Summary: Just a girl. The only one strong enough to break the cycle.
In Depression-era Mississippi, Millie Reynolds longs to escape the madness that marks her world. With an abusive father and a "nothing mama," she struggles to find a place where she really belongs.
For answers, Millie turns to the Gypsies who caravan through town each spring. The travelers lead Millie to a key that unlocks generations of shocking family secrets. When tragedy strikes, the mysterious contents of the box give Millie the tools she needs to break her family's longstanding cycle of madness and abuse.
Through it all, Millie experiences the thrill of first love while fighting to trust the God she believes has abandoned her. With the power of forgiveness, can Millie finally make her way into the free?
Saturated in Southern ambiance and written in the vein of other Southern literary bestsellers like The Help by Kathryn Stockett and Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin, Julie Cantrell has created in Into the Free—now a New York Times Best Seller—a story that will sweep you away long after the novel ends.
About the Author:
New York Times and USA TODAY Bestselling author Julie Cantrell was the editor-in-chief of the Southern Literary Review. She has been a freelance writer for ten years and has published two children’s books. She has contributed to more than a dozen books, and her first novel, Into the Free, hit shelves February 1, 2012 (David C Cook).
In addition to writing the sequel to that novel, Julie was honored to receive the 2011 Mississippi Arts Commission Literary Artist Fellowship and is currently working on a creative nonfiction book about her family’s adventures as first-generation farmers. Julie and her family live in Oxford, Mississippi where they operate Valley House Farm. She is also a certified speech-language pathologist and currently teaches English as a second language to elementary students.
This is one of those novels you could write a book about just to get across how wonderful it is. It's a book every book club should be dying to read and discuss! The story of a little girl who learns to view her world from the safety of a high tree, to dream of escaping the fears she has and the poverty she experiences both emotional and physical, will grip your heart from the first seconds you touch this book. But what also hooked me was the elequence and heart-stopping prose of Julie Cantrell. She is a storyteller personified.
"Into the Free" is so beautifully written and so rich in symbolism that it will not let you pull away. Even when you put the book down to go about daily business, the memory of what you've read and look forward to reading will haunt you. This is an extraordinary book with a human story that digs at the essence of what it means to be alive in spirit, and to love with your whole heart.
We primarily see the world through the eyes of Millie, a pre-teen then late teen, as she comes of age learning to understand the realities of the world and the adults within it; as well as her place within that world. Millie is a wise child, but one who is alone in the world. She embodies the spirit of any child who is held captive in a home surrounded by poverty and abuse. She's powerless to hinder her father's abuse of her dependent and addictive mother, and that mother's complacency, but her spirit finds a way to be free by way of her interactions with other people and her world view. Millie is a so fully developed and so sound in psychology that it's difficult to remember that she's a "make believe" character and not a living person whose biography one is reading. She's a jewel of a character whom I'll never forget.
"Into the Free" causes us to ask questions about what freedom actually is. Can we choose freedom in our situations, over enslavement? There are many choices this book looks at through Millie's eyes and which may cause the reader to assess her own world and spiritual views. I was particularly struck by Ms Cantrell's use of the gypsies as a way of showing what security and false security might be for Millie. The lure of the beautiful and strange may not always be best, and Millie has to decide if it's the right course to her own freedom.
Julie Cantrell is an author of blinding beauty and wisdom. Her spiritual insights and easy way of leading the reader into a deeper knowledge of them is graceful and blend well within her story. As Millie learns the difference between harsh, rote and human "religion," and finding godly love and caring, so does the reader. Millie comes to understand what "good" people really are versus what society claims and where "class" sets them. Her Choctaw blood and rodeo background make her an outcast in the town's society, but that doesn't mean she's "bad."
Ms Cantrell's book is a treasure of symbolism that I wish I had a group of friends to unravel with me! As I said, this is one for the book groups. A gorgeous book, and one I highly recommend to everyone. You have to get this book and/or put it on your must read list. It's a book you won't forget.
When a haughty Lord meets a determined Miss the only winner is love. Captain Nicholas Price is a man with a plan. As the newly minted Lord Stafford, he is determined to have the best of everything. Clothes, horses, women. He is well on his way with a well-born fiancée and an estate in the country. Miss Emeline Wilson is a woman on a mission. Forced into penury by the cruel estate manager of the indifferent Lord Stafford, Emeline is determined to confront the new Lord with his callous ways. When they finally meet, sparks fly, and Nicholas finds himself knocked for a loop by the feisty, intelligent, and definitely not high-born Miss. But what’s an already engaged Lord to do when the plans he’s so perfectly laid out for his future suddenly seem so wrong? Warning: This book features an arrogant Lord, a determined Miss, and plenty of steamy moments between the two.
(Bookish Dame's Note: I'm not usually one for bodice ripper covers, but...geez...this one is pretty cool...:P I love a man in a uniform!)
