st), I've so far managed to log more than my entire month's effort last year - I've added 9,326 words to my WIP!

I really feel so much more motivation this time around. I think part of that is the added life experience of the past year - like I needed to mature a little bit more before I was ready to finish the story, maybe? I'm really feeling the drive to complete Bleeding Heart now and share it with others (but more on that in a minute!).

Another part of the motivation comes from my Twitter friends. Have you ever done a #1K1Hr? It's where you join with one or more other writers in trying to write 1,000 words in an hour. It's a bit competitive, but mostly it's just fun to know you're not alone in your dreams! If you're a writer and you haven't yet "followed" me on Twitter, I'd love to connect with you there and log some words together!

So, I'm steadily moving along, coming to the end of my second manuscript. You can follow my progress via the StoryToolz widget in the sidebar (under "Current WIP"). My goal was to add another 30,000 words to what I had, but if I don't quite make that but I still finish the first draft of my story, I'll be happy. =)

Bleeding Heart

I hope to have a lot more to say about my WIP in the coming months! I don't want this to be another "Speedbo 2012 incident," where I state a big dream and I don't follow through right away on it. But God's timing and will is best, so if this doesn't come through like I'm planning, I hope you'll forgive my impulsiveness in sharing this dream with you here.

For right now, there are a lot of things coming together that make me hope that perhaps I can share Bleeding Heart with you sooner rather than later! Editing, cover design, endorsements, early readers, etc. - I've been sending out lots of e-mails lately, and I've been blessedly overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of blogging/author friends!! My goal? To self-publish Bleeding Heart, perhaps by August, Lord willing and the creek don't rise! (That could be too optimistic - but hey! I'm enjoying the positive feeling in this moment.)

Be looking for more information about Bleeding Heart and my possible self-publishing endeavors in the next few months!

Editing Through the Seasons

One last note is that I've been blessed with some interest in my freelance editing business, Editing Through the Seasons. I'm hard at work with a client right now, and I am really enjoying working with her! You might get to "meet" her here on the blog, as well as some other dear writer friends who have helped me jump-start my business, during my 3rd blogoversary celebration, coming at the end of March! 

My schedule prior to having a client was a little lax, at best (think: sleeping in a lot). So now with my own writing project this month and a client to assist, I am learning how to make better use of my days. Things are going well, but I'm still trying to find a good balance, as I've obviously been kind of scarce blogging, and I haven't been getting much review reading done. So please bear with me as I take baby steps into this new season of my "career." =)

Well, I think I've dragged this post out long enough, don't you? I hope you don't mind all of the info dumping - and I hope I won't disappoint ya'll if things don't work out the way I'm hoping they will (regarding my writing projects)! But God is good! And feeling this passion for writing again, this excitement for editing, and this joy in the gift of friendship - well, I'm truly grateful for big and "little wonders"! (Cue "Little Wonders" by Rob Thomas from Meet the Robinsons; such a great song and movie!)

(Music video from YouTube.)

Revell Blog Tour: Moonlight Masquerade

Here's a description of the book from Revell:

"Sometimes it is hard to tell if you are the cat or the mouse.

Lady Céline Wexham seems the model British subject. French by birth but enjoying life in 1813 as a widowed English countess, she is in the unique position of being able to help those in need - or to spy for the notorious Napoleon Bonaparte.

When Rees Phillips of the British Foreign Office is sent to pose as the countess’s butler and discover where her true loyalties lie, he is confident he will uncover the truth. But the longer he is in her fashionable townhouse in London’s West End, the more his staunch loyalty to the Crown begins to waver as he falls under Lady Wexham’s spell.

Will he find the proof he needs? And if she is a spy after all, what then will he do?

With sharp wit, fast-paced dialogue, and infectious intrigue, Ruth Axtell deftly creates a world where black and white burst into a confusion of colors - and no one is who they seem."

My Rating

Spring

My Review

Moonlight Masquerade took me back to England and France in the early 19th century, giving me a glimpse of the the colorful costumes of spies, the intricate political dances of the time, and the beautifully decorated settings. The historical details are interesting and the writing is generally clean in style and structure. All this is to the story's credit.

Unfortunately, I felt like I was on the perimeter of the dance floor as I read, for the most part - watching events unfold and admiring certain qualities of the dancers, but not really swept up in the dance myself. The hero and heroine do have a lot going for them to endear them to the reader: they're intelligent and clever, but still emotionally "distracted" enough to add romance to their ambitions. Perhaps it was the lack of much insight into the true feelings of any of the secondary characters; perhaps it was the emphasis on the set-up and the chase vs. an emphasis on character development... But somehow I just didn't really get emotionally invested or overly interested in the story.

