Review: Shayla Witherwood, A Half-Faerie Tale by Tamra Torero

Title:		Shayla Witherwood, A Half-Faerie Tale
Author:		Tamra Torero
Publisher:		Cedar Fort
Pub. Date:		5/8/2012
ISBN:		1599559633 (ISBN13: 9781599559636)
Pages:		303

Shayla Witherwood has never been like other girls. Being a half-faerie will do that to you. But with magical powers like invisibility, shape-shifting, and healing kisses, high school is bound to be anything but boring. Throw in an ancient prophecy that is sure to get someone killed and a few unpredictable enchantments, and you have one of the most anticipated fairy tales of the season.

(Summary and cover via Goodreads)
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Review:

Shayla has had an interesting life so far. She got the chance to travel the country with her grandparents while she did homeschool. After her grandfather passes away though, Shayla's grandmother decides it's time to settle down. Settling into a new public school would be hard enough, but Shayla also has to contend with the fact that she is, in fact, a faerie. Well, half a faerie. Not only does she have to learn to work her way through the social structure of school, but she also has to learn how to deal with her faerie magic. This all may be harder said then done.

This is a very cute book. I really felt for Shayla and all the changes going on in her life. The teenage years are hard enough without having to worry about how to hide your pointed ears from the rest of the school. Luckily Shayla makes some good friends along the way, and she even manages to catch the eye of a handsome young man. I found Shayla's problems to be, for the most part, very relatable. We may not all be faeries, but I think we've all wanted to disappear for a bit. I just never realized the problems disappearing could make too.

I kind of saw where the plot was going, but I still had great fun reading it. Although the book still managed to give me a surprise or two in there too, so that was good. This is just an easy read that will let you escape for a bit into a world that may seem very familiar. Young girls will enjoy the book too, and they will probably see a lot of themselves in Shayla.

The Tale of Mally Biddle Blog Tour

 

Tour Schedule

When Mally Biddle agreed to spy upon the King of Lenzar and his overbearing knights she knew she was heading into danger. She didn't know she'd find a family unlike any other. Posing as a servant in Bosc Castle, Mally serves tea and tends fires for the most dangerous men in the kingdom. Her goal is to learn the truth of what happened sixteen years ago, when the infant princess met her death ... a death that is surrounded by more questions than answers. Along her search for the truth, Mally meets the energized Lita Stump, the strict and matriarchal Meriyal Boyd, and the opinionated Archibald Diggleby. Then of course there are the knights: Leon Gibbs who is slicker than a greased hog, Adrian Bayard, hot tempered and violent, and the worst of the lot: Sir Illius Molick, Captain of the Knights. And then there is Maud, a mysterious woman who just might know everything...

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Amazon Kindle

Author Melissa LeGette

Melissa LeGette lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright. The Tale of Mally Biddle is her second novel.

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Review:

Sixteen years have passed since the king and queen of Bosc passed away. Their young baby daughter is also presumed dead, although there are rumors that she may have in fact lived. The knights of the kingdom are ruling the place with an iron fist, and life is pretty miserable. A rebellion group has formed though, and they are determined to discover whether the young princess truly did live. Along the way a member of the rebellion recruits a young lady named Mally Biddle to help the group spy in the castle. Mally discovers this may not be as easy as she had thought, and there are also plenty of secrets to go around. She will have to keep her wits about her if she is going to get out of this unscathed.

I found this story to be a bit difficult to get into because there were big times jumps in the beginning and not a lot of indication that the time had jumped. I found myself having to re-read what I had just read to figure out what was going on. Once the story settled down though, things improved greatly. Mally is a sweet girl who really just wants to help other people. Even in the midst of an imperfect plan, Mally wants to please those that brought her into this and work to help the entire kingdom really. The host of characters Mally meets are entertaining, and they help to make for a fun story.

