Reading Cram Read-a-thon Day 6: Seasonal Challenge

Well, it's Day 6 of the #ReadingCram Read-a-thon - hard to believe! I've only completed 2 books so far (my reviews: Barefoot Summer and Elusive Hope), but I've started a third and will keep chugging along.

While I haven't participated in all of the challenges, you can find some of my responses on Twitter, and I'll keep posting a few here, as well. Today's challenge is a seasonal one, and you know I can't miss that! ;) The goal is to share four book recommendations from books read in 2013:

Recommend a Book for a Snow Day

The Ryn by Serena Chase

The book begins in winter and involves a heart-warming, colorful fairytale perfect for a snowy day curled up by the fire. (For those of you who actually get much snow, of course!) You can read my full review HERE.

Recommend a Book for a Rainy Day

 Mistaken by Karen Barnett

What's better for a rainy day than a historical romantic suspense set in the Pacific Northwest? (Lots and lots of rain in this part of the country.) You can read my full review HERE. And another book I can recommend that's in a similar vein and setting (albeit contemporary) is Love's Refuge by one of my editing/publicity clients, Sandra Leesmith. 

Recommend a Book for a Beach Day

Songstone by Lena Goldfinch

My favorite of Lena's books so far, and one I had the pleasure of editing and promoting this past summer! This is a fantasy romance set on a fictional island in the Pacific, complete with descriptive beach and jungle scenes.

Recommend a Book for a Spooky Night

Recalled by Cambria Hebert

This book is for sure one of my faves of 2013. While it's not chills-running-up-your-spine spooky, it does involve G.R. (the Grim Reaper) and a mission to send someone to their death. So...yeah! (It's surprisingly touching and sweet, though, and I absolutely loved the story! Note that there is a bit of language.) You can read more of my thoughts on the book HERE. I can also recommend Paranormalcy (a fun paranormal read) and The Memory Game (a tragic but intriguing ghost story, albeit with some more language).

What would be your seasonal recommendations from 2013?

My Review of Elusive Hope

Here's a description of the book from the author's website:

"In a colony named New Hope, while their friends are seeking a Southern utopia. . . .

Hayden is seeking revenge. Relentlessly.

After years of all but selling his soul to track down his scoundrel of a father, Hayden Gale discovers his search must continue in South America, where his father is reported to be helping colonize Brazil. Hayden has nothing more to lose, certainly not a good reputation, and vows to keep pursuing--at any cost--the vile man who he believes killed his mother.

 Magnolia is seeking a way out. Desperately.

She’s in the jungles of Brazil against her will, but what choice does Magnolia Scott have? Her father insisted on uprooting their family to escape the uncertainty of Southern life after the Civil War. But how will she survive without all she holds dear—wealthy suitors, beautiful clothes, summer balls, and slaves waiting on her every whim? She vows to find a way to get back home—and attaches herself to handsome Hayden Gale.

 As they journey toward Rio de Janeiro, they both seek to use the other for their own purposes. Deceptively. Falling in love was never part of their plans. . . ."

My Rating

Spring

My Review

In this second installment of the "Escape to Paradise" series, the main setting has moved from the sea to the jungles of Brazil, with colorful and exotic descriptions. One thing I love about MaryLu Tyndall's writing is how engaging her imagery is, whether she's describing the U.S. capitol during the War of 1812 or a tropical paradise in South America.

Elusive Hope flowed better than book 1 (Forsaken Dreams), and I enjoyed reading about Hayden and Magnolia's journey. Tyndall knows how to write great romantic tension between two struggling hearts, for sure! The revelations the hero and heroine experience are timeless and also timely - lessons in true beauty, forgiveness vs. revenge, and the seriousness of spiritual matters.

I do confess, though, that so far this series isn't shaping up to be my favorite of Tyndall's series. I loved the more subtle messages/takeaways and epic adventures of her previous books. However, this series is still enjoyable, and book 3 (Abandoned Memories) promises to be even more exciting with the conclusion of all that the first two books have been leading up to. I'm certainly curious to see what will happen to the colony of New Hope - and James and Angeline's relationship!

All in all, Elusive Hope is a strong middle book in a series that encompasses both interesting history and intriguing spiritual battles.

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

Book Trailer

Cute Cat Pics (Blog Tour Update #1)

The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks blog tour is in full swing! You know what that means, right? It means Uncle Sam (or Aunt Amber?) wants you to send in your cute cat pics!

Want some inspiration? I bring you Muffin Man, the weirdest member of our family...

 Yeah, he doesn't find the teasing very funny, hehe.

He does have a playful side, though! (He was "born to be wild," you know.)