About Cheryl Holt :
Cheryl Holt is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty-one novels. She's also a lawyer and mom, and at age 40, with two babies at home, she started a new career as a commercial fiction writer. She'd hoped to be a suspense novelist, but couldn't sell any of her manuscripts, so she ended up taking a detour into romance, where she was stunned to discover that she has an incredible knack for writing some of the world's greatest love stories. Her books have been released to wide acclaim, and she has won or been nominated for many national awards. She is particularly proud to have been named "Best Storyteller of the Year," by the trade magazine, Romantic Times BOOK Reviews. Her hot, sexy, dramatic stories of passion and illicit love have captivated fans around the world, and she's celebrated as the Queen of Erotic Romance, which is currently the fastest selling subgenre of women's fiction. Due to the ferociousness of some of her characters, she's also known as the International Queen of Villains. She received degrees in music, languages, and education, from South Dakota State University, and her juris doctorate was obtained at the University of Wyoming. Her colorful and chaotic employment history includes such variety as public school teacher, cook, bartender, lobbyist, and political activist. She also did brief stints in metro-Denver as a deputy district attorney and administrative law judge. Cheryl lives and writes in Hollywood, California.
Thanks for stopping by today!! Though this is not my normal fare, I thought it might be fun to mix it up for my readers. I like the occasional romance and Cheryl Holt is one of the best writing them today.
NOTE: By the way, if you haven't had a chance to enjoy it, yet, please go to your local Barnes & Noble and purchase a copy of RT Book Reviews! It's a magazine I can't wait to get every month because it has fabulous reviews and lots of ideas on books not just romances, but also in the paranormal, fantasy, syfy, historical fiction, mainstream and contemporary fiction categories...just to name a few. This magazine has the best of the best rated and the reviewers are top drawer.
TOMORROW NIGHT is Lisa Bergren's Glamorous Illusions Facebook party (June 27th)! You won't want to miss it! Haven't read the book? No worries -- you'll still be able to participate and you just might win a copy!
Chat with Lisa and meet some new friends! We're going to be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and much more! Lisa will also be announcing the winner of the $350 Visa Cash Gift Card!
Never been to a Facebook party? Not sure what to do? No worries. It's a fun way to connect with your favorite authors and make some new friends. Plus, there are tons of giveaways, laughter and encouraging chat! And if you do need help figuring out what's what at the party, Christen will be around to answer your questions!
So click the link below to RSVP and we'll see you tomorrow night!
Questions? Concerns? Just hit reply and let us know.
We'll start at 5 PM PT (6 MT, 7 CT, 8 ET) on June 27th and go for about an hour and a half.
Prophetic dreams, rape, suspicion, intrigue and terror--all in a man's world...this could be modern day! But, it's the world of Tudor England in the time of Henry VIII's last Queen Kateryn Parr as told by the capable hand and writings of Sandra Byrd in "The Secret Keeper."
A Summary of the Book: Juliana St. John is the daughter of a prosperous knight in Marlborough. Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father’s business partner, circumstances set her on a course toward the court of Henry VIII and his last wife, Kateryn Parr.
Sir Thomas Seymour, uncle of the current heir, Prince Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his business with Juliana’s father’s estate and sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves, Kateryn Parr. Her mother agrees to have her placed in the Parr household for “finishing” and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly. For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one of her visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of the king’s daughter, the lady Elizabeth, to perilous consequence.
As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII’s court, she faces threats and opposition, learning truths about her own life that will upset everything she thought she once held dear.
Particulars of the Book : Published by: Simon and Schuster Pages: 320 and Book Group Discussion Pages Genre: Historical Fiction/Tudor Period Author: Sandra Byrd Author's Website: http://sandrabyrd.com Purchase this book on: Amazon
More About Sandra the Author:
After earning her first rejection at the age of thirteen, bestselling author Sandra Byrd persevered to publish more than three dozen books. Her adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, was a finalist for the Christy Awards. Her historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn was listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2011. Sandra's YA fiction has also been recognized within the industry. Asking for Trouble, the first in the London Confidential series, was a finalist for the ECPA Medallion of Excellence award.
A former textbook acquisitions editor, Sandra is also a non-fiction writer and author, with articles in numerous publications and periodicals. Sandra is also passionate about helping new writers develop their talent and their work toward traditional or self publication. As such, she has mentored hundreds of new writers and continues to coach dozens to success each year.
Sandra resides in Washington State with her husband Michael, a chaplain, their two children, and a circus dog named Brie.
The Bookish Dame Reviews : Sandra Byrd writes a captivating historical fiction with a solid spiritual base illuminated by the main character, Juliana St. John's propensity toward dreams foretelling the future. Miss St. John's invitation to Court to wait on Lady Kateryn Parr, the eventual wife of Henry VIII and Queen of England, is the basis for this story. It is a tale that in and of itself has been told by numerous authors, but what makes Ms Byrd's book different is that she chooses to emphasize the relationship between the Queen and Juliana, and the underlying prophesies and spiritual guides that ruled them during the difficult times in which they lived.
