The True Book Addict

{Book Tour} Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham--Review, Guest Post and {Give@way}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:58:00 +0000

Genevieve Graham--Guest Post
The author sits with trepidation, sets her lukewarm coffee on the desk beside her, and stares at the screen. The task before her seems monumental. Unthinkable. And yet she knows it is up to her. She has started this thing, she has moved mountains to get to this point, but now it is up to her to complete the final pages.

Her fingers hover, unsure. They tap a few words, stop, then try again. Daunted, the author reaches for her coffee and leans back in her swivel chair, determined to force the muses to the front of her mind. “Speak to me. Tell me what to say,” she pleads, but the air in her mind is silent. No one can help her this time. It is a task she must complete alone.

A guest blog. Not necessarily such a baffling assignment, but the road has been long. She’s written nearly fifty guest blogs this month alone and had thought she was done. She’d settled back into her day to day work: writing, editing, teaching piano … When she checked her calendar her heart skipped, and not in a pleasant way. Had she written that blog? She couldn’t recall. A frantic search through her files revealed nothing. She sucked in her pride and emailed the blogger. “Do I owe you a blog?” she typed. The blogger wrote back something along the lines of, “That would be great!” and she knew. It had to be done.

Her mind kept coming up blank. Should she discuss Historical Romance versus Historical Fiction? No. Though it’s a topic for which she has a passion, she’d written that too many times. Perhaps touch on historical truths uncovered during research? No. That had also been done. Searching the reviewer’s blog for ideas on earlier author postings offered no inspiration. She had tried to put something together the night before, but had given up, drawn instead to the warmth and comfort of her extremely patient husband.

Inspiration finally came. At least she hoped it had. Not a defining strike, as happened with many of her plot lines, but a creeping suggestion that held promise and also made her feel good. Now … to make it something enjoyable for others …

About five years ago, she had started writing. Before then she had been completely immersed in lush, epic historical adventures, having read the genius works of Sara Donati, Jennifer Roberson, Penelope Williamson, Wilbur Smith, and others. Her ultimate inspiration had been the incredible work of Diana Gabaldon, who would forever occupy the role of “idol” in her heart. Through their books the author had been swept up in the genre, taken prisoner, prodded at swordpoint until at last she relented and attempted her own fledgling novel.

At first she feared her work might too closely resemble the writing of one of her favourite authors, so she stopped and backtracked, giving her mind room to colour the phrases and characters with her own interpretations. It became soothing, after a while, feeling the words and ideas flow. Therapeutic, actually. After eight months of writing and researching, her first book emerged at a whopping 150,000 words, but over the next three years she learned about editing, about making a book into something people will love. When she was finally signed by a well-respected literary agent, “Under the Same Sky” contained less than 90,000 words, but every one of them had value.

The first publisher to see it, Penguin, purchased not only her first novel, but requested a second, which is how “Sound of the Heart” came to be. Practically giddy with excitement, she plunged back into the process, injecting her own “voice”, her own sense of prose, filling the pages with stories no one had ever written before. She was thrilled when reviews started coming out, because—truth be known—she had been terrified no one would want to read her writing. News spread about this new author, her unique voice, and the unexpected books which captured readers’ hearts. Reviewers started calling her a “must-read” author.

The author was blown away by the reaction. She was writing her own stories, saying things the way she saw them. She had initially been influenced by other authors, but no longer relied on their guidance. She was flying on her own and wanted to whoop with joy when yet another person asked her to sign their book.

Ironically, then, it was three separate compliments which almost moved her to happy tears. She had been working so hard to stand on her own, to create something from her own mind, and the three compliments which meant the most were all based on the writing of another author: her idol, her inspiration for writing in the first place. The first two were from well-respected book reviewers, who compared the author’s hero in her second novel, Dougal MacDonnell, to Jamie Fraser, the hero in Diana Gabaldon’s incredible “Outlander” series. Both suggested Dougal was in the running for their #1 Favourite Scottish Hero position. The author was amazed, though in her own heart she too had fallen in love with Dougal long before. She couldn’t blame the reviewers for doing the same.

It was at one book signing where she received what she felt was her ultimate compliment. The woman standing in front of her at the signing had said she had been waiting patiently for the second book after having completed “Under the Same Sky”. She asked the author if she’d mind being compared to another author, because she could only think of one other author who had so completely swallowed her up in a story.

“Of course not,” the author replied, curious. She was always looking for new authors to read—had already been compared by Joanna Bourne to the grand master, John Jakes, whose books she had yet to read—and was just about to write down the name when the woman spoke again.

“I read a lot,” she said. “But the only other author who had this effect on me was a woman named Diana Gabaldon. Have you heard of her? Your writing’s not exactly the same, of course, because your words are different, but you pulled me in the same way.”

It would have been unseemly for the author to burst into tears at this point, in the middle of a bookstore, surrounded by potential readers. But in her heart she rejoiced. Her stories had been put in the same circle as those of her idol. She had been quietly placed on the same shelf as that great author, side by side on the “G” shelf.

But she had retained her own voice, her own individual style of writing. She doubted there could be any finer compliment than that.

My thoughts on Sound of the Heart:

I really enjoyed this book. I have a lot of interest in Scottish history because of William Wallace and Rob Roy so any chance I get to read a book with Scottish characters and set in Scotland is wonderful. Set in 18th century Scotland, with settings in England and the American colonies as well, Sound of the Heart is an exciting historical tale with two extraordinary characters, Dougal and Glenna. I'm not usually big on romance in novels, but the relationship between the two main characters is so sweet and genuine, I couldn't help but enjoy reading about their times together. Graham has taken one of the difficult periods in Scottish history, the time of the Jacobite rebellion, and turned it into a story of personal triumph and love. She has written the dialogue in Scottish brogue, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I likened myself to a Scottish lassie as I experienced the Scottish intonations in my head.

I highly recommend Sound of the Heart to anyone who enjoys Scottish history with a bit of romance added to the mix. Now I must check out Graham's first novel, Under the Same Sky. She is a talent I will not soon forget.

About the book:

From Genevieve Graham, author of "Under the Same Sky", comes a sweeping romantic historical novel of one man’s strange gift and dangerous battles...

Dougal MacDonnell, a fierce warrior from the Highlands of Scotland, is able to hear the thoughts of other men and dream how the future will unfold.

Devastated by the loss of his family during the Battle of Culloden in 1746, he fosters a deep hatred for the English. But when Glenna, the love of his life and a Scottish outlaw, is captured and shipped overseas, Dougal is forced to join an English army made of vanquished Scots. Now fighting on the side of his sworn enemies, he embarks on a journey that will take him across the seas to the colonies.

There he will risk everything for the chance to find his true love.

About the author:

Genevieve Graham graduated from the University of Toronto in 1986 with a Bachelor of Music in Performance (playing the oboe). While on a ski vacation in Alberta, she met her future husband in a chairlift lineup and subsequently moved to Calgary to be with him. They have recently settled in a small, peaceful town in Nova Scotia with their two beautiful daughters. Writing became an essential part of Genevieve’s life a few years ago, when she began to write her debut novel, Under the Same Sky. The companion novel, Sound of the Heart, will be in stores May 1, 2012.

CONNECT ONLINE

Website | Facebook | Goodreads

Watch the book trailer HERE.

GIVEAWAY (from Genevieve)

Grand Prize on the book tour is ...