Once I got past the skippy beginning, I enjoyed this book overall. The story is fun, and you can't help but like Mally and want the best for her. The story reads rather quickly. It moves along at a fairly brisk pace, so you aren't left hanging for long. I certainly saw where this story was going very early on, but I still enjoyed the  story itself. So if you enjoy light fantasy with a little mystery, check this book out.

  

Book provided for review.

  Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/5/13

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Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen!

Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!

His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?

Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?

 

Purchase

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

 

 

Author Sally Smith O'Rourke

 Sally Smith O’Rourke is a surgical scrub nurse at the City of Hope national cancer research hospital in Duarte, California and resides in the near-by Victorian village of Monrovia. With her late husband, author Michael O’Rourke (aka F.M. O’Rourke) Smith O’Rourke owned and operated a medical advertising company where she used her diverse talents to produce and co-write teaching films and videos. Working not only with major medical and surgical manufacturing companies but also network television. These endeavors ultimately led to a collaboration on two feature films (direct to video) and three published novels. The wife and husband writing team of Sally Smith and Michael O’Rourke, being long-time fans of Jane Austen, wrote The Man Who Loved Jane Austen released by Kensington Books in 2006. Kensington followed that very successful effort with The Maidenstone Lighthouse in 2007 and Christmas at Sea Pines Cottage in 2009, both also collaborative projects by Smith and O’Rourke. Published after her partner and spouse’s untimely death in 2001, the publisher chose not to use the names Michael O’Rourke and Sally Smith (as the manuscripts were presented), releasing all three books under Sally Smith O’Rourke. Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen is Sally Smith O’Rourke’s first solo novel.

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Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/6/13

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No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop!

I have some great readers, and I love to give away things to them. This time I am showing my thanks by giving you an easy entry! All you have to do is click and you'll be entered. It's my way of saying thanks for checking out all my rambling reviews. 

I'm offering up my usual of:

a $10 Amazon.com gift code or $10 in books from Book Depository!

Please check to ensure that Book Depository delivers to your country.

How do you enter?

Just press enter on the Rafflecopter form.

That's all!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check out all the blogs on the hop. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

Review: Get Back Up by Sheryl Giesbrecht

Title:		Get Back Up
Author:		Sheryl Giesbrecht
Publisher:		Wheatmark
Pub. Date:		3/5/2013
ISBN:		160494854X (ISBN13: 9781604948547)
Pages:		176

Life is not always easy or fair for the follower of Christ. Yet, Sheryl Giesbrecht has learned, from the depths of past pain, it is possible to be raised up. It is possible to heal. Most importantly, it is possible to exchange hurt for hope. In her inspirational new book, Get Back Up: Trusting God When Life Knocks You Down, Sheryl tells her own story. She uses scripture to tell the stories of so many other Biblical figures who stumbled before they could be helped up. Sheryl's message is one of hope. Trusting God in the midst of a life turned upside down is essential to survival. Without Him, life would not be worth living. Climbing out of the pits of despair would be impossible. Yes, with God to lean on, finding hope is possible. Healing is possible. God is capable of taking our losses and mistakes and turning them into something remarkably beautiful. Won't you let Him?

(Summary via Goodreads)
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Review:

Life has a way of knocking you down. In this book, author Sheryl Giesbrecht goes through parts of her life where she was knocked down. Her life has been a series of ups and downs, but she has managed to find strength in God's teachings when she needed it most. She is now sharing these ideas with people in a short book that will help people become focused on the good parts of their lives instead of the bad.

This book is written in bite-sized pieces that even the busiest of people can handle. Sheryl shares so many of her life experiences, so you know she understands this topic. Her life has indeed knocked her down several times, but she has managed to find the ability to keep moving on. I like that she shared not only her experiences but also those of people she has helped through her public speaking. This helped to further show how these principles can be put into action.

Each chapter starts with the story of someone who survives a free-fall event, so if you have a fear of flying I'd skip those parts. I know they're meant to be inspiring, but it is a little creepy. The rest of the chapter though contains good advice with scripture. There are study questions at the end of each chapter too, and this lets you really put things into practice. This is a super quick read, but it will leave you with ideas on how to get back up and move on with your life through all hard times.