This spiritual base gives a whole new insight into the possibilities of thinking and reacting that must have gone on behind the tapestries and guarded quarters of Queen Kateryn, the surrogate mother to the soon-to-be king Edward, and Princesses Mary and Elizabeth I. How fascinating to imagine how a woman of faith influenced the future king and queens of England.
Further, the very interesting thing that captured my imagination was how similarities could be drawn between the helplessness of women during this historical period and of modern day women. The fears of physical and emotional abuse, the terrors of having home and children removed, the horrors of helplessness before the law, and the betrayals of husbands and sometimes friends and family were real and relevant.
Ms Byrd's characters were vivid and beautifully imagined with spirit and backbone! Her women were brave and steady in the face of what seemed insurmountable odds. And, the example of Kateryn Parr's faith and writings were evident in the novel. I wasn't aware she had been such a well published author of books.
Historical facts were evenly disbursed in this book, which to me is always a plus in reading historical fiction. Information about the daughter of Kateryn Parr was fascinating! And, I enjoyed Sandra Byrd's notes at the end about her history.
A story of love and friendship, honesty and kindness in the face of life's largest and looming challenges, this is a book that will make a lasting impression on even the most well-read of historical fiction buffs. And all this reading like the best of fiction!!
I highly recommend it. You'll discover secrets you never knew before!
Nantucket Island’s year-round residents are shaken when a car crash claims the life of driver Penny Alistair, a vibrant and popular high school student, and leaves her twin brother, Hobby, in a coma. The other passengers, Penny’s boyfriend Jake and their friend Demeter, each have secrets, and everyone is touched by the tragedy, in fact, practically everyone on the island feels some responsibility for the accident. What did Demeter, who had been drinking, divulge to Penny on the beach that night? Was it Jake’s indiscretion after the cast party for the high school’s production of Grease, or Hobby’s just before prom? Was it the newspaper publisher’s affair, or Penny’s knowledge of his wife’s depression after the loss of her infant son? Each character’s guilt rubs them raw with worry. The sparks that this story throws out becomes a current that circles the agitated kids and their parents, electrifying the atmosphere as they grapple with what happened. Hilderbrand (Silver Girl) has a gift for building tension, and the reader will be willing to do just about anything to discover the real reason why Penny would drive herself, her brother, and her boyfriend over an embankment into oblivion.
Particulars of the book : Published by Regan Arthur/Little, Brown & Co. Pages: 385 Genre: Contemporary Fiction Author: Elin Hilderbrand Find out more about Ms Hilderbrand here!: Facebook Pre-order on: Barnes & Noble
A Bit About The Author :
Elin Hilderbrand lives on Nantucket with her husband and their three young children. She grew up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and traveled extensively before settling on Nantucket, which has been the setting for her five previous novels. Hilderbrand is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the graduate fiction workshop at the University of Iowa.
The Dame's Review :
I've been avoiding reading Elin Hilderbrand for years! Yes, I'm not a chick-lit reader and I haven't been interested in a dip in the Atlantic with light fiction. But when approached to read and review "Summerland," something just clicked with me, and I decided to take a chance on it. I'm so glad I did. This is a fabulous book! Contrary to my prejudices, Elin Hilderbrand is no light-weight author, and her story about a family in distress is one of substance and real values to share.
Hilderbrand has hit a home run with her character development. She not only knows women, but she has keen insight into the minds of young adults; particularly teens in trouble. Her characters are well-developed, wholly alive and beautifully rendered in their dysfunctional ways! I especially loved the character of Demeter, the girl who was on the fringes of the "in crowd," but who was pivotal on the fateful night of their destruction. Her personal awakening and her mother's is a vital and gripping part of this story. It was moving and read real to me. Nothing quite like denial!
The storyline was captivating. Difficult to pull myself away from after the first chapter. I found each of the several vignettes Ms Hilderbrand wrote into her book just compelling as they circled the main mystery of why a beautiful, successful and popular girl would floor her car and drive madly off the edge of the road to her death with her brother and friends beside her! Each character developed was rich and exciting. Their individual stories helped build the mystery and the plot of "Summerland," and their different insights into the behind the scenes of the summer "playland" of the wealthy and famous was just fascinating. Nantucket never looked so interesting to me, and I'm a Massachusetts native (by way of the South!).
Drawing the curtain back on what motivates us to follow love, what pushes us beyond the pale and how we survive the choices we make as well as the choices of others that affect us, this book is one you'll remember a long time after the cover is closed.