A signed copy of Sound of the Heart PLUS a four cd set of relaxation cds created by my incredibly talented musical friends, Cori Ashley and Ed Franks. I'll give you a little insight into why I chose these cds as my prize - I'm NOT saying Sound of the Heart is about relaxing … considering the wild adventures Dougal's in for, I doubt he was too relaxed! But Dougal has a gift, similar to his brother's gift. He can relax his mind and hear the thoughts of other men, but he can also sink into his thoughts and hear the sounds and voices of his loved ones as if they were right there with him. These cds were created to help you escape the stress and craziness of your days. Grab a cup of tea or glass of wine (your preference!), light a candle, maybe slip in to a bubblebath, and listen to the sound of your heart.

Enter in the Rafflecopter below. The contest runs May 1-31/12 and is only open to entrants in Canada & U.S.).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cat Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

In keeping with my dance theme this week, enjoy the following...

I need your input--Read-a-Thon poll

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:07:00 +0000

In light of my upcoming High Summer Read-a-Thon (July 16 - 22), I was doing some thinking on the dates and the hosting aspect of the read-a-thons. I have themed each read-a-thon, as you know, seasonally (based on the seasons as they are in the U.S., with no intentional discrimination against my participants on the other side of the globe...honest) so I host one in January, April, July, and October. I'm beginning to think that it would be easier on me to schedule them around the same week in their respective months, each year. I've already settled on permanent names for them. The Winter read-a-thon is A Winter's Respite, Spring will be known from now on as Spring into Horror, Summer has been the High Summer Read-a-Thon for two summers now, and this Fall, in October, I've decided to condense down the name of the Fall read-a-thon to the hashtag we used for Twitter last year so it will be known from now on as the FrightFall Read-a-Thon. I'm also considering starting a dedicated blog from which I could host all four of the read-a-thons. Not only would it make it easier on me (I think), but I think it would be easier for people to follow/subscribe and get the information all in one place. The scheduled dates for each read-a-thon would be up in the sidebar well in advance for people to plan for them...kind of like Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon.

So, what do I need from you? There is a handy little poll at the top of the post section. If you could fill that out for me, I would really appreciate your input. Feel free to leave a comment with opinions as well, if you would like.

Thank you!

TTBA Weekly News and Mailbox Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:26:00 +0000

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and by The Sunday Salon.

I had quite an eventful week last week, which I will be revealing in this post (of course). I participated in the Bout of Book 4.0 Read-a-Thon and didn't do too hot, but enjoyed it just the same. I also participated in the Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers anniversary chat and scored several book wins. I will outline the ones I've already received in Mailbox Monday below and the ones I receive in the mail in a later MM edition.

What's going on in my reading world....

The True Book Addict was one of the 15 finalists in the Goodreads Independent Book Blogger Awards in the adult fiction category. It is truly an honor just to be a finalist! I'd like to thank everyone who voted for me. I'd like to congratulate the winners and the other finalists too. If you would like to see the winners and all the finalists, visit the Goodreads announcement post HERE.

My sons have their own blog! Inspired by Krista at Book Review Club and her kids' blog, Lollipops and Books, I thought it would be a great way to get my boys, who already like to read, to read more. They were pretty excited when I told them they could have their own blog. It's called G n R Book Club and they're getting ready to do the Metro Public Library's summer reading program so they'll have a lot to blog about soon. You can check out their new blog HERE or click the image above.

The High Summer Read-a-Thon is coming July 16 - 22. Mark your calendars! I'll be posting details and sign-up info soon.

If you're looking for another read-a-thon fix, check out the Wicked Wildfire Read-a-Thon on June 20 - 24, hosted by Kindle Fever and My Shelf Confessions. Of course, there is no doubt that I'll be participating!

What I've been reading....

Currently reading:

A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Sound of the Heart by Genevieve Graham

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

To read before the month is out:

Jumble Tales by Steve Morris

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie

The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood

Finished recently:

Carnage Road by Gregory Lamberson (REVIEW)

The 2012 Book Blogger's Cookbook by Christy Dorrity (REVIEW)

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Martha at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf. (You can click the book covers in the BookBox to view the book(s) on Amazon)

WON:

Please allow me to introduce you to Anne (named for Anne Rice and it's my middle name), my brand new Kindle Touch won from author of Titanic with Zombies, Richard Brown. I am over the moon!

I also won:

The Long Weekend by Savita Kalhan...from the author

Immortal Obsession by Denise K. Rago...from read-a-thon giveaway hosted by Erin at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!

The Good Father by Diane Chamberlain...from BookTrib

Surrender to the Roman (eBook) by M.K. Chester...from the author (RHFL chat giveaway)

El Rey: A Novel of Renaissance Iberia (Kindle book) by Ginger Myrick...from the author (RHFL chat giveaway)

FOR REVIEW:

The Queen's Vow by C.W. Gortner...Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

GIFT:

Ten by Gretchen McNeil...from the lovely Kai at Fiction State of Mind

BARNES & NOBLE:

Outlining your Novel: Map your Way to Success by K.M. Weiland (partial purchase from B&N gift card won from M.J. Rose)

AMAZON:

Unspent Time Omnibus by Graham Parke (Kindle book)

LIBRARY SALE:

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1) by Rick Riordan

The Sea of Monsters (PJ and the Olympians #2) by Rick Riordan

Ghostgirl by Tonya Hurley

Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley

Ghostgirl: Lovesick by Tonya Hurley

Viriconium by W. John Harrison

The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night--Burton translation--Volumes V/VI

CD--The White Stripes--White Blood Cells ($2 at the library sale!)

Bout of Books 4.0 Read-a-Thon--Goals, Updates and Wrap-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:26:00 +0000

The Bout of Books Read-a-Thon was created by Amanda @ On a Book Bender on a complete whim in August 2011*. It took on a life of its own and was such a hit that Amanda decided to do it again and turn it into a somewhat regular occurrence. There are no set dates for Bout of Books; rather, Amanda tries to work with Bout of Books participants to determine the best dates for them.

Final Wrap-Up:

Well, I didn't meet my goals, but I'm not upset. I enjoyed the read-a-thon, as I always enjoy all read-a-thons. The Twitter interactions, especially the chats were a lot of fun. A big thanks to Amanda and company for all of their hard work and for all the fun.

5/20

Number of books I’ve read today: 25 pages of A Clash of Kings
Total number of books I’ve read: Two and a third + 10 percent of one + 52 pages of A Clash of Kings
Pages read today: 25
Total number of pages read: 401
Books: A Clash of Kings (52 pages), Through the Looking Glass (90 pages), Carnage Road (completed book--81 pages), The 2012 Book Blogger's Cookbook (completed book--118 pages), Bleak House (10%--60 pages)

Update from Day Six:

Not much to report from yesterday. I was too busy chatting with the Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers on Facebook. I scored three book wins in the process too! I was also out part of the day and went to a library sale. Scored some great books there too!

5/19

Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Total number of books I’ve read: Two and a third + 10 percent of one
Pages read today: 0
Total number of pages read: 376
Books: none

What I'm reading on Day Seven: I'm going to continue to read A Clash of Kings. Trying to get caught up so I can watch the episodes of "Game of Thrones" I have missed!

Update from Day Five:

I've decided not to do the mini-challenge today. Too tired.

5/18

Number of books I’ve read today: 0
Total number of books I’ve read: Two and a third + 10 percent of one
Pages read today: 27
Total number of pages read: 376
Books: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin

What I'm reading on Day Six: A Clash of Kings...still. If I can get caught up on this tonight, maybe I can pick something else up tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

Mini-Challenge--Day Five:

The Books and Shoes mini-challenge is being hosted by The Reading Housewives of Indiana. We are to choose a character from a favorite book and shoes they would wear/would have worn. One of my favorite books, Virgin and the Crab by Robert Parry, has my all time favorite historical figure, Elizabeth I. These are extant shoes from the Elizabethan era that she would have worn. I've also included a picture of a painting of QEI showing the bottom portion with her shoes peeking out from beneath her dress. You see the shoes are very much like the extant shoes image (source: http://thepragmaticcostumer.wordpress.com/tag/queen-elizabeth-i/).