Book provided for review.

The Enemy Book Blast

 

Welcome to the book blast for The Enemy!

A red-hot political thriller from a blue state author. Buried among the thousands of financial transactions he reviews each day, analyst Randy Duncan finds a secret web of laundered money financing the assassination of the President, which, in turn, will lead the country into war. Can Randy and his law-student daughter Clare follow the money and stop the enemy in time? In a political thriller worthy of Dan Brown, Richard Condon, and Allen Drury, award-winning novelist Larry Bograd charts a political thriller sure to keep you reading and leave you sleepless wondering and worried about who really controls America.

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Goodreads

 Author Larry Bograd

Larry Bograd has published more than two dozen books, primary for children and young adults--and now his first eBook original, "The Enemy." He is also a playwright, screenwriter, and filmmaker. He is president of Roundtable Media Group, which produces documentary films, Web shows, and events.  

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Book Blast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/31/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participat author/publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $100 US.   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pastors' Wives Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for Pastors' Wives by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen!

What's it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors' Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen's debut novel Pastors' Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith---in God, in her marriage, and in herself. Candace is Greenleaf's "First Lady," a force of nature who'll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace's son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past. All their roads collide in one chaotic event that exposes their true selves. Inspired by Cullen's reporting as a staff writer for Time magazine, Pastors' Wivesis a dramatic portrayal of the private lives of pastors' wives, caught between the demands of faith, marriage, duty, and love.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/klK8c

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen was a longtime staff writer for TIME magazine. She now develops TV pilots for production companies and recently sold her first pilot for "The Ordained" to CBS. Born in Japan, Cullen lives in New Jersey with family.

Find out more about Lisa at http://lisacullen.com. 

Review:

Ruthie is in for a big surprise one day when her husband feels he's been "called" to join the ministry. She always knew he was religious, and she decides to throw caution to the wind and follow him from New York to Georgia. They find themselves in a whole new world of a mega church led by the famous couple Aaron and Candace Green. Candace, the "First Lady" of Greenleaf , is fiercely protective of her family and her church. She oversees everything and knows all. Her daughter-in-law Ginger is struggling to fit in while dealing with her past. All three ladies will finds themselves at crossroads, and they will all have to discover how to live their lives beyond just being pastors' wives.

Oh wow, there was a lot to take in when reading this book. I loved Ruthie from the start. I loved that she loved her husband so much she was willing to take a chance and follow him to make a life together. Her ability to ask hard questions was really important both to her character and the story. Candace was someone I'm not sure I liked, but boy did I respect her. I actually really loved her practical approach to everything. This is a woman who knows how to take charge and get things done. She also has great faith though, and this permeates through all she does. Ginger took me longer to like. I just wanted her to be a bit more assertive in her life, but I could also understand why she did what she did to some extent.

Overall, I felt this book took an amazing approach to the story. I know next to nothing about those mega churches, and this was a very interesting look into that world. It pointed out flaws and strengths of this system. I appreciated the open approach. I could easily see the appeal of someone like Aaron Green. Incredibly open-minded and charismatic, he still managed to be humble in his life. This book shows the authors ability to take a critical yet loving look at an amazing world. The book completely drew me in and entertained while still making me think. That's a lot for one book, but this book managed to accomplish all that. I highly recommend it!

Book provided for review.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen is celebrating the release of her debut novel, Pastors' Wives, with an iPad Mini Giveaway and connecting with readers on Facebook on May 23rd!

One winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 22nd. Winner will be announced at the "Pastors' Wives" Author Chat Party on May 23rd. Connect with Lisa for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Lisa will also be giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Pastors' Wives and join Lisa on the evening of May 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

It Happened at the Fair Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for It Happened at the Fair by Deeanne Gist!