"Summerland" is a book I would love to give to all my best friends, bookish friends, my daughter, my mother and my daughters-in-law. I can't give it any better praise than that! Not a disappointment at all, but a great surprise and an author I need to apologize to...Elin Hilderbrand is one I'll be going back to the stacks to read.
Highly recommended to everyone! This one is a "Deep End of the Ocean"- type read.
5 stars
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All the Broken Pieces: a Gothic mystery, this is the story of Olivia, who wakes up with mysterious voices and urges she’s not used to. Turns out there’s another voice in her head—but where exactly did she come from?
Imprint: Entangled Teen; Audience: Young Adult; Novel length: 304 pages; Format: Trade paperback and eBook; Publication Date: December, 2012.
What if your life wasn’t your own?
Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.
Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?
RELEASE DATE DECEMBER 2012 !!!
Excerpt from "All the Broken Pieces:"
Olivia reached up, feeling the tender spots on her head. Her fingers brushed across a row of—were those little ridges made of metal?
“Careful. The staples are almost ready to come out, but it’s still going to be sore for a while.”
Staples?! Her stomach rolled. I have staples in my head? She lowered her now-shaking hand. “Can I get a mirror?”
Mom looked at Dad, then back at her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not until you’ve healed a little more.”
Mom patted Olivia’s leg. “You just relax. We’ll be back in a few minutes.”
The two of them left the room, but when Mom swung the door closed, it didn’t latch. Olivia could hear their voices in the hall.
“I still think we should…” She couldn’t make out the rest of Dad’s muffled words. “…know if I can do this.”
“…late for that,” Mom said. “We’d lose everything, including…” Her voice faded as they got farther away. “…have to move.”
Olivia could tell the conversation was tense, but the words were impossible to decipher now. Holding a hand in front of her face, she turned it back and forth. A plastic tube ran from her arm to a machine next to her bed. She peeked into her nightgown and stared in horror at the long red stripe running down her chest.
Sick.
You’re alive. You shouldn’t be thinking about looks
May I just say that this is the first book in a very long time I've read that made angelic beings seem real and perfectly awe-inspiring?! I loved every single thing about this book. The writing is inspiring and brilliant, the characters are engaging and strong, the plot is beautifully crafted and the tension is perfectly pitched. This is a book you have to have. A book that you won't want to stop reading once you start it. I was very pleasantly surprised when it began and I was hooked from the first paragraphs. I'm a tough sell on these types of books. The emotions of Dittemore's Brielle just leap from the pages! Her angelic beings both good and evil shattered some of my imaginings and I loved it!! I highly recommend this book to YAs and the adults in their lives. A perfect cross over fiction. It's an inspirational read that will touch your heart and keep you thinking about the protection and love that surrounds us every day, even when we may not see it.
Once you've seen, you can't unsee. Everything changes when you've looked at the world through . . .Angel Eyes
Brielle went to the city to chase her dreams and found tragedy instead. She's come home to shabby little Stratus, Oregon, to live with her grief and her guilt . . . and the incredible, numbing cold she can't seem to shake.
Jake's the new guy at school. The boy next door with burning hands and an unbelievable gift that targets him for corruption.
Something more than fate has brought them together. An evil bigger than both of them lurks in the shadows nearby, hiding in plain sight. Two angels stand guard, unsure what's going to happen. And a beauty brighter than Jake or Brielle has ever seen is calling them to join the battle in a realm where all human choices start.
A realm that only angels and demons-and Brielle-can perceive.
About Shannon:
Shannon is a wife and mother. A sister. A daughter. A friend. She was raised in Northern California by her parents-pastors of their local church and constant figures of inspiration.
As a youth, Shannon traveled with an award-winning performing arts team, excelling on stage and in the classroom. As a young adult, she attended Portland Bible College, continued acting, and worked with an outreach team targeting inner-city kids in the Portland-Metropolitan area.
It was in Portland that she met her husband, Matt. They were married in 2002. Soon after, they took the reins of the youth ministry at Living Way Community Church in Roseville, California where they continue to serve in that capacity. In October of 2004, their son Justus was born, followed by their daughter Jazlyn, born in 2008.
Listen a while to this audio recording:
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Fan, huge fan of "The Bloodlines" series of Richelle Mead! I got caught up in this series when I picked up her first novel last year called "Bloodlines." Warning: it's better than her "Vampire Academy" books in my opinion. But then, I'm a new convert... "The Golden Lily" will not disappoint fans of either of her series of books; however, I must tell you this is a case where I think it would be best if you read these in order. There is a good deal of background character information that can't really be covered by jumping into this second book in the series.
Summary :
The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series~
Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students—children of the wealthy and powerful—carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.