Update from Day Four:

5/17

Number of books I’ve read today: one
Total number of books I’ve read: Two and a third + 10 percent of one
Pages read today: 118
Total number of pages read: 349
Books: The 2012 Book Blogger's Cookbook by Christy Dorrity

What I'm reading on Day Five: Today I've been reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin...man, I love this book! Tomorrow, I will be gone for a bit of the day at a library sale and lunch/movie with Mom. Not sure what I'll read tomorrow!

Update from Day Three:

5/16

Number of books I’ve read today: not worth mentioning, only 10 percent of Bleak House
Total number of books I’ve read: One and a third + 10 percent (LOL)
Pages read today: 60
Total number of pages read: 231
Books: Bleak House by Charles Dickens

What I'm reading on Day Four: I am just now getting started reading today. My son had a concert at school and the rest of the time, I've been fooling around. I did find out I won a Kindle Touch though. Woot! SO thrilled!!! Mooning about that has taken up a large portion of my day. So, tonight I'm going to read the 2012 Book Bloggers' Cookbook for review tomorrow and try to get caught up on A Clash of Kings. We shall see! I'm hoping tomorrow will be a lot better. Please!

Day Three Mini-Challenge:

The challenge, hosted by Shannon at Books Devoured, is to choose any book cover and Re-Title it! You can choose anything you like and go the serious or humorous route! Here's mine:

New title: I Poisoned Johhny Depp: A Story of Love, Hate, and Betrayal

I had no time to update for yesterday until just now. As usual, the read-a-thon is not going as I planned because real life always rears its ugly head. LOL!

Update from Day Two:

5/15

Number of books I’ve read today: 1/3
Total number of books I’ve read: One and a third
Pages read today: 90
Total number of pages read: 171
Books: Carnage Road by Gregory Lamberson and 1/3 of Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll

Day Two Mini-Challenge:

Mini-Challenge for day two is hosted by Nyx Book Reviews and it's a Book Confessions challenge.

Physical book or eBook? I much prefer physical books, even though I have an eReader and I read eBooks occasionally

Paperback or Hardcover? hardcover

Reality or Make-believe? make-believe

Adult or Young-Adult? adult

Dog ears or Bookmarks? I'm obsessed with bookmarks. I probably own over 100 or more!

Breaking the spine or Barely open the book? barely open the book

Tea or Coffee? I like both. I prefer tea at home because coffee at home never turns out good. But coffee purchased out somewhere is the bomb!

Reading in bed or On the couch? on the couch, or the chair, actually!

Series or Standalone? a hard one, because I take long breaks in series books so I'm going to say stand alone

Original or TV Adaptation? original

Defy motion sickness or Audiobooks? when I'm driving--audio riding--defy motion sickness (have never had a problem with it)

Author crushes or Who-was-that-guy-again? author crushes

Interview or Guest post? guest post

Update from Day One:

5/14

Number of books I’ve read today: 1
Total number of books I’ve read: 1
Pages read today: 81
Total number of pages read: 81
Books: Carnage Road by Gregory Lamberson

My Goals:

After I watch "Masterpiece Mystery! Sherlock: The Hounds of Baskerville", I will start reading. Not sure how late I will read, although it may be late since I took a nice long Mother's Day nap this afternoon. I'm planning on getting some review books read this week. Plus, I need to catch up on Bleak House and A Clash of Kings and read the section of Through the Looking Glass for TuesBookTalk. Also, I have a review on Castle Macabre due Tuesday for Carnage Road by Gregory Lamberson and for the 2012 Book Bloggers Cookbook on Friday on this blog. I'm going to add some other books to the list just in case I decide to change things up. I'm hoping to read at least 5 books in total this week. So, books to be read for sure and potential books are listed below.

Books To Read:

Bleak House (catch-up)
A Clash of Kings (catch-up)
2012 Book Bloggers Cookbook
Carnage Road by Gregory Lamberson
Never Say Sorry by Rose Edmunds
The Arrow Chest by Robert Parry
To Be Queen by Christy English
To Serve a King by Donna Russo Morin
The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie
The Once and Future King by T.H. White
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin
Through the Looking Glass (read section for TuesBookTalk)

Save the Date! High Summer Read-a-Thon

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 20 May 2012 03:06:00 +0000

Announcing the dates for the High Summer Read-a-Thon. The big week will be July 16 - 22. Save the date! More details and sign-up coming soon. I hope you will join me!

{Book Tour} Review--The 2012 Book Blogger's Cookbook and {Contest}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:19:00 +0000

My thoughts:
Don't read The 2012 Book Blogger's Cookbook if you're hungry. It will have you rushing to the kitchen to eat God knows what and you still will not be satisfied because it's not what's in the book. You've been warned!

This cookbook is an amazing concept. It's the marriage of books, recipes, and book reviews. Each recipe matches a theme or an element of the book it's paired with. We get delicious ideas for food to make while also learning about books and what some book bloggers thought of them. I think it's brilliant. I thought so last year with the 2011 edition and I'm of a same mind with this year's edition.

The books featured are predominantly of the young adult genre with a few middle grade titles and a couple of adult titles thrown in. If I had one suggestion, it would be to add more adult titles for those of us who read more adult books than YA. I can think of some amazing historical fiction titles that would be great in a future Book Blogger's cookbook.

I recommend this cookbook to anyone who loves to cook, or loves food in general, and to those who love books. I'm looking forward to the future editions. Keep them coming, Christy!

Christy was nice enough to let me feature my favorite recipe from the book in my post today. I love all things pumpkin and I can't wait to get in the kitchen to make this one!

Polite Pumpkin Custard

Scary School, by Derek the Ghost, is a downright frightening place to be. Children who lag behind, or are unruly in library class, are likely to get eaten. You may survive if you step lightly around Principal Headcrusher and steer clear of Mr. Dragonbreath. At least Sue the Amazing Octo-Chef can whip you up a delicious, if dubious dessert. Charlie Newkid is the first to figure out that Sue’s amazing pumpkin custards will stop to let you eat them, if you ask them politely. You, too, can enjoy this creamy, crust-less custard, if you say pretty please.

Filling:
1 (15 ounce) canned pumpkin
2 eggs
1 cup half and half cream
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt

Topping:
¼ cup brown sugar, packed
¼ cup pecans, chopped
1 tablespoon butter, melted
Whipped cream and ground cinnamon for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine all of the filling ingredients. Beat until smooth and pour into five greased custard cups (or small hollowed out pumpkins, if available).

Place in a 13x9 inch baking pan. Pour hot water around the cups until the bottoms are in an inch of standing water. Bake, uncovered, for 20 minutes.

For the topping, combine the brown sugar, pecans and butter. Sprinkle it over the custard. Put the custards back in the oven for 30-35 minutes. Serve warm or chilled. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon, if desired. Store in the refrigerator. Serves 5.

**********************

The 2012 Book Blogger's Cookbook is a community project from some of the blogosphere's best book bloggers in a simple, easy to read format. The cookbook combines a love of reading and dining to help you find books you'll devour and recipes you can't put down.