A transporting historical novel about a promising young inventor, his struggle with loss, and the attractive teacher who changes his life, all set against the razzle-dazzle of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Gambling everything, including the family farm, Cullen McNamara travels to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair with his most recent invention. But the noise in the Fair's Machinery Palace makes it impossible to communicate with potential buyers. In an act of desperation, he hires Della Wentworth, a teacher of the deaf, to tutor him in the art of lip-reading.

The young teacher is reluctant to participate, and Cullen has trouble keeping his mind on his lessons while intently watching her lips. Like the newly invented Ferris Wheel, he is caught in a whirl between his girl back home, his dreams as an inventor, and his unexpected attraction to his new tutor. Can he keep his feet on the ground, or will he be carried away?

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/komrd

Deeanne Gist---known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee---has rocketed up bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very fun, very original historicals. She has received numerous RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, and rave reviews. Deeanne has a background in education and journalism and a degree from Texas A&M. She has written for People, Parents, and Parenting. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband and has four grown children. She has a very active online community on her website atIWantHerBook.com and at Facebook.com/DeesFriends. 

Review:

Cullen McNamara has been presented with an exciting opportunity, one that he's not sure he wants to take. After his mother died tragically in a fire, Cullen invented an automatic sprinkler system that he thinks can save many lives. His dad submitted it to the World's Fair, and they accepted. Now Cullen has been committed to 6 months of exhibiting and trying to sell his creation. The Exhibition Hall though turns out to be extremely noisy, and this noise compounds the hearing loss that Cullen is developing. At someone's suggestion, Cullen goes to some young ladies at the Fair teaching lip reading to deaf children. There he enlists the help of Della, who promises to teach him to lip read if he acts as her tour to the Fair. Together they embark on an amazing adventure.

This book had some really fascinating things in it. For one, it's clear the author did tons of research, and she has a very thorough listing of what was accurate and where she took liberties. This is definitely represented in the book. You get a real feel for what it was like at the World's Fair. It must have been absolutely amazing. I felt like I was there with Cullen and Della exploring the various wonders of the Fair. I also thought that the subject of how deaf people were treated (and even just people who were losing their hearing) pretty fascinating. In particular I was intrigued by the debate of lip reading verses signing. This idea of mainstreaming vs. individualized education is still something that is debated in the special needs community, so this book helped to show that this is something that has been discussed for a long time. Hopefully we are meeting the needs of that community much better now though.

The characters were great, and I really wanted to cheer them on their way. I liked the slow way the relationship grew and the mutual respect shown by Cullen and Della. I'm not sure there is a better combination than romance and history, and this book had that all wrapped up in one fantastic story. It was a well thought-out and planned book, and that made it a joy to read. 

Book provided for review.

Deeanne Gist is celebrating the release of It Happened at the Fair with an iPad Mini Giveaway and a Live Author Chat Webcast event {5/22}!

  One "fair" winner will receive:

• An iPad Mini
• A $25 iTunes gift card

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 21st. Winner will be announced at the "It Happened at the Fair" Live Webcast Event on May 22nd. Connect with Deeanne for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Deeanne will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of It Happened at the Fair and join Deeanne and friends on the evening of May 22nd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 22nd!

Family Ever After Blog Tour

 

Blog Tour Schedule

Welcome to the blog tour Family Ever After by Michelle Packard!

Women frustrated with their marriage and their family will find the help they need to achieve greater happiness and success in their family in the new book, Family Ever After: Simple Ways to Achieve Extraordinary Happiness with Your Ordinary Family by stay-at-home mom, blogger, and ordinary family leader Michelle H. Packard. Family Ever After uses the fairytale concept that once you find your prince charming life is happily ever after. Michelle H. Packard knows this concept, while romantic, is not realistic, and she provides a practical, poignant, funny, and moving exploration of the simple ways you can help find greater happiness and satisfaction in your marriage and family. Packard says, “While the idea of happy ever after is distorted, you can, in fact, achieve a Family Ever After.” Family Ever After brings time-tested and well-researched principles to family life to help you learn specific ways to improve your marriage and your family, whether that family is ordinary or extraordinary. Using real-world examples of best practices and helping woman readjust their media-driven perception of what happily ever after means, Family Ever After gives readers a pragmatic, helpful, and entertaining exploration of:

• How happiness in marriage and family life requires a more educated, real-world perspective
• How proper prioritization and defining what’s important in marriage and family is key to success;
• Why conflict is part of an ordinary family experience and how to peacefully resolve it;
• How to cultivate a sense of humor;
• How to develop a thoughtful and sincere habit of complimenting each member of your family;
• How to improve family relationships with extended family members; and
• Learning how to love a family member in the way they understand and accept that love

More than another how-to-have-a-perfect-family book, Family Ever After helps you gain the understanding and the practical skills of what makes ordinary families successful. Family Ever After is an essential and beautiful resource for all women who want to put more happiness in theirs and their family’s life.  

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Author Michelle Packard

 Michelle Packard is a mother to her four very human and totally fabulous kids. Her oldest, Ella is always in charge and leads the pack with creativity and curiosity, Daniel follows with loyalty and loves tenderly, Julia is a doll and always buzzing over something beautiful, and Jackson could hunt down the last sharpie on earth to create art on your bathroom wall. She has been married ten years and is quite taken with her guy. Date night is her favorite and she dreams of weekend getaways with her man. She loves creating beauty through floral design, but apparently has no gift with living flowers (They end of upside down and pressed in books). She finds parties alluring. They beckon her to invite people over, spend way too much time preparing food for murder mystery dinners, and totally enjoy friends and family. Michelle holds a bachelors degree in Home and Family Science from Brigham Young University. She has spent a great deal of time working with children and young adults and finds her greatest joy is happy families.

Blog

Review:

Marriage and family can be difficult, and most people can agree on that. It rarely turns out to be the fairy tale many of us imagine it to be. This book offers helpful and practical ways to make your home life peaceful and generally happy. Life can more closely resemble those things we most desire.

I thought this was a really good book. The advice is well thought out and very practical for almost everyone. Sometimes I would find myself wondering why I wasn't doing some of these things already. They just made so much sense. Each chapter begins with an active way to improve things, and then the chapter goes on to explain what this means and how to go about it. There are a lot of real-life examples, and these really help to make you see how these things can apply to many different lives and circumstances.

Much of the advice comes down to prioritizing the things you want in live and learning to truly love your family. It sounds fairly simple when written like this, but I think we all know that it is much more complex. I thought the book made a brilliant point in that any kind of life can be difficult. If we want something to be different, we should remember that in fact life wouldn't be any easier. There will always be things we have to work through, so we really need to learn to love our life as it is while recognizing that there are always things to improve and work on. I was inspired by this book to really focus on the big picture of my family and not get so hung up on the details. This is a book that will help people to refocus on the important parts of their family and ultimately have a much better life.

Book provided for review.

Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/19/13

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Alexander Drake Blog Tour

Tour Schedule

Welcome to the blog tour for the Alexander Drake series by Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows!

 

Alexander Drake's Extraordinary Pursuit

Meet Alexander Drake, a curious young man living in a drab, oversized mansion with his secretive father. He spent his days playing alone. In the back of his mind he wondered what happened to his mother, and why his father was tight-lipped about the past; but secrets have a way of getting out. It all started with a stay at his grandmother’s cottage. Alexander found strange clues tucked away in his father’s old bedroom. With a mysterious key and several maps in his pack he set off on an innocent search for answers about his family. When he discovered a secret passageway the search took a dramatic turn. He suddenly worried about what was searching for him. Alexander was being hunted by a sorcerer from his father’s past. Answers lead to more questions and the journey of his life. Join Alexander for a thrilling adventure in Azra’s Pith, a place of beauty and magic… but beware—something evil lurks in the shadows.  