Particulars of the Book :
Published by: Penguin/Razorbill Pages: 418 Author: Richelle Mead Genre: YA/Fantasy/Vampires
You may want to know more about Ms Mead. Find her website here: Richelle Mead
A Bit More About Author Richelle Mead :
Richelle is the New York Times bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time. Before becoming a writer, she considered a few different career paths. She received a liberal arts degree from the University of Michigan, an MA in Comparative Religion from Western Michigan University, and a Master in Teaching (Middle & High School English) degree from the University of Washington. In the end, she decided writing was the way for her but believes all of her education prepared her for it.
A life-long reader, Richelle has always had a particular fascination with mythology and folklore. When not writing,, she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. Lots of dresses. She is a self-professed coffee addict, fights a constant (and losing) battle with procrastination, and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.
Her adult series are published by Kensington Books. The Georgina Kincaid Series (Succubus Blues, Succubus on Top, Succubus Dreams, and Succubus Heat) tell the humorous and heart-breaking story of a reluctant succubus who can't touch the man she loves without dire side effects. On top of that, she must deal with Hell's middle management team and the many supernatural threats that come her way. Richelle's Dark Swan Series (Storm Born and Thorn Queen)follows Eugenie Markham, a free-lance shaman who battles ghosts and fey that sneak into our world from the Otherworld. When an alarming prophecy suddenly makes her every Otherworldly creature's object of desire, Eugenie must dodge their advances while also fighting a dark power rising within her.
Richelle's YA series, Vampire Academy, is published by Razorbill Books (Penguin) and thus far contains Vampire Academy, Frostbite,Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, and Spirit Bound. This New York Times and USA Today bestselling series has won honors from the American Library Association and been translated into 30 languages. It follows the war between two races of vampires, living and undead. Rose Hathaway, a 17-year old half-vampire, is training to be a bodyguard for the living vampires and finds her life complicated by the dangers that involves, as well as an illicit romance with one of her teachers.
The Bookish Dame Reviews :
As the afore-stated huge fan of Ms Mead's, it comes easily to tell you that she is a wonderful writer of the vampire fantasy novel for young adult readers. I'm always game for a good vampire novel and a beautiful cover image for my extensive library of this genre, so I was delighted when I found "Bloodlines," the first in her series. In this second of that series Richelle spends time expanding upon her main protagonist, Sydney's character; i.e., her intellectual make up and her love life and her close association with a vampire watch group called The Alchemists.
The further development of her beautiful crew of vampire characters is a special treat. They are multidimensional. The teen and early twenties vampires (even those who are ageless) are so beautiful in expression and physical description, it's hard not to fall for every single one of them. Mead has a way of balancing their entries and exists in the plot to perfection so that we really become involved in their lives and in their different personalities. I don't know how she keeps all those balls in the air, frankly. At times, I found it difficult to follow, however, which brings me to a point...
It was nearly 200 pages into the 400 that I was really caught up in the story. I felt that much of the book was playing catch up, and the base-building was slow and sometimes just too drawn out. Sydney's meeting with her first "boyfriend" was bland and too much of a bore as a contrast with the soon to be set upon relationship with the gorgeous and sexy vampire Adrian. (Not giving away much here so don't worry) So, it felt flat and unbelievable.
Without giving the story away, I have to say this book is not as good as the first one. The characters are still very appealing, but the storyline lacked the original glimmer. Though it took a while, it still came through in the end. But, it nearly lost me!
What's really good in the book is the new and exciting news about the Alchemist group and hunting of the vampires. It was especially interesting to see Sydney develop as a person, as well as she is growing up and experiencing more feelings and conflict over her place as an Alchemist and a friend of the vampire group.
Fans of Richelle Mead will no doubt stick with her on "The Golden Lily" and they should. This is a good book and a good set up for her next one which I can only hope will be better. It's just not excellent. Her dedication in this book is to her son who was "born the day I finished this" book. That may be the answer to why I found this one not quite up to her standards! I can't imagine being pregnant and writing a book, let alone 9 months pregnant!
I'll be waiting in line for book 3 in the series, but cannot whole-heartedly endorse this one. So, I have to give it a 3.5 stars...good but you may only want to purchase it in hardback if you need to have the series for your library collection. The paperback will be beautiful, too, and less expensive! If you're an ebook reader, go for it asap!
Thank you for stopping by on your very busy day. I know you have other places to be and things to see!
A Super Summary!! High school senior, Sofia Black, has had a very hard life. Since her father's death 7 years ago, she has had to look after her drug addicted, alcoholic mother. School isn't any better for her either. The other kids constantly tease, and ridicule her. All she wants is to get out of her small hometown in Alabama.
When new student, Jason, shows up, Sofia's world is turned upside down. She doesn't understand why he wants to befriend her so badly... And, just when she thinks she can trust him, trouble appears.
Jason's twin brother, Robbie, moves into town, and things go haywire. Sofia is now running for her life - and Jason is forced to share hidden secrets with her. She learns the truth about her father's death, and finds out that she may not be as "human" as she once thought. She struggles to accept her fate, while fighting for her life.