But mostly he likes to relax. Isn't he so talented at finding places to sunbathe?

Taking a cozy catnap... (Cutness. Overload.)

And you thought he couldn't get any more adorable! (Say it with me now, Wreck-It Ralph fans: He's adorable. He's a winner. And everyone loves an adorable winner!)

Surprise! Who wouldn't want a Muffin Man for Christmas? ;) He looks ready to join Buckley & Bogey on The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks, don't ya think?

***

So what do you say? Should we crown Muffin Man the Cutest Cat in the Universe? Or do you have a cat who should claim that title?

Give Muffin Man some competition...and compete for prizes! We've got two murder mystery party games up for grabs in this contest, just in time for you to plan a fabulously fun New Year's Eve party. Check out the official rules below. I'll be awaiting your e-mails! And here's the link to the contest board: Buckley's Cutest Ever Cat Photos in the Universe Contest.

Two Prizes, Two Winners: Diamonds Are For Eva and Lies, Spies and Allies, 8-player murder mystery party games from Mysteries by Vincent!

"Pin Your Cute Cat Pic Contest" Official Rules:

• Select a cute/fun picture of your cat that you're willing to have pinned on Pinterest. (If you don't have a cat, you may send a picture of any craft you've created that includes a cat theme. For example, a cat drawing, a cat quilt, a cat cake, etc.)
• E-mail the photo to the publicist at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com. Please write "Pin Your Cute Cat Pic Contest" in the subject line, and include your name and the cat's name (if applicable) in your e-mail. In addition, please select a line from The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks to go under your picture as a caption. (If you haven't read the whole book, you can browse the beginning in the sample from Amazon.)
• The photos will be pinned to the "Buckley's Cutest Ever Cat Photos in the Universe" board on Pinterest soon after they have been received.
• The pic with the most "like"s (click of the heart button) will win their choice of the two murder mystery party games listed above. (In the case of a tie, the winner will be chosen randomly using the List Randomizer on Random.org.) A second winner will be randomly drawn from all qualifying entries for the other murder mystery party game. Both winners will be announced at Seasons of Humility on December 21, 2013.
• Please note that you must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to be eligible for this contest.
• Disclaimer: Refer to Pinterest's Terms of Service and Copyright information if you are unsure whether or not you're willing to share your picture on Pinterest. By submitting your cat pic, you agree that the picture is yours to share, and Editing Through the Seasons and Mysteries by Vincent are not responsible for any copyright violations. 

P.S. Don't forget that you can pick up your copy of The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks now on Amazon! (Paperback is less than $10, and the e-book is only $3.97!)

Hot & Cold Snack Size Reviews

I've had the pleasure of going to the movies a few times recently to see Catching Fire twice (yes, twice!) and Frozen. While I know it's quite possible to write rather lengthy reviews of both (especially Catching Fire), I thought I'd just share some simple thoughts and point out a few details that stood out to me. Thus, I bring you a hot and a cold snack size review! Enjoy them while they're hot...or frozen. ;)

Catching Fire

In a word: intense! This 2½-hour movie version of the second book in "The Hunger Games" trilogy is extremely well-done, capturing all sorts of emotions and vividly bringing the story to life. I was surprised at how much I liked the movie, as Catching Fire wasn't my favorite book of the series - and I had been worried about the increased level of violence. Yes, I did end up closing my eyes frequently, especially in the second half. But yes, I still saw it twice in theaters. What really hit me was the contrast between the horror/fear and some powerfully tender and poignant moments. (I have to add that Finnick endeared himself to me much more in this movie than in the book. Great actor!) Moments of sacrifice. Glimpses of love. It wasn't just hope of survival that carried the story - it was the survival of hope. And it was those moments that really made the story stand on its own rather than become a "sagging middle" with no purpose other than moving the plot along. As Johanna says, "Love is weird." Indeed it is. Indeed it has to be, for it to be given to such lost people. And oh, how we need it...

Frozen

In two words: frozen fun! Corny? Well, yes, it definitely has its moments. (If you find musicals somewhat silly with their random outbursts of song, this often follows in that vein. There are times you wonder why they can't just express their feelings without music...but I digress.) Still, the animation is generally quite splendid, many of the songs are quite catchy, and the oft-told but important message is sweet. The highlights for me were the beginning with the ice harvesting scene and song about frozen hearts, the twist that I didn't see coming (kudos!), and, of course, the romance with its humor and girl-carrying (I'm a sucker for a guy carrying a girl). I appreciated the sister theme, but I doubt my sister appreciates how much I now love to sing, "Do you want to build a snowman?" LOL.

My Review of Barefoot Summer

Here's a description of the book:

"Madison’s heart has been closed for years. But one summer can change everything.

