Q: My friends have been drinking and trying to get me to try it. I’ve done it a couple of times, not much, but enough that it’ll be really hard to say “no” now. What should I do?

That’s a question I would have asked if I’d written to Girl Talk at the start of my freshman year of high school. But, I didn’t know to ask. I didn’t know I was facing a challenge. I simply reacted to things as I faced them. And I made mistakes. Many of them. And like many teenagers, once I made mistakes, I thought I was powerless to reverse those choices and go back in the other direction.

Each of us has a set of experiences and circumstances, some within our control, and some not, that shapes the way we look at choices, temptation, sin, peer pressure, and everything that comes up along the way. If we can help prepare girls before they find themselves staring peer pressure in the face, they’ll feel more equipped to stand strong. To say NO to whatever life throws at them. And once they’ve made mistakes, we can empower them to stand against the onslaught of pressure and go another way.

Why girls?

Hmm. What is it about girls that makes me so passionate to help them? That’s a great question. I guess I relate to them because I am one.

I sort of made a promise to God at one point in my life. I won’t say that I’ve walked with that promise in mind all these years, but it’s there at the foundation of my walk with God. It birthed an ache in my heart that wants to help them out. And with the memory of the poor choices I made as a teen still blinking like a neon sign in my history, I want to help today’s teenagers avoid those same mistakes.

And bad decisions are one thing, but there’s also the stuff girls deal with that they have no control over: Divorce, Abuse, Loss, Grief, Illness, financial strain, etc. . .etc. . . Those life-altering circumstances make it even more difficult for girls to stand against the pressure when all they want is friendship, acceptance, and love.

It takes pro-active, intentional effort to make the necessary preparations to help teens combat peer pressure.

That’s why my daughters and I started the Girl Talk Column on my blog. We wanted to give girls a place they could go with those tough questions about life. The column grew and the questions built up to the point when we, along with Barbour Publishing, decided to put 180 questions from readers and our answers into a book. But it’s not just any book–the vibrant, trendy format has a scrapbook-y feel as each page is full color with graphics galore. Take a look at the trailer to get a better feel for what it looks like:

And here’s some info right from the back cover:

Q: My mom is always on me about what I wear. I just don’t see why it should matter to her. I mean, she got to wear the things she wanted to wear when she was young–the styles are different now, though. She won’t let me wear any shirts that show even a fraction of my stomach, and I have to actually bend over in jeans to prove to her that nothing shows in the back—if you know what I mean. She even says there’s stuff in the Bible about the way to dress right. Is that true? What should I do to change her mind?

Q: I have a friend who is pretty skinny, but she thinks she’s fat. . . . I actually heard her make herself throw up in the school bathroom a couple of times. What should I do about it? Or is it none of my business?

It’s Time for Some Girl Talk! . . .

Popular blogging trio—mother, Nicole O’Dell, along with daughters, Emily and Natalie—offer trustworthy, biblically-based advice for all your ups, downs, and in-betweens. Culled from actual questions they’ve encountered on their blog site, this fabulous resource offers real-life helps for issues including relationships, character, body image, fashion, gossip, and more. You’ll find 180 questions along with answers and related scripture selections that will both encourage and challenge you in your faith walk.

Nat, Em, and I hope you’ll pass this resource along to the teens in your life. Also, the Girl Talk column is ongoing. You can write to us with your questions anytime! Contact us here.

Remember, it’s all about choices!

_______________________________________________

Nicole O’Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries and host of Teen Talk Radio, is a mom of six—ranging from 20 all the way down to a set of toddler triplets. She writes fiction for teens including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the Diamond Estates Series. Her nonfiction focuses on helping teens make good choices and bridging the gap in parent/teen communication. On Teen Talk Radio, Nicole talks with teens and special guests about the real issues young people face today, and she loves getting out among teens and parents when speaking at youth groups and conferences. Visit www.nicoleodell.com or www.facebook.com/nicoleodell.

Emily is a straight-A fifth grader at Eastlawn School in Paxton, IL. She lives with her mom, stepdad, three sisters, and two broth- ers. Never found without her iPod, Emily loves to dance and sing. She’s a busy girl who enjoys swimming, skateboarding, and hanging out with friends. She’s active in her community and local church, and plans to be a teacher when she grows up.

Natalie is an honor student in the eighth grade at PBL Middle School in Paxton, IL. The oldest daughter of six kids, Natalie is a very loving and hands-on big sister. She’s passionate about her walk with Christ, and almost as passionate about the game of volleyball. She holds first- chair clarinet in the school band and looks forward to high school marching band. At this point, Natalie aspires to a career in the culinary arts, but is open to other possibilities.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Girl Talk by Nicole O’Dell along with her daughters Natalie & Emily that is personally signed by them to share with my readers.  To enter…

• For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• For 2 entries, sign up for Nicole’s Choices e-Zine/newsletter
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 17/12.  Good luck!

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Welcome to Winter!