Particulars of the book:
Published and Authored by Heather M. White Pages: 213 Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Heather's Guest Post for A Bookish Libraria! – ‘A Day in the Life of ME’
I've always wanted to write a post about "A Day in the Life of ME". I don't know why, really, my day is NOT that interesting. (You will see).
My day usually starts somewhere between 7:30 and 9 am. That is when I get up and "write". When I say write I really mean: check my Twitter, email, Facebook, Goodreads, blog, etc... After that, I usually decide that I'm hungry. So, I eat cereal and watch something on Netflix. Then I think: OK, time to write. I go to my computer, open my book, and stare at my screen. I do this for a while then I decide, hmm... Maybe I should read something. So I do.
After lunch, I do pretty much the same thing. By dinner, I've probably finished the book I was reading ;). So now, it's 8pm and I think: I HAVE TO WRITE NOW. So I do. And it flows so well. I just can't write in the day, idk why. I honestly think my creativty is a vampire.
So, that's what a life of a write is like... Lots of procrastinating. Or, at least for me.
A Bit More About Heather:
Hi! I'm Heather M White, a YA Paranormal author. I'm 22 years old and I recently got married. I just moved from Saint Louis, Missouri to a very small town in Arkansas. My passion is: writing. I also like to read, and play guitar. And I love Dr. Pepper! Goodreads | Blog | Twitter
The Dame's Review : Heather M White has written a book essentially about the affects of parental absenteeism and dysfunction on a child, and the resulting bullying they may experience as a result of it. Her protagonist, Sofia, is a "good girl" who is a high academic achiever, a girl who has the unwanted and unreasonable responsibility of taking care of her addicted mother, and one who is sensitive to being an outcast in her town. She's bullied at school because classmates find her weaknesses: she's embarrassed because she can have no social life since she has to look after her mother, and she's economically "poor." She has no clothes that would make her "fit in," and she feels the sense of being the town out-cast. Basically, her mother is the town tramp, and the town drunk.
This character and her background makes the story compelling because it's so real. It speaks to such a large population of children these days in public school systems. Ms White's focus on the bullying is a perfect way to highlight for YAs the simple unfairness and hatefulness of it. She takes time to break down these prejudices and to show how much character and inner strength Sofia actually has. These elements give a strong base to the book. I was moved by Sophia's courage in so many instances in this novel. This all reflects on the courage of the author in digging down deep for such a character!
The fantasy elements of the story are sure to draw in a YA crowd. In her readiness to find an escape from Sophia's real life, horrific situation, this is perfect for Heather's character. From the perspective of young people who are bullied, this is a great fantasy story. And, from the perspective of YA fiction, it's a great story, too! I fell in love with the handsome hunk of a guy who would make Sofia feel "normal" and wanted as a friend in the midst of her heartbreaking life! But finding out that she's not exactly "normal" in other ways was quite enjoyable in the mix.
This is an ebook publication, and that prohibits its sales in my opinion. I think the book is a very good one and Heather would be wise to think about publishing her next book in the series in actual paperback format. Possibly printing this one in book format, as well. I think this is a winning novel and look forward to the next in the series. It's a book teens would enjoy reading!
3.5 stars
GIVEAWAY!!!!!
An ebook copy of "Redheads Are Soulless"
will be given away!!!
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Giveaway Ends July 31st
Thanks for stopping by today! I know you're busy...
Welcome to the launch of best-selling and award-winning author Lisa Tawn Begren's brand new historicial fiction series, Grand Tour! The first book, Glamorous Illusions releases this month! To celebrate, Lisa has teamed up with her publisher David C. Cook for a "Glamorous" Giveaway and fun Author Chat party on Facebook. Details below!
The Grand Tour Series details the life of Cora Diehl Kensington, a woman of the Montana plains, swept up into a life of riches and privilege. Belatedly finding out a terrible secret about her parentage, Cora struggles to find out who she really is–as a child of God–in the midst of an enlightening, as well as dangerous, trip across Europe.
Here's a trailer!
A Summary of the Book :
It was the summer of 1913, and Cora Kensington's life on the family farm has taken a dark turn. Not only are the crops failing, so is her father's health. Cora is carrying on, helping her mother run their Montana farm until a stranger comes to call, and everything changes. Cora then learns a secret that will radically change her future: she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king who has come to claim her. Cora is invited to take the "Grand Tour" of Europe, a journey intended to finish a person's education, to solidify an understanding of ancient culture and contemporary refinement.
As she travels from England to France with half-siblings she's never known, Cora encounters the blessings of the Kensington family name, as well as the curses. But when an unbidden love begins to form, she realizes the journey is only beginning. Faced with the challenge of accepting her father, new family, and the identity that comes with it, Cora also struggles to accept that she is also the daughter of the one true King-a Father who is the only One who can truly heal.As she travels from England to France with half-siblings she's never known, Cora encounters the blessings of the Kensington family name, as well as the curses. But when an unbidden love begins to form, she realizes the journey is only beginning.