You’ll love The Book Blogger’s Cookbook because…

The Book Blogger’s Cookbook has 50 different book reviewers from every corner of the blogosphere. It bridges the gap between author and reader—putting you in touch with book reviewers who can separate the 5 star books from the mediocre.

The Book Blogger’s Cookbook showcases great reads and provides an interactive experience with links to author and book reviewer websites. The cookbook is created for those who like to experience what they read long after they’ve closed the book.

The Book Blogger’s Cookbook tells why each recipe complements its companion book. Recipes and books combine to make the reading experience satisfying and entertaining.

Book Contest
Every person who comments on one of the blogs during the tour will be entered to win a grand prize: a copy of every book featured in The 2012 Book Blogger's Cookbook (22 in all, over $200 value). Please include your email address for winner contact.

Check out the TOUR SCHEDULE to visit the other participating blogs.

About the author:
Christy Dorrity loves to read about cooking and cook about reading. She was taught early to have a discriminating taste for both books and food. Christy grew up on a trout ranch in Star Valley, Wyoming. She taught elementary school and lives in the mountains with her husband Devon and their five young children. When Christy's not reading or writing, she's probably trying out a new recipe in the kitchen.

www.christydorrity.com

twitter: @christydorrity

Cat Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 17 May 2012 07:10:00 +0000

She certainly must have read something shocking.

This one looks quite shocked as well!

"Now that's downright interesting!"

Mailbox Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:47:00 +0000

No TTBA Weekly News today since I really don't have much to report this week. I am participating in the Bout of Books 4.0 Read-a-Thon. If you want to find out the details and what I'm reading for that, visit this POST or see the sticky post at the top of the blog.

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Martha at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.

WON:
The Book of Madness and Cures by Regina O'Melveny...from Cheryl at CMash Loves to Read

BOOKMOOCH:
The Changeling Plague by Syne Mitchell
Jesus Before Christianity by Albert Nolan

BOMC2:
The Parasol Protectorate: 3-in-1 Omnibus Edition by Gail Carriger

LIBRARY SALE:
Black Ice by Linda Hall
Moonlight Mile by Dennis Lehane
Sister by Rosamund Lupton
The Black Unicorn: A Magid Kingdom of Landover Novel by Terry Brooks
Duchess of Aquitaine by Margaret Ball
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson

Pens for Paws Auction...for a great cause!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 13 May 2012 23:37:00 +0000

I have donated a copy of The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot for the Pens for Paws Auction. The Pens for Paws Auction is to benefit Fat Cat City.

Fat Cat City is a no-kill, cage-free cat sanctuary. To read more about this great organization, go to the Pens for Paws Auction site HERE.

To bid on The Sister Queens, go HERE.

While you're there, be sure to check out all the other awesome items up for bid.

The Sister Queens is available until May 14 at 11:00pm EST.

Please support this great cause!

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:50:00 +0000

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! I have a special treat for you today. Check out the graphic below from Frugal Dad that breaks down exactly what we ~~sacrifice~~ give as moms. It's really amazing!

Also, be sure to visit my Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl post today. It's a touching article about being a mom called What I Didn't Know by Rhonda Shrock. You can also find out how to enter to win a genuine pearl necklace. Click HERE to visit the post.

Again, Happy Mother's Day!

Source: http://FrugalDad.com

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl--What I Didn't Know and {Give@way}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sun, 13 May 2012 05:24:00 +0000

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series - a week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Sheila Walsh, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Bonnie St. John, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/6-5/13 and the winner will on 5/14. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother's Day!

What I Didn't Know by Rhonda Shrock

I always knew I wanted to be a mother. As a girl, I played house with my dollies, shushing them when they cried and kissing their plastic heads.

Looking back at that girl, I realize now that there was a lot she didn't know. This morning over my fresh-ground coffee, this mother of 22-1/2 years scratched out a list of 10 things she didn't know then that she knows now.

1. I didn't know - how could I? - just how completely a tiny, helpless scrap of humanity can capture the heart and hold it forever. From that first whooshing heartbeat and the first butterfly brushes, a mother's heart is never again her own. For all eternity, it enlarges, walking and pulsing and moving outside of her body; in my case, in the shape of a blue-eyed boy with rooster tails. Times four.

2. I didn't know that the size of a mother's heart is always changing, stretching to embrace each new baby that comes, then growing again to love their friends and then their own families.

3. I never knew, as I changed my dolly's dress, how many reasons there are to worry when you're a mama. Didn't know about the nighttime vigils. Didn't know the anxiety of separation, the terror that floods when you turn around in the grocery store and they're gone. Didn't know about the fear of the pond next door or the concern that pays for swimming lessons. Didn't know the thousand-and-one reasons that keep a mother awake, whispering prayers on her pillow in the dark.

4. No one told me that loving so much means that you will hurt hard and keen; that what pains your child hurts you even worse. I didn't know then that a playground taunt travels through that smaller heart and lands square in yours, stinging and burning like fire. I didn't know that motherhood makes lionesses of us all and that there'd be days I'd have to bite my tongue and pray to not sin.

5. I didn't know how exhausting it is, being a mother. I didn't know that it takes everything you've got and then some. Didn't know the bone-deep exhaustion; how it strips you bare and shows how selfish you can be, but, too, that you have more strength than you know.

6. I didn't know, playing house, how much joy mothers feel; joy so big that it makes up for the pain. Just looking at those eyes and the curve of the cheek can make you so happy it hurts. Watching them grow and find their talent and win at something...all the money in the world can never buy that kind of happiness.

7. I didn't know how making babies and raising them, how it binds you to their father. I didn't know the intimacy you feel when your eyes meet above those tousled heads, and your smiles say, "Just look at what we've done."

8. That girl in the homemade dress, she didn't know that letting go is one of the hardest things a grown-up mama will ever do. Rocking those babies in that small rocking chair, she didn't really know that babies grow up and walk away and there goes your heart, out into the big, wide world. No one told her that part.

9. I had no idea how rewarding it is, being a mother. How the happiness that comes from boy kisses and awkward hugs can't be bought or sold. How proud you feel when you see what they're growing up to be and that all the planting and pruning and watering and feeding is finally making fruit!

10. I didn't know how much my babies would enrich my spiritual life or how they would change the way I pray. I didn't realize they would lead me to a deeper dependence on the Heavenly Father or how I much I would need His wisdom to raise them aright.

These are things I didn't know before I was a mother. But I know them now. Oh, how I know them now! And I’d do it all again.

Rhonda Schrock lives in Northern Indiana with her husband and 4 sons, ages 22, 18, 13, and 5. By day, she is a telecommuting medical transcriptionist. In the early morning hours, she flees to a local coffee shop where she pens “Grounds for Insanity,” a weekly column that appears in The Goshen News. She is an occasional guest columnist in The Hutch News. She’s also blogged professionally for her son’s school of choice, Bethel College, in addition to humor and parenting blogs, and maintains her personal blog, “The Natives are Getting Restless.” She is a writer and editor for the magazine, "Cooking & Such: Adventures in Plain Living." She survives and thrives on prayer, mochas, and books.

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

Book Tour: Review of The Sumerton Women by D.L. Bogdan and {Give@way}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:47:00 +0000

My thoughts:
Another story set during the perilous times of the Tudor court, the reign of Henry VIII. In truth, there are so many stories that can be told about the people who were affected by his actions. The people in The Sumerton Women are no exception. Ms. Bogdan has taken these lives and brought them vividly to life, amid an accurate historical setting.