Amazon

   

The Return of General Drake

When Alexander arrived in Verhonia, something went terribly wrong. A dark spell delivered from the mountains of Acadia sent him on a dangerous journey in the middle of the night. As he marched into the mountains, the great city of Verhonia was ambushed and burned to the ground by Roman's army of vicious giant murks. With the safety of the realm in jeopardy, General John William Drake was asked to come back to Azra's Pith. He swore he would never return. But after discovering his son was under a spell and in the grips of a dark sorcerer, he had no choice. Things take a wild turn in the mountains, with runaways, a hungry wolf and a mysterious, young empyrean wizard thrown into the adventure. A tight race against time and evil is in full swing. With faith and a little magic, they just might come out on top.  

Publisher

   

Author Elizabeth Parkinson-Bellows

Being the frizzy-haired tomboy with buck teeth gave me a slight case of shyness as a kid. A colorful imagination meant escape and adventure at the drop of a hat. Over the years I learned that the insecurities I carried around were a waste of time. I still prefer a football game to a manicure any day of the week. That indispensable imagination has found its way into my writing providing a sense of joy and a true purpose.  

Website * Twitter * Facebook

Review for Alexander Drake's Extraordinary Pursuit:

Alexander Drake has an interesting life to say the least. He lives in a giant house with a father who's never around. He spends a lot of time with his grandparents as his mother passed away. All that's about to change. While staying in his Dad's old room he finds some strange things that soon lead him into an even stranger world. Talking frogs and dirt pips are the least of his worries. Something is out to get him, something bad. Alexander is determined to make it to Verhonia and get some answers though. He just has to live long enough to do it.

Alexander Drake was a fun kid. You really felt bad for him as he longed to be closer to his father, but he never got it. Alexander certainly has a taste for adventure though. It's no surprise that Alexander has close ties to this new world he's found, much closer than he could have ever imagined. I liked Ferdinand and felt he was a great sidekick. He's someone I'd like to have around if I was wandering in a strange new world. 

I did feel a little dropped into the story, and it seemed a bit skippy at first. It all smoothed out though, and this made it much more enjoyable for me. The dirt pips were a fantastic set of creatures too, and I wanted to learn more about them. Overall this is a book that i think a lot of kids and adults can enjoy. It's a fast read, and it's written in a way that I think will keep kids interested and ready to read more. I know I certainly am!

Book provided for review.

Review for The Return of General Drake:

Alexander Drake is back, but he's in a bit of a pickle. Imperius is still determined to capture Alexander, and he uses a spell to draw Alexander away from his home. Meanwhile, Imperius sends his servant Roman to take over Verhonia. With things falling apart around him, Alexander's grandfather calls for Alexander's father to come help. Alexander's father was a great general at one time, but he's hesitant to return to that life. Alexander and his father must both come to terms with what must be done if they are to survive.

This story starts immediately with the action, and it doesn't slow down until the end. I enjoyed the pace of the book. It managed to be fast without being too frenzied. Alexander's new friends were pretty awesome! I wanted to be running around with them. I was especially interested in Sarah and her abilities. She had a lot of interesting things going on, and I wanted to know more.

The storyline of Alexander's father was also intriguing and a bit sad. You can see he is really struggling to find a life that suits him and that he can live on his terms. This book has a fairly solid ending, but it still leaves some mysteries to be solved. Once again, it's a quick read that makes it a great choice for young readers. There is action and adventure and magic, and it all makes for a super fun read.

Book provided for review.

   

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 5/15/13

  a Rafflecopter giveaway  

The Tale of Mally Biddle Book Blast

Welcome to the book blast for The Tale of Mally Biddle by M. L. LeGette!