About Ms Bergren:
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.
For more information on Lisa and to view other books written, please visit her website.
The Dame's Review :
With all her usual skills in writing a beautiful, spiritually inspired novel, Lisa Bergren once again captured my imagination with "Glamorous Illusions." From the first pages when her main character, Cora returns home to her farming family to find disaster to the final papes, I was caught up in her story. Bergren is a storyteller of the first ranks. She is a consummate writer of historical fiction.
What's the best of this book is the spirit of Cora who brings a feistiness along with her Christian values. Too often in spiritually contexted books we find syrupy sweet characters whom it's difficult to identify with. It's not so with Lisa Bergren's characters. While they are steeped in a quiet strength and are prayerful, there is a steel-backed determination and a sense of themselves that comes from hope and courage. Cora is able to be true to herself and her values despite the adversities and challenges she faces on her Grand Tour with siblings and family she's never met before, among other stumbling blocks she faces as the illegitimate daughter of a very wealthy man. Her example has a strong effect on her spoiled and ner-do-well half siblings!
Fast-paced, a story of romance and lavish life-style, this is also a journey of travel to exotic places, and of inner struggles. The European adventures and worldly sights are exciting and the people are beautiful in their dress and surroundings. This book has all the historical fiction features to be an absorbing novel for those seeking that genre. Far-reaching in its ability to please many readers, I highly recommend "Glamorous Illusions." I'm delighted to know it's a Grand Tour series!
4 stars for a grand book!
What is our "true" identity? Join the conversation at Lisa Tawn Begren's Author Chat Facebook Event Page. On the evening of 6/27 we'll gather to talk about our spiritual journey, share our stories and a few laughs. In the meantime, celebrate with Lisa by entering her Glamorous Illusions Giveaway! One "glamorous" winner will receive a "Glam Prize Pack":
A $350 Visa Cash Card (Oh ... think of what you could do: treat yourself to a mani/pedi, a fabulous new dress, dinner for two, or even a two-night escape in a lovely hotel - you're only limited by your imagination!)
Glamorous Illusions (by Lisa Tawn Begren)
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends 6/26/12. Winner will be announced at Lisa's "Glamorous Illusions" Facebook Party on 6/27{Fun begins at 5pm PDT / 8pm EDT}. Lisa will be hosting an evening of meaningful chat, fun trivia, laughter, and encouragement - bring your friends! She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes: gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club and a live chat with Lisa via video or phone.) So grab a few of your friends and your copy of Glamorous Illusions and join Lisa on the evening of June 27th for an evening of fun.
Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP TODAY and tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 27th!
{Blog Tour Schedule} Click on the link to activate it, please...
6/7 Alicia | Surrendering All of Me http://surrenderingallofme.blogspot.com/ Amanda | Short and Sweet Reviews http://oneminutebooks.blogspot.com Amber | Seasons of Humility http://www.seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com Amber & Crystal | Winterhavenbooks http://winterhavenbooks.blogspot.com Amy | A Nest in the Rocks www.anestintherocks.blogspot.com
6/8 Angie | Never a Dull Moment Http://neveradullmoment-angie.blogspot.com Anjanette | Raising the Barrs http://www.raisingthebarrs.com Athena | Our Crazy Life http://mama2six.blogspot.com Babs Book Bistro http://www.babsbookbistro.net/blog Beckie | By The Book http://rbclibrary.wordpress.com Lena | A Christian Writer's World http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
6/9 Becky | Christian Chick's Thoughts http://christianchicksthoughts.blogspot.com Billy | Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer http://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com Blossom | Noth Laurel Home & School http://www.nlfamily.net Briana | I Can't Decide http://briana-icantdecide.blogspot.com/ Britni | Book Nook Club http://booknookclub.blogspot.com Brooke | I Blog 4 Books http://iblog4books.blogspot.com
6/11 Caroline | Happy Four http://happyfour.blogspot.com Celena | The Traveling Sisterhood http://thetravellingsisterhood.blogspot.com Charity | Hosanna's Journey http://hosannasjourney.blogspot.com Christy | Critty Joy http://www.crittyjoy.com