The characters are real and it became easy to become emotionally invested, especially with Cecily. Her story begins as an orphaned child, but she soon grows into a strong young lady who must face decisions that she never dreamed of facing. And she does so with grace and love. In fact, that is the key to the character of Cecily. She is the embodiment of love. In the discussion questions at the back of the book, this question is asked, "Who in this novel would you describe as being closest to God?" Unequivocally, it is Cecily. Her kindness and strength, her selfless love for all, are the virtues I believe God treasures in a person.

Mirabella, the daughter who learns a heartbreaking truth and who is the one who it seemed had an early calling to God, is in fact the farthest from him. I say this because of her pride and judgement of others. While it is admirable that she sought to serve God, in truth it was her own peace that she was seeking, not her desire to serve and help others. In her realization of this truth, she becomes even more zealous in her religious fervor. When she is thrust from her vocation due to the dissolution of the Catholic religious houses, she embarks on a treacherous journey that causes much strife in the lives of her family and her own.

And then there is Father Alec Cahill, a priest who is conflicted in his religious convictions and in his role as a priest and wanting to live life as a real man. Thrown in the midst of the tempestuous court of Henry VIII in his service to Archbishop Cranmer, Father Alec is really at the center of The Sumerton Women's religious story. He is a pivotal character with whom the reader can very much relate.

Ultimately, The Sumerton Women is a well-researched and thought provoking historical novel. Not only do we feel for the characters and their experiences, we also gain insight into how so many lives were affected by the actions of Henry VIII, and not just the lives at court.

About the book:
Orphaned at age eight, Lady Cecily Burkhart becomes the ward of Harold Pierce, Earl of Sumerton. Lord Hal and his wife, Lady Grace, welcome sweet-natured Cecily as one of their own. With Brey, their young son, Cecily develops an easy friendship. But their daughter, Mirabella, is consumed by her religious vocation - and by her devotion to Father Alec Cahill, the family priest and tutor. As Henry VIII's obsession with Anne Boleyn leads to violent religious upheaval, Mirabella is robbed of her calling and the future Cecily dreamed of is ripped away in turn. Cecily struggles to hold together the fractured household while she and Father Alec grapple with a dangerous mutual attraction. Plagued with jealousy, Mirabella unleashes a tumultuous chain of events that threatens to destroy everyone around her, even as the kingdom is torn apart...

About the author:

D.L. Bogdan is an ongoing student of history, musician, and avid reader who enjoys travel, the outdoors, and time with her family and friends. She is a proud wife and mother who makes her home in central Wisconsin. She is the author of Secrets of the Tudor Court, Rivals in the Tudor Court and The Sumerton Women.

For more information on D.L. Bogdan and her novels, please visit her WEBSITE. You can also find her on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.

TOUR SCHEDULE
Twitter Event Hashtag: #SumertonWomenVirtualTour

GIVEAWAY: One copy of The Sumerton Women. International. To enter, please leave a comment telling me your opinion, good or bad, of Henry VIII. Be sure to leave a way to contact you (email address, Twitter ID, etc.) if you win. Giveaway will end on Friday, May 25 at 11:59pm CST. Good luck!

READING CHALLENGES

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl--Stepping Out on Faith {Give@way}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 11 May 2012 12:58:00 +0000

AND ... do enter the contest for a chance to win a beautiful hand crafted pearl necklace. To enter, just {CLICK THIS LINK} and fill out the short form. Contest runs 5/6-5/13 and the winner will on 5/14. Contest is only open to US and Canadian residents.

If you are unfamiliar with Pearl Girls™, please visit www.pearlgirls.info and see what we're all about. In short, we exist to support the work of charities that help women and children in the US and around the globe. Consider purchasing a copy of Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace or one of the Pearl Girls™ products (all GREAT Mother's Day gifts!) to help support Pearl Girls.

And to all you MOMS out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Stepping Out on Faith by Bonnie St. John

"Darcy . . .”

“Yeah, Mom?”

I momentarily held the undivided attention of my teenage daughter. Her thumbs, free of their ubiquitous texting keypad, quietly dangled by her side. Her computer and its omnipresent Facebook page were completely out of sight. I had almost forgotten what she looked like without all these adolescent accoutrements. As we sat down together on the burgundy leather sofa in our living room, I realized this fleeting state of electronic dislocation was my chance to hatch a plan I had been formu- lating for the past several weeks. Carpe diem.

“How would you like to write a book together?”

“About what?” I asked my mom. Write a book? This was a real surprise. I felt a bit suspicious, but still curious. I love to write, and Mom kept telling me I was really good at it. I like writing poetry, fantasy, and sci-fi, though. The books Mom wrote were all nonfiction. I wondered what we could possibly do together.

“Well . . .” I hesitated. If I wanted her to commit to any extra work out- side her busy schedule at school—not to mention work alongside her mother—I had to make this really great. “It would be about women as leaders,” I continued, “a mother-daughter investigation into leadership styles and structures.”

“Leadership?” I blurted. It came out as if I had a bad taste in my mouth—which I did. I couldn’t imagine a more boring topic to write about. What is there to say about leadership anyway? When you’re in charge, you just get things done, right? Who wants to talk about that?

Her furrowed brow told me I was losing her fast. “Um . . . we could find women leaders all around the world!” I said impulsively, frantically casting the ultimate bait.

“Really? Would we get to travel a lot?” I hadn’t thought about that. Heck, I’d write about the mating habits of tsetse flies if I got to go to Africa to do it!

But this project wasn’t just about the influence it would have on Darcy. I wanted to do something that could have a potent impact on an alarming trend I had witnessed in workplaces across the country: far too many women appeared to be making a choice not to apply for top leadership positions when presented with the opportunities to do so.

This project, then, was a bit of a Trojan horse. On the one hand, the saga of a mother-daughter journey could seduce female readers, who might never bother to read the Harvard Business School dissertations on the subject, into a meaningful conversation about leadership. At the same time, if Darcy met a series of brilliant, accomplished women— people even a cynical teen would be in awe of—perhaps they could tell her all the things I’d like her to know—and more.

And she just might listen.

But where to start? How would we make it work? I suggested we do most of our research by phone, as I did for How Strong Women Pray. My telephone interviews with a governor, some CEOs, actors, sports figures, a college president, and others yielded great stories and information. I promised my intrepid co-author, though, that we could punctuate these conversations with a few visits in person to exciting and exotic places—all with reasonably priced airfares.

“Why don’t we follow each subject as she goes about her daily life? That way our readers get to come along with us and get a behind- the-scenes look at what happens to them. Instead of just a boring interview, we—and our readers—get to hang around with these women, see them in their natural habitat, and even see how other people treat them.”

Although I agreed it was a wonderful approach, this idea of “job- shadowing” each featured subject wasn’t going to be easy. Would these high-powered, important women deign to allow us that kind of access? Would they be able to impart the kind of wisdom that would resonate with our readers and truly make a difference in their lives? We looked at each other, both of us hooked on a crazy idea that we weren’t sure we could pull off.

“It sounds impossible, Darcy,” I said. “We might as well get started.”

And so, we stepped out . . . on faith.

Bonnie is a 1984 Paralympics silver medal winner in ski racing. Her education includes a degree with honors from Harvard, a Rhodes scholarship, and an M.Litt in Economics from Oxford. Her career includes positions as an award-winning sales rep for IBM and a Clinton White House member of staff. She now is a much-in-demand speaker, who makes nearly 100 speeches each year to corporations and civic groups. You can visit her on the Web at www.bonniestjohn.com.