There are some exciting elements to the story, including an intriguing/sweet scene where the title ties into the plot, despite the sometimes plodding pace. However, the romance didn't overly thrill me, and in the end I didn't quite feel "in the know" about how the hero and heroine's actions and sacrifices made a difference in the overall historical scheme. There was just a disconnect between me and the story and its characters.

For those who enjoy books set in the Regency era - with details about the fashion, activities, and domestic issues of the upper class at that time - Moonlight Masquerade might draw you in. Perhaps it is a dance that some know the steps to, and others must only watch (which offers a slightly less pleasant experience than being involved oneself).

*With thanks to Revell for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

 “Available March 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Review and Giveaway of the Latest VeggieTales ~ The Little House that Stood

Here's a description of the movie:

"When the Three Little Pigs roll into Cabbageville looking to build some new houses, they meet one builder with a plan and two without a clue! Larry builds with hay, Mr. Lunt with bricks, but only Bob builds his houses on a firm foundation - following the wise plans from the Master Builder's Handbook! Will the Little Piggies make the right choices when it comes to building their houses - and their lives - on solid ground? Find out in this parable that shows kids when they follow God's blueprints, then can stand strong when the storms come!"

(You can learn more about this movie and other VeggieTales shows on Facebook, Twitter, and the movie's website.)

Movie Trailer



My Review

Are you ever too old for VeggieTales? Not according to my family, as none of us are the target-audience age, yet we still enjoy the cute and clever stories! (Although I'm finding more and more that there isn't really a target-audience age for these shows... The animation is geared toward younger children, but the humor and homage to literary works and films can only be understood by adults, to my way of thinking.)

The Little House That Stood is a sweet addition to the VeggieTales collection. It begins with Larry the Cucumber dressed up as a gingerbread cookie (yes, we finally get to see him with arms and legs!), and a hungry Mother Goose visiting Bob and Larry. Capitalizing on the current excitement over fairy tales (or nursery rhymes, in this case), the stage is set for some fun twists on popular children's stories and parables from the Bible.

The first story, for which the movie is named, was my family's favorite. As Larry once said in an earlier movie, the title of which I can't recall: "I laughed. I cried. It moved me, Bob." OK, I didn't exactly cry, but my family and I did indeed laugh at some of the lines and the antics of Bob, Larry, and Mr. Lunt. The songs are catchy (I particularly liked "Solid Stuff"), some of the voices are rather interesting, some of the lines and references to modern culture are pretty funny, and the lesson on the importance of having a firm foundation for all areas of a person's life is shared in a fresh and clear way.

The "Silly Song" is just what the feature's title promises: "silly." Of course, all of the "Silly Songs" are supposed to be rather ridiculous, but some are more creative and catchy than others. My family mentioned that some of the ones they loved in the past were "Barbara Manatee" and "The Gated Community." This one about Larry's tooth (a throwback to the "I Love My Lips" song?), while instrumentally enjoyable, was a little too weird and goofy for our taste.

The second story that rounds out the movie, "The Good Egg of Gooseville," was not as enjoyable as the first story. I did appreciate the cleverness - how so many different nursery rhymes could be tied together to illustrate the importance of sacrificing for others and truly loving one's neighbor. However, my family and I agreed that the rhyming stories (like one of the stories on the Robin Good and His Not So Merry Men DVD) are not VeggieTales' best. They're a little harder to follow, rather convoluted/strange, and they're kind of annoying (maybe trying too hard to be too clever).

If you're a fan of VeggieTales, The Little House That Stood has some good points that would make it a fine addition to your collection. Overall, it's not the best of their movies, but the first story is enjoyable, and there are enough cute moments to make it worth the viewing. But if you don't enjoy the rhyming stories, take heed. And if you or your children are new to VeggieTales, other VeggieTales movies might serve as a better introduction to the shows.

*With thanks to Propeller for providing me with the DVD in exchange for my honest opinion.*

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: 'Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.'"

Giveaway!

The folks at Propeller not only offered me a copy of the DVD for review, but also a chance to give away a copy to one of you! If you'd like a chance to win The Little House That Stood, please note the following:

• Leave a comment with your valid e-mail address. (I'd love to hear which VeggieTales show is your favorite!)

• This giveaway is open internationally! 

• You have until 9:00 p.m. (PST) on Sunday, March 10th, to enter the giveaway. The winner will be drawn randomly via the List Randomizer and announced on Monday, March 11th.

Good luck!