6/12 Crystal | Cinnamon Hollow http://thecinnamonhollow.com Crystal | Just Another Book Lovin' Girl http://abooklovingirl.blogspot.com Dawn | A Passion For Pages http://www.dawncrandall.blogspot.com Deborah | The Bookish Dame http://abookishlibraria.blogspot.com Elizabeth | Libby's Book Blog http://libbysbookblog.blogspot.com Erin's Fiction Tidbits http://erinshepherd623.wordpress.com
6/13 Faith | Labor Not in Vain http://labornotinvain.blogspot.com Heidi | Buzz4Mommies http://buzz4mommies.blogspot.com/ Holly | 2 Kids and Tired Books http://2kidsandtiredbooks.blogspot.com Holly | Shelf Life Http://hollysrenee.blogspot.com Jaime | The Dancing Lawn http://jaguarhero.blogspot.com/ Jendi's Journal http://jendisjournal.com
6/14 Jennifer | Book Reviews from a Book Love http://Bookreviewsfromabooklover.blogspot.com Book Reviews By Jenny http://bookreviewsbyjenny.blogspot.com Jessica | A New Leaf http://jandjnewleaf.blogspot.com/ Splashes of Joy http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com Julie | More of Him http://www.moreofhim.net Julie | My Favorite Pastime http://myfavoritepastime.blogspot.com Karla | Ramblin' Roads http://ramblinroads.blogspot.com
6/15 Karyn | Teach Beside Me Http://teachbesideme.blogspot.com Katie | Legacy of a Writer http://katie-mccurdy.blogspot.com Kaycee | Crafty Zoo with Monkeys http://craftyzoowithmonkeys.blogspot.com Kelli | The Zen of Motherhood http://www.thezenofmotherhood.blogspot.com Kemi | Homemaking Organized http://www.homemakingorganized.com/blog Kianna's Korner http://kiannaskorner.blogspot.com Vera | Luxury Reading http://www.luxuryreading.com
6/16 Kim | Window To My World http://berlysue.blogspot.com/ Kimberly | A Novel Affair http://www.a-novel-affair.com/ Laura | Day by Day in Our World http://daybydayinourworld.com Lauri | Knits, Reads and Reviews http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com Leticia | My Daily Trek http://leticiasworld.blogspot.com Linda's Lunacy http://lindaslunacy.com
6/18 Mocha with Linda http://mochawithlinda.blogspot.com Linda | One Desert Rose http://www.onedesertrose.wordpress.com Lindsay | Live To Read ~Krystal http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/ Lisa | A Casual Reader's Blog http://ellsey.blogspot.com Lori | Morning Glories and Moonflowers http://www.perfectisboring.blogspot.com Lydia | Squid Mom http://squidmom.com/
6/19 Margaret | Creative Madness Mama http://creativemadnessmama.com Mary's Cup of Tea http://www.mmbearcupoftea.com Maureen's Musings http://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/ Megan | The Joys of Life http://www.raunandmegan.blogspot.com Melissa | Bibliophile's Retreat http://www.bibliophilesretreat.com
6/20 Mel's World with Melissa Mashburn http://www.MelissaMashburn.com Michele | My Blessings From Above http://koreamom.blogspot.com Michelle | Life in Review http://lifeinreviewblog.com/ Mindy | A Room Without Books is Empty http://detweilermom.blogspot.com Pamela | Daysong Reflections http://daysongreflections.com
6/21 Pamela | The Pondering Princess http://www.livelaughlovewiththeponderingprincess.com/ Patricia | (Live and) Dream a Little Dream http://liveanddreamalittledream.blogspot.com/ Patty | Broken Teepee http://brokenteepee.com Renee | Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot http://steelergirl83.blogspot.com Rissi | Scribbles, Scripts and Such http://scribblesscriptsandsuch.blogspot.com
6/22 Ronie | Rapid Fire Fiction http://roniekendig.com/blog Ruth | Booktalk & More http://booktalkandmore.blogspot.com Ruth | My Devotional Thoughts http://www.mydevotionalthoughts.com Ruth | This That and the Other Thing http://rannthisthat.blogspot.com Sophie | The Opening Lines http://theopeninglines.blogspot.com Stephanie | A Cooking Bookworm http://www.acookingbookworm.com
6/25 Tara | Ramblings of the Blonde Mother Bear http://theblondemotherbear.com Theresa | Just One More Paragraph http://tweezlereads.blogspot.com Tina's Book Reviews http://tinasbookreviews.com Vic's Media Room http://vicsmediaroom.wordpress.com
6/26 Whitney | Rambles of a SHAM http://ramblesahm.blogspot.com Suzanne | Clicking Her Heels http://www.clickingherheels.blogspot.com Tammi | Our Homeschooling Pilgrimage http://ourhomeschoolingpilgrimage.blogspot.com Carly | Carlybird's Home http://www.carlybirdshome.blogspot.com
6/27 Ashley Book Labyrinth http://booklabyrinth.blogspot.com Tammy is Blessed http://tammyisblessed.com Lydia | The Overweight Bookshelf http://overweight-bookshelf.blogspot.com Chelsey | Charming Chelsey's http://dwellinpossibilitybooks.blogspot.com Pam | Southern Gal Loves to Read http://southerngallovestoread.blogspot.com Michelle | Healing Hearts Book Review Blog http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com
Thanks for stopping by! I know you're busy today... Good luck on this giveaway! If you win, stop by and let us know!