Re-printed with permission from How Great Women Lead by Bonnie St. John and Darcy Deane

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

Cat Thursday: Authors and their cats (11)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 10 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

The second Cat Thursday of each month is Authors and their Cats Thursday. Each time I will feature an author and their cat(s).

I'm so glad I found this one! This is Doris Lessing and her cute little kitty. I have a bunch of her books in my home library, but have not read them yet. She's supposed to be a great writer. I guess so, being the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2007 for The Cleft (one that I own).

Source

I also couldn't resist sharing this extra image today. It had me chuckling. I can just imagine Alice and Arya having this conversation.

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl--She's...My Everything {Give@way}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Wed, 09 May 2012 16:25:00 +0000

--Cardinal Mermillod

Just a few more months. My mother was hoping Dad would hang on long enough so they could celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary in April. But on January 1st, as the sun rose on the new year, my dad’s worn out heart beat its last. Dad had battled Alzheimer’s Disease for ten years. As many of you know, AD is a long, hard journey. Hard on the one afflicted with the disease, hard on the caregivers.

But not without its blessings.

Four years ago, as I began researching stories for Amish Peace: Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World, my path crossed with a handful of Plain families who were coping with Alzheimer’s. It was just about the point when Dad’s illness was shifting from early to mid stages AD and the timing was a divine accident. I learned so much as I observed the calm acceptance of these families. Rather than waste time shaking a fist at God for allowing this disease to take their loved one, they put their energy into trusting God’s sovereignty. They didn’t deny the difficulties and complications and sadness of Alzheimer’s, but they didn’t dwell on them. “God has a plan,” one woman told me. “He always has a plan.”

Something else I noticed was how privileged my Amish friends felt about caring for their loved one. Caring for the elderly, they believe, is the time to give back to them.

Those encounters shaped my perspective of Dad’s illness. I started to pay attention to how God provided answers to new wrinkles created by Alzheimer’s, just in time. God may be slow, but He is never late.
I started to cherish special moments or good days with Dad—just as he was at each point in his illness. Not mourning the past, not dreading the future.

I really miss my dad. I miss his scratchy whiskers and the way his eyebrows would wiggle at us, even as words failed him. Yet I have such peace in my heart that he was well loved and well cared for, right to the very end. And as hard as Dad’s end of life has been, it isn’t the end. We will meet again. As the saying goes, “Some may see a hopeless end, but as believers we rejoice in an endless hope.”

There’s a beautiful story that illustrates my parents’ 59-year marriage. This event happened about a year or two ago. My sister had accompanied our mother to the doctor appointment for Dad at the Stanford Memory Clinic.

Dad had declined quite a bit that month. He was weak and lethargic, even to the point of whispering, as if it took too much energy to project his voice. During the doctor's appointment, the doctor told my mother and sister that Dad was now in late stages of Alzheimer's. Dad didn’t have much vocabulary left, but when the doctor asked him who mom was, he whispered something back. The doctor looked at Mom and asked, "Did you hear what he just said?"

Mom shook her head.

"When I asked him who you were, he whispered, 'She's...my everything.'"

Suzanne Woods Fisher is a writer of bestselling fiction and non-fiction books about the Old Order Amish. Her interest in the Plain People began with her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. Suzanne is the host of Amish Wisdom, a weekly radio program on toginet.com, and writes a bi-monthly column for Christian Post. Suzanne can be found on-line at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

Re-printed with permission by Cooking & Such, www.sherrygorebooks.com.

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl--Joy Comes from Perseverance {Give@way}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Hebrews 12:1 (NCV)

Sheila Walsh is a Bible teacher, speaker, singer, and best-selling author with more than 4 million books sold. Sheila Walsh is the creator of the award-winning Gigi, God’s Little Princess® and her new series, Gabby, God's Little Angel. Meet Gabby in Gabby's Stick-to-It-Day. As a featured speaker with Women of Faith®, Sheila has reached more than 3.5 million women by artistically combining honesty, vulnerability and humor with God’s Word. She resides in Dallas with her husband Barry and son Christian. Visit www.sheilawalsh.com for more information about Sheila, her other books or Women of Faith.

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

TTBA Weekly News and Mailbox Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:41:00 +0000

This feature was inspired by It's Monday! What are you reading? hosted by Sheila at Book Journey and by The Sunday Salon.

Not much going on around here right now. Just reading and signing up for reading challenges. Typical book addict stuff. ;O)

What's going on in my reading world....

I posted an update of the newest reading challenges I signed up for HERE.

Bout of Books 4.0 is coming up next week! Another read-a-thon...can't wait! Sign-Up info HERE.

What I've been reading....
Currently reading:
Never Say Sorry by Rose Edmunds
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin
The Sumerton Women by D.L. Blogdan (review coming up this Friday)

Finished recently:
The King's Agent by Donna Russo Morin (review)
Ghost Story by Peter Straub (review)
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (review)

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia and is currently on tour. This month's host is Martha at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf.

FOR REVIEW:
Carnage Road by Gregory Lamberson...Pump Up Your Book Tour at Castle Macabre

WON:
from the Great Minds Think Aloud Community...signed and the author sent me a signed copy of the sequel as well:
The Zarder and The Speed of Wind by Sara Jo Easton

Also from Great Minds Think Aloud:
Oz at Night by Amanda J. Bradley...signed!
Abithica by Susan Goldsmith...signed!

GOODWILL:
Daughters of Rome by Kate Quinn
Hush by Mark Nykanen

LIBRARY SALE:
The Dead Secret by Wilkie Collins
Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
Breathers by S.G. Browne
The Parasites by Daphne Du Maurier
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier

Pearl Girls Mother of Pearl--Priceless Treasure and {Give@way}

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Welcome to Pearl Girls™ Mother of Pearl Mother's Day blog series - a week long celebration of moms and mothering. Each day will feature a new post by some of today's best writer's (Tricia Goyer, Sheila Walsh, Suzanne Woods Fisher, Bonnie St. John, and more). I hope you'll join us each day for another unique perspective on Mother's Day.

We publicly declare your praise today,

and in the days to come,

for you deserve to be praised and blessed,

"We honor you, Mom, for all you have done!"

In my earliest of memories,

You worked so hard, striving for the rest.

You persevered through great trials

and did your very best.

I know you are being rewarded

in ways far beyond our reach.

We honor you now by practicing what you've taught,

and even what you preached!

You've stood for us for all these years,

Today, we stand for you!

I pray that our applause on earth

will reach your heavenly ears.

With the reading of this poem, I asked everyone to stand. We clapped our hands in celebration and praise of the life of my mother, Margaret Alice Stiltner.

Imagine our surprise to discover that she had left a poetic epitaph for us! She had clipped it from an old magazine and framed it. I found it when I was cleaning her home, on a nightstand by her bed. My mother was never versed at expressing emotion. This was her sweet way of kissing us good-bye: a priceless treasure to remember her by.

Cynthia (Cindy) Stiverson is a speaker, writer, and artist. In 1998, she founded Woven: Women of Virtue Network, a spiritual formation and friendship ministry. She pastors the women at Newark Church of the Nazarene in Ohio. She is currently working on her fourth Woven Workbook, and also a book for mothers and daughters on the subject of sexual abuse. Cindy considers raising her daughter, speaker/author Nicole Braddock Bromley, to be her greatest achievement. She loves the men in her life, hubby Mark, grandbabes Jude and Isaac, and son-in-law Matthew. You can find more of Cindy at www.WovenWomen.blogspot.com and www.CynthiaStiverson.com

Exciting News – the latest Pearl Girls book, Mother of Pearl: Luminous Legacies and Iridescent Faith will be released this month! Please visit the Pearl Girls Facebook Page (and LIKE us!) for more information! Thanks so much for your support!