When Mally Biddle agreed to spy upon the King of Lenzar and his overbearing knights she knew she was heading into danger. She didn't know she'd find a family unlike any other. Posing as a servant in Bosc Castle, Mally serves tea and tends fires for the most dangerous men in the kingdom. Her goal is to learn the truth of what happened sixteen years ago, when the infant princess met her death ... a death that is surrounded by more questions than answers. Along her search for the truth, Mally meets the energized Lita Stump, the strict and matriarchal Meriyal Boyd, and the opinionated Archibald Diggleby. Then of course there are the knights: Leon Gibbs who is slicker than a greased hog, Adrian Bayard, hot tempered and violent, and the worst of the lot: Sir Illius Molick, Captain of the Knights. And then there is Maud, a mysterious woman who just might know everything...

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Amazon Kindle

Author Melissa LeGette Melissa LeGette lives in Georgia where she helps run a family farm, so her nails are a fright. The Tale of Mally Biddle is her second novel.

Blog * Facebook

Pinterest * Twitter

 

Tour Schedule

Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 6/2/13

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop

Welcome to another Clear Your Shelf Giveaway Hop! This is my chance to get some of my ARC's and other things that I'm not using out to you (so I can have room for more!). I have 3 things this giveaway, and I'll have a separate Rafflecopter for each thing, so be sure to keep scrolling to see everything.

The Heiress of Winterwood Blog Tour

Welcome to the blog tour for The Heiress of Winterwood by Sarah E. Ladd!

Darbury, England, 1814

Amelia Barrett gave her word. Keeping it could cost her everything.

Amelia Barrett, heiress to an estate nestled in the English moors, defies family expectations and promises to raise her dying friend's baby. She'll risk everything to keep her word-even to the point of proposing to the child's father-a sea captain she's never met.

When the child vanishes with little more than an ominous ransom note hinting at her whereabouts, Amelia and Graham are driven to test the boundaries of their love for this little one.

Amelia's detailed plans would normally see her through any trial, but now, desperate and shaken, she's forced to examine her soul and face her one weakness: pride.

Graham's strength and self-control have served him well and earned him much respect, but chasing perfection has kept him a prisoner of his own discipline. And away from the family he has sworn to love and protect.

Both must learn to have faith and relinquish control so they can embrace the future ahead of them. 

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Meet Sarah: 

Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. Heiress of Winterwood was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Find out more about Sarah at http://www.sarahladd.com.

Review:

Amelia Barrett is in a bit of a predicament. In order to keep her large inheritance, she must marry. However, she has sworn to watch the baby daughter of her dear friend who died soon after childbirth. Amelia is engaged, but her intended refuses to even think about keeping the young baby. So Amelia comes up with a new plan, one that will free her from her current entanglements and allow her to keep the child- marry the child's father, Captain Graham Sterling. Captain Sterling isn't too fond of this plan, but he keep an open mind. He too soon sees the advantages of this plan, so they go forward with immediate marriage plans. Everything changes when the baby girl is kidnapped though, and Amelia and Captain Sterling learn that life can throw you curve balls in interesting ways.

I love historical novels, so I looked forward to reading this. I thought the pacing of the book was fantastic. There wasn't really time in the story for a lot of mooning about by the main characters, and that made me exceptionally happy. I also loved that the basic premise of the story allowed for a strong female characters within the confines of the time period. No matter how strong a female was, there was only so much she could do on her own. Amelia was dependent on finding someone to marry to keep her place as the heiress of her family estate. Seeing as her choice of marriage partner was the only thing she could control some, it was natural that she rebelled against what her family sought for her. While she was looking for love, more than anything she was looking for a situation she could live with on her terms. I found this to be realistic and yet still make for an enjoyable romance.

There were a few loose ends left hanging, and I'm very intrigued by some of those. I think mostly I just really liked seeing Amelia value her promise to a dying friend and a young child's life more than anything. I really believed that she would give up everything for them. This book has a bit of peril too. Just enough to keep it interesting, but not enough to make you worry too much. One thing I will say is because moved fairly quickly, I didn't feel like I got to know the Captain as much as I would have liked. I know there was background given, but I just wanted a smidge more. I guess there's always room for that in the next book.

Book provided for review.