In the years since her twin brother’s tragic drowning, Madison has struggled with her ability to trust God—or anyone else, for that matter. It was her brother’s dream to win the annual River Sail Regatta in their small harbor town of Chapel Springs, Indiana. And Madison’s determined to honor his legacy by making his dream her own. Maybe then she can finally find closure.

But learning to sail means learning to swim. And her instructor is Beckett O’Reilly, a man who already has two strikes against him in Madison's eyes. Being on the water terrifies Madison. But Beckett’s calming presence and unwavering confidence eases her fear. And as much as she’d like to deny it, the chemistry between them is electrifying.

As her feelings for him grow, a fledging faith begins to take root in her soul, as well. With Beckett, Madison feels alive for the first time in years –carefree and confident she can win the regatta, maybe even find love.

But Beckett harbors a secret that will test the limits of their love and the depth of Madison's faith. Will their love survive summer's challenge? And will achieving her brother's dream give Madison the peace she desperately seeks?"

My Rating

Summer

My Review

Barefoot Summer is inspirational contemporary romance at its finest, with several intriguing plot lines, a wonderful supporting cast, deep family ties and issues, a romance with authentic tension, and a memorable message that ties in with the title.

I read almost the entire book in one setting, engaged with each new scene. Hunter writes simply beautiful descriptions, making me feel a part of Chapel Springs as I stopped at the hole-in-the-wall pizza parlor, swam and sailed on the river, visited homes in the neighborhoods, and roamed the park. I loved the easy-to-envision sights and smells. And of course I loved how the romance took center stage, without skimping on the other aspects of the plot.

The story involves a great mix of excitement and relatable issues. The pace was just right, with scenes alternating between the fun and the painful. Hunter tackles so much involving family (without going overboard) that there's bound to be something that will hit nearly every reader personally. I loved all of the brother/sister relationships, and the nursing home scenes resonated with me. The "Kneeling Nanas" are great, and the real-life connection that's highlighted in the acknowledgements is too sweet.

Just like Madison, I don't like to go barefoot (mostly because my feet get cold so easily!)...but this book showed me another way of "walking barefoot" that touched my heart. Barefoot Summer is a fabulous beginning to the "Chapel Springs" series!

*With thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing through the Booksneeze program for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Reading Cram Read-a-thon Day 1: TBR Challenge

Today is the first day of the Reading Cram Read-a-thon! I really need to focus this week on rewrites/edits for Forget Me Not so I can send the manuscript to my proofreader ASAP, but I also really need to catch up on my review reading - so here's hoping this challenge will help motivate me to meet my reading goals! (By the way, if you're following me on Twitter, I apologize for the excess of tweets recently and to come. You'll probably be seeing lots of #1K1Hr and #ReadingCram hashtags this next week...)

Anywho, today's blogging challenge just involves sharing a list of the books you want to read during the read-a-thon. My goal is 10, and here are the 10 books I *think* I'm going to try to read (although this list isn't set in stone):

#1 Barefoot Summer

 

#2 Elusive Hope

#3 Wishing on Willows 

#4 A Noble Groom

#5 Burning Sky

#6 Dragonwitch

#7 All in Good Time

#8 Mountain Homecoming

#9 Under a Blackberry Moon

#10 Welcome to Last Chance

I also need to finish Love's Awakening by Laura Frantz and read Born of Persuasion by Jessica Dotta, Pilgrimage of Promise by Cathy Bryant, and Eddie Would Go by Stuart Coleman (which a pen pal let me borrow forever ago - so it's way overdue for a read!). So I might substitute one of these for a book on the list...but either way, I want to get all these done by the end of the year, as I'm already starting to get review books for 2014, and I have a lot of "for fun" books on my Kindle and in TBR stacks that I want to get to!

If you're participating in this read-a-thon, be sure to post about what you hope to read and enter the giveaway at Juliababyjen's Reading Room! And whether or not you're participating, do share what book you're going to read next!

Launch of The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks Blog Tour!

Meet Buckley Bergdorf, Cat Detective and star of the recently published The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks, the second Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper. His latest case? Well, beyond catching those crafty Christmas crooks, his mission in the next two weeks is to search for his cutest cat brethren and discover new friends on his first-ever blog tour! Read on to learn more...

The Background

I "met" author Cindy Vincent when I was working on a publicity project for May the K9 Spy this past summer. (I know right? K9 spies and cat detectives...awesome combo!) Cindy hired me this fall to edit her latest book about cat detectives. It sounded cute - and let me tell you, it definitely satisfied in the adorable department! From the sweet and real Christmas message, to the loving and hilarious antics of a Maine Coon cat named Buckley and all his feline (and human) friends, I fell in love with The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks. So I was more than happy to take on Buckley's story as a publicity project. It's my hope that after you meet Buckley during the tour, hear more about his book, and celebrate the Christmas season with us, you'll fall in love, too.