And so the challenge addiction continues...

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:07:00 +0000

I'm signed up for a few more challenges this summer...some I couldn't bear to miss. One of them actually started toward the end of March and it is...

Once Upon a Time VI hosted by Carl at Stainless Steel Droppings, which runs from March 21 through June 19--check out my reading list for this challenge at my challenge blog by clicking the button below.

Next we have the Semi-Charmed Summer 2012 Book Challenge hosted by Megan at Semi-Charmed Kind of Life, which runs from May 1 through September 1--check out my reading list/plans at my challenge blog by clicking the button below.

Are you kidding me? I really absolutely could NOT miss this one! A Victorian Celebration is hosted by Allie at A Literary Odyssey and it runs in June and July this summer. Again, check out my reading list at my challenge blog by clicking the button below.

This challenge is actually an ongoing challenge that I've decided to join to force me to read Agatha Christie books. I've been wanting to read them, but I always put it off. The Agatha Christie Book Club is hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea and Kindle and Me. We're reading the books in the order they were published. The book for May is The Mysterious Affair at Styles. At the end of each month, there will be an online "Tea Party", an online discussion of the book. To get full challenge details, click the button below.

There really is no hope for me when it comes to things involving reading. But there are worse addictions, I always say!

Book Tour: Review of The King's Agent by Donna Russo Morin

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:31:00 +0000

My thoughts:
How to sum up a book such as The King's Agent with mere words? The book has all the elements of what I consider to be great fiction. Adventure, mystery, love, and mysticism. And to speak of my opinions without giving the story away will be quite a feat in itself, but I shall attempt to do it justice without revealing too much.

Set in the 16th cenury, in the twilight of the Renaissance, The King's Agent tells the story of a quest for an object of power that would be at the heart of the demise of mankind. Battista, who is loyal to his benefactor, King Francois I of France, and also to his beloved home of Florence, embarks on this quest with a clear idea of the outcome. But he is soon to learn that there is no clear outcome and the circumstances surrounding the obtaining of this object are shrouded in danger and mystery. As I was reading the sections where dangerous obstacles had to be overcome for Battista to reach his goal, my mind kept going to the Indiana Jones films. That is the kind of adventure the reader experiences in The King's Agent. Talk about a thrill!

To add to the mystery, we have the character of Aurelia who is an enigma, to be sure. Everyone who encounters her can feel that there is something different about her, but her mystery is kept secret, thankfully, until the very end. What is present in the character of Aurelia is a resolve to complete her destiny, a destiny not of her making. She is a brave woman who accepts her fate and ultimately sacrifices her own happiness for the good of all.

Finally, I must touch on the historical aspects of this book. Wonderful was the introduction of the stories of Dante and the presence of Michelangelo himself in the story. The historical detail is so well researched and interesting. I found myself on Google several times while reading, wanting right then and there to learn more about the people and places I was reading about. I must say that Ms. Morin is a talent in the historical fiction genre. I have To Serve a King is on my review pile and so I must get to reading it soon, as well as her other titles. Her books will remain a sought after commodity for my home library.

In conclusion, I must not forget the love story between Battista and Aurelia. Their love is inspiring and breathtaking. The sacrifice they have to make and their reconciliation to the fact speaks of a very true love indeed. So I leave you with a favorite passage from Dante which Battista whispers to Aurelia, " 'lady, you in whom my hope gains strength, you who, for my salvation, have allowed your footsteps to be left in Hell, in all the things that I have seen, I recognize the grace and benefit that I, depending upon your power and goodness, have received.' "

About the book:
To the casual observer, Battista della Paglia is an avid art collector, or perhaps a nimble thief. In reality, the cunning Italian is an agent for François, the King of France, for whom he procures the greatest masterpieces of the day by any means necessary. Embroiled in a power struggle with Charles V, the King of Spain, François resolves to rule Europe's burgeoning cultural world. When he sets his sights on a mysterious sculpture, Battista's search for the elusive objet d'art leads him to a captivating woman on a mission of her own. . .

Having spent her life under the controlling eye of her protector, the Marquess of Mantua, Aurelia longs for freedom. And she finds it in Battista. Together, they embark on a journey to find the clues that will lead him to the sculpture-- a venture so perilous it might have spilled from the pen of Dante himself. From the smoldering depths of Rome to a castle in the sky, the harrowing quest draws them inextricably together. But Aurelia guards a dark secret that could tear them apart--and change the course of history. . .

About the author:
Donna Russo Morin was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1958. Her writing endeavors began at age six and covered such timely topics as The Pink Pussy Cat for President and The Numbers 2 and 4 are in Love.

Traveling through adolescence on the wings of the ‘60s gave Donna a lot of grist for her writing mill. Feminism, civil rights, the Vietnam War were all a disturbing yet highly motivating muse. Donna found her voice in fiction and with the appearance of a new horror writer on the book scene, a little known author named Stephen King, she turned her pen to the gruesome and the grotesque.

After graduating from the University of Rhode Island, Donna worked in marketing and advertising for large corporations and small non-profit arts organizations. When she had her children, she knew with a certainty that she needed to show them, by example, that if you believe in yourself, anything is possible.

In addition to writing and teaching writing, Donna has worked as a model and actor since the age of seventeen, when she did her first television commercial for Sears. Since then she has appeared in more than thirty television spots and print ads, everything from changing the oil in her car (that was acting) to modeling fur coats. She also appeared in three episodes of Showtime’s THE BROTHERHOOD, as well as in Martin Scorsese’s THE DEPARTED.

Donna lives peacefully, close to the beautiful shoreline of Rhode Island that she loves so much, with her two sons, Devon and Dylan, her greatest works in progress.

You can read my interview with Donna HERE

Check out the TOUR SCHEDULE

Links for author Donna Russo Morin: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK |
TWITTER
Twitter Event Hashtag:
#KingsAgentVirtualBookTour

Reading Challenges

Book Review: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Fri, 04 May 2012 07:03:00 +0000

My thoughts:
This is going to be a short review because, frankly, I don't quite know what to say. Someone may call me out for saying this, but I can't help but wonder why this book is so touted. I admit that Holden Caulfield is a unique and entertaining character. I couldn't help but smile and chuckle every time he said "crumby" or "phoney" or "goddam" for the hundredth time. But as I read, I started to notice that Holden seems very dissatisfied with everything and everyone around him. Like his sister says, "You don't like anything that happens." I started to form an impression that Holden is bipolar. He certainly has some kind of mental disturbance going on with himself which I think stems from the loss of his younger brother to cancer. Back then, there really wasn't so much openness toward mental illness. And people didn't yet understand the effects of a death in the family on a young child and that said child might need counseling to help him/her deal with the loss. Holden needed that kind of help and when he didn't get it, he blasted the world, so to speak. But I think his 'dislike' of everything is really him reflecting his despair on the world. There is also a part toward the end where sexual abuse is alluded to and that could also be at play in Holden's character and his behavior.

In all, I would have to say that the book is a great character study, but I was expecting it to be much better.

About the book:
Anyone who has read J.D. Salinger's New Yorker stories ? particularly A Perfect Day for Bananafish, Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut, The Laughing Man, and For Esme ? With Love and Squalor, will not be surprised by the fact that his first novel is fully of children. The hero-narrator of THE CATCHER IN THE RYE is an ancient child of sixteen, a native New Yorker named Holden Caulfield. Through circumstances that tend to preclude adult, secondhand description, he leaves his prep school in Pennsylvania and goes underground in New York City for three days. The boy himself is at once too simple and too complex for us to make any final comment about him or his story. Perhaps the safest thing we can say about Holden is that he was born in the world not just strongly attracted to beauty but, almost, hopelessly impaled on it. There are many voices in this novel: children's voices, adult voices, underground voices-but Holden's voice is the most eloquent of all. Transcending his own vernacular, yet remaining marvelously faithful to it, he issues a perfectly articulated cry of mixed pain and pleasure. However, like most lovers and clowns and poets of the higher orders, he keeps most of the pain to, and for, himself. The pleasure he gives away, or sets aside, with all his heart. It is there for the reader who can handle it to keep. (from Goodreads)

Reading Challenges

Cat Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Thu, 03 May 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Unconquered by J.D. Davis--Release Day and Kindle {Give@way)

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:50:00 +0000

About J.D. Davis

J.D. Davis was raised in Quitman, Texas, a quiet community in the northeast part of the state. Having grown up in a small town in the rural South—similar in many ways to the cousins’ hometown of Ferriday, Louisiana—with many similar influences as the cousins, he has meaningful insight into these three men.

Davis attended the University of Texas on a full academic scholarship, received a B.A. with highest honors in economics, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He later received a master’s degree from SMU.

As a successful businessman, Davis achieved the highest credentials as an actuary and became a principal in a large firm while still in his twenties. He currently manages an employee benefits consulting practice that covers the southern region of the United States, with offices in four cities.

Davis remembers his father watching Jimmy Swaggart on television and being intrigued by the evangelist's magnificent piano talent. As a teenager, Davis became a huge fan of Jerry Lee Lewis. He first attended one of Lewis’s live performances as a college student and was awe-struck to see this man put on a breathtaking performance. Davis grew up listening to country music of the seventies and eighties, when Mickey Gilley was consistently producing number one country hits. He became fascinated by the ways these three very different cousins achieved and dealt with eventual success and has been a dedicated fan for years.

Davis has worked with a talented team of many. His editors included Elizabeth Kaye, an award winning journalist who has often written about southern music and southern preachers. As a contributing editor to Rolling Stone, she interviewed Sam Phillips and gathered firsthand experience of Jerry Lee Lewis when covering sessions at which he played with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Roy Orbison. As a contributing editor to John Kennedy’s George magazine, Kaye wrote extensively about Billy Graham and his son Franklin, traveled on several missionary trips with Franklin, and worked with ABC’s 20/20 to produce and write a major Billy Graham profile.

You can visit his website at http://www.unconqueredthebook.com.
Visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/UnconqueredTheBook
Visit his Twitter page at https://twitter.com/Unconqueredbook
If you would like to view his book trailer, you can view it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CrVQv2lJJ8

About Unconquered
The Saga of Cousins Jerry Lee Lewis, Jimmy Swaggart, and Mickey Gilley.

In 1935 and early 1936, three cousins were born into tight-knit families in Ferriday, Louisiana. Rare piano talent, strong parental relationships, the Pentecostal church, family struggle, and a variety of musical influences worked together to produce men who changed twentieth-century music and culture. The individual stories of these three cousins illustrate their varied paths from small-town America to a world stage. Woven together, the collective story becomes even more compelling and amazing.

UNCONQUERED is a story so unlikely that it would not be believable if written as fiction. It tells of rock ‘n’ roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, and country music star Mickey Gilley. These very different men, raised in the same time and place, with similar talents, were fated for entirely different destinies even as their lives would always be profoundly intertwined. Born into poverty, each man, in his own way, would become an iconic figure blessed with the ability to thrill and inspire.

The story's touchstones of music, perseverance, and faith could wield such force only in the American South. There, in the Louisiana lowlands’ Concordia Parish, their story began in the midst of the Great Depression.

Purchase your copy at http://www.amazon.com/Unconquered-Cousins-Swaggart-Mickey-Gilley/dp/1612540414/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335293561&sr=8-1

~~~ WIN A FREE KINDLE! ~ ~ ~
J.D. Davis will be giving away a FREE KINDLE! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to win! This giveaway is only open to U.S. and Canada citizens. Deadline is June 1 and announced on June 2. If you are the winner, contact Dorothy Thompson at thewriterslife (at) gmail.com or Tracee Gleichner at tgleichner (at) gmail.com. You have 48 hours to reply. If we do not hear from you in 48 hours, another winner will be selected. Thanks and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why I Like Your Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Michelle @ The True Book Addict) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 09:02:00 +0000

I hope this post doesn't ruffle any feathers, but I just felt like speaking out a bit. In light of the recent plagiarism controversy about which I am completely appalled, I would like to address what was actually plagiarized. It was a series of blogging 'dos and don'ts', etc. which I have always taken issue with. Some of the don'ts are always "don't have too large of a header," don't have auto-play music," etc., etc. and blah, blah, blah... Here is a copy of the comment I left on the Beautifully Invisible blog regarding what went on, but also addressing the issue I'm talking about above:

I am so sorry that this happened to you all. Plagiarism is not to be tolerated and by no means is it ever accidental, except in some extreme cases. I have steered clear of said plagiarist's blog ever since I first started my book blog in 2009 because, back then she did a series of posts about the no-nos of blogging. I just have to say, who's to say what is right and wrong in blogging. I have a large header and auto play music on my blog. It has not caused me any harm to have it designed this way. In fact, I have almost 600 Google Friend Connect followers and over 700 feedburner subscribers. I get compliments regularly about my blog design and my music. What I'm trying to say is that no post should be plagiarized by no means, but what are these types of posts trying to accomplish? A slew of blogging automatons who all have the same blog design. I'm sorry, but I would much rather be the odd color in the crayon box.

Now I realize that I have gone off topic here, but I just get so tired of hearing these "guidelines." Back in 2009, in the first few months of starting my blog, I decided to steer clear of said plagiarist's blog for just this reason. A series of blogging no-nos posted on her blog. For a new blogger, especially someone like me who has always marched to the beat of her own drum, this made me feel very inadequate and that my blog was crap. But you know what? I had continual visitors paying me compliments on the design and the music. Yes, I'm sure there are some who hate it, but ultimately, I started my blog for personal reasons and to please myself. There were never advance plans of gaining a following and everything else that has happened in almost three years of blogging. What a pleasant surprise it was to discover that those things do happen and it's quite nicely the icing on the cake, but I still blog mostly for myself. I'm the one who does all the work and I'm not being paid to do it. If I'm not being true to myself, what's the point? So, what I'm trying to say is...

These are the things that will keep me coming back to your blog

Have any damn size header you want. Make your whole blog a header or don't have one at all, for all I care. I'm there to read your content and if I have to scroll down a bit to get to it, well, boo hoo, my poor down-button finger (not).
Have some cool music playing. There is such a thing as a pause button if I don't like it (do make the player visible for that reason or have a note at the top telling it's location), but I probably won't pause it.
I don't care if you have loads of stuff in your sidebar(s). Are blog readers so easily distracted by what's going on in the sidebar? Sorry if you are, but I'm not.
Design it to your liking. Again, I'm there to read your content, not for your blog design. If it's pretty, all the better, but it's not a deal breaker if it is not. If someone comes to your blog to read your content, but leaves because of the design...well, maybe you don't want them reading your blog anyway.
For those of you who have a more plain and organized blog, I like you too. ;O)

There you have it. Again, I hope I don't upset too many people with this post, but after almost three years of feeling this way, I just finally had to say something.

To read more about the plagiarism controversy, visit this POST.