Check out the schedule for the tour below...and don't miss the fun contests Buckley's hosting via Pinterest!

The Timeline

• Sunday, December 8th: Introduction to the tour at Seasons of Humility ← You are here!
• Monday, December 9th: Spotlight at Dreaming Under the Same Moon
• Tuesday, December 10th: Interview at The Wonderings of One Person
• Wednesday, December 11th: Review & interview at To Be a Person
• Thursday, December 12th: Interview at CatTipper
• Friday, December 13th: Review at That's What I'm Here For
• Saturday, December 14th: Spotlight at Too Read or Not Too Read
• Sunday, December 15th: Contest Update at Seasons of Humility
• Monday, December 16th: Review at A BookLover's Heart
• Tuesday, December 17th: Spotlight at The Writer's Window
• Wednesday, December 18th: Review at Take It From Me
• Thursday, December 19th: Spotlight at Whispers in Purple
• Friday, December 20th: Double Review at West of Newbury Street
• Saturday, December 21st: Conclusion to the tour at Seasons of Humility

If there are any changes to this schedule, they'll be posted on the blog tour page. And while you're checking that page out, be sure to grab a blog button to help us spread the word, and learn more about Buckley, his partner in crime (Bogey), his Mom, and his books!

The Rewards

Every good detective (or reader) should get a reward for a job well done, right? While Buckley & Bogey are big fans of cat treats, Cindy knows you might wish to play for different prizes. So enter one or both of the Pinterest contests for a chance to win one of three murder mystery party games from Mysteries by Vincent!

Contest #1

"Pin the Cover Contest" Official Rules:

• Take the cover image for The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks from the blog tour page or Buckley Bergdorf, Cat Detective's Pinterest page. 
• Pin it to one of your boards on Pinterest.
• E-mail the publicist at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com saying you've participated. Please write "Pin the Cover Contest" in the subject line, and include your Pinterest user name and the name of the board you pinned the cover to in your e-mail.
• One winner will be randomly drawn from all e-mailed entries and announced at Seasons of Humility on December 21, 2013.
• Please note that you must have a Pinterest account and be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to be eligible for this contest.
• Prize: Lies, Spies and Allies, 8-player murder mystery party game from Mysteries by Vincent!

Contest #2

"Pin Your Cute Cat Pic Contest" Official Rules:

• Select a cute/fun picture of your cat that you're willing to have pinned on Pinterest. (If you don't have a cat, you may send a picture of any craft you've created that includes a cat theme. For example, a cat drawing, a cat quilt, a cat cake, etc.)
• E-mail the photo to the publicist at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com. Please write "Pin Your Cute Cat Pic Contest" in the subject line, and include your name and the cat's name (if applicable) in your e-mail. In addition, please select a line from The Case of the Crafty Christmas Crooks to go under your picture as a caption. (If you haven't read the whole book, you can browse the beginning in the sample from Amazon.)
• The photos will be pinned to the "Buckley's Cutest Ever Cat Photos in the Universe" board on Pinterest soon after they have been received.
• The pic with the most "like"s (click of the heart button) will win their choice of the two murder mystery party games listed above. (In the case of a tie, the winner will be chosen randomly using the List Randomizer on Random.org.) A second winner will be randomly drawn from all qualifying entries for the other murder mystery party game. Both winners will be announced at Seasons of Humility on December 21, 2013.
• Please note that you must be a resident of the U.S. or Canada to be eligible for this contest.
• Disclaimer: Refer to Pinterest's Terms of Service and Copyright information if you are unsure whether or not you're willing to share your picture on Pinterest. By submitting your cat pic, you agree that the picture is yours to share, and Editing Through the Seasons and Mysteries by Vincent are not responsible for any copyright violations. 
• Two Prizes, Two Winners: Diamonds Are For Eva and Lies, Spies and Allies, 8-player murder mystery party games from Mysteries by Vincent!

The Clues

Here are some clues to solving the "mystery" of how to make the most of this tour: 1) Check the blog tour page and/or follow me on Twitter for the latest updates; 2) Check out every stop along the tour - there will be chances to win the featured book, along with reviews, interviews, and more; 3) Check out the contests! Basically, we need you to make the tour the most fun it can be... So Holy Catnip! What are you waiting for? ;)

(If you have any questions about the tour or contest, you can e-mail me at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com. I'd be happy to answer your questions!)