Good Sunday morning everyone although you can see by the above picture that all is not so pleasant here right now.  Yes, that’s right – as usual I spoke too soon about our lovely weather and now look.  We got quite a bit more snow after I took this picture and we had gotten over 10 inches of snow already at the time of me writing this and it was still going pretty good.  It was snowing and blowing and yucky!  I got a kick out of Sam Saturday morning as he didn’t even want to venture out for his first walk.  He braved the second one although we didn’t go far.  It was hilarious though as we went down the alley and he was running inside the tire tracks which were as high as he is.  He’d look side to side and then all of a sudden take a big jump over one.  lol.  Anyhow, while I don’t like snow and icy roads we did need the moisture so I’ll grin and bear it for now.  It’s supposed to snow more today as well so we’ll see how much we end up by the time it’s completely over.  Spring isn’t that far off…  I hope…

I thought I’d update you all on my tests – thank you so much to those of you who sent me emails.  That really meant a lot to me.  The one ultrasound I had I do have to wait for results but the other — the one lump I had was in fact a cyst and while it’s quite big it’s not bothering me and we’re leaving it alone for now.  Unfortunately though I do have one that is not normal and I have to go back in six months for another look.  If I notice any changes or if they do at that time, it’ll be a biopsy.  So, while I’m worried I’m trying not to really think about it for now.  Thank you all for your well wishes and all that good stuff.

Ok, let’s see what’s up for this week.  Well my reading has been going pretty good.  I’m not getting as much done as I’d like to but at least I’m not in a slump.  What I do need to do is clean up this blog a bit and get some monthly updates done and – I know this is bad, but I need to catch up and do last years because I still want a record of my reading for last year.  What am I reading right now – Insatiable by Meg Cabot in preparation for Overbite which I’m reviewing later this week and also The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose for later this week as well.  I haven’t started The Book of Lost Fragrances yet but Insatiable is pretty good!  Anyhow, here’s a look at the week ahead…

Monday – Guest Post with Nicole O’Dell, author of Girl Talk and Giveaway
Tuesday – Review of The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose
Wednesday – Guest Post with Donna Russo Morin, author of The King’s Agent and Giveaway
Thursday – Guest Post with M.J. Rose, author of The Book of Lost Fragrances
Friday – Review of Overbite by Meg Cabot
Saturday – Book Spotlight and Giveaway of The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

Yes, another very busy week.  Oh well hopefully I can do a few posts ahead of time and then it’s not so bad.  I usually sit down during dinner and get my posts done or when Sammy is napping otherwise it’s impossible to concentrate.  So, I hope you’ll all join me for another fun filled week at the blog!

Well I do have a few pictures of Sammy enjoying the snow for you this week.  I’ll tell you though it is close to impossible to get pictures of this guy outside.  He does so many funny things out there until the camera comes outside and then that’s it.  He stops, gives me the ‘look’ and heads for the stairs or if he’s inside the house turns around and walks away.  It is so frustrating!  I hope you enjoy the ones I did manage to get!

Hello everyone!  Boy oh boy there is a lot of snow here to play in.  But… she has that camera…  I’ll just scoot up the stairs instead.  Ooops, I guess not.  She booted my butt back down.  Guess the camera stays.

Kind of hard to see with all this snow blowing in my eyes.  Do you see how big that snowbank is beside me?  Where did that come from?  It wasn’t here last night…

Ok, I’ve rooted through the snow a few times and I’m ready to go in.  The truth is I’m sick of that camera mommy keeps following me around with.  Can’t a puppy just come out and play without being bugged all the time by his mommy.

Ok mommy.  Enough is enough.  Do you see this snow falling on me and my snowy booties?  It’s about time we get inside for that treat of mine!

Now for some book winners and there’s quite a few since I forgot to do the two from last week.  Congrats to all…

The Summer Garden by Sherryl Woods — Kitty

Holly’s Inbox by Holly Denham — Cassandra G

Compulsively Mr. Darcy by Nina Benneton — Karen K

The Firelight of Maalda by Melissa Douthit — Carla

Into the Darkness by V.C. Andrews — Lisa G and Linda K

Far From Here by Nicole Baart — Na S

The Turning of Anne Merrick by Christine Blevins— the books were won by Linda B and Carrie at In the Hammock Blog and the 18th Century Paper Goods were won by Wendy at Wall-to-Wall Books

So, that’s all for this week for me.  What about you guys?  What have you been doing and reading?  I hope you all have a great week.  I’ll be busy trying not to get buried in all my snow.  lol.  Sammy sends out Sammy slurps to all his fans…

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Happy Saturday everyone!  Today I’m spotlighting a book for you entitled An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski.  This book sounds so amazing and heart wrenching at the same time and it has gotten fantastic reviews on Amazon.  I’m going to share with you what the book is about and you’ll see why I can’t wait to read it myself.  Be sure to check out the great giveaway as well at the end of the post!

About An Invisible Thread

“Excuse me lady, do you have any spare change? I am hungry.”

When I heard him, I didn’t really hear him. His words were part of the clatter, like a car horn or someone yelling for a cab. They were, you could say, just noise—the kind of nuisance New Yorkers learn to tune out. So I walked right by him, as if he wasn’t there.

But then, just a few yards past him, I stopped.

And then—and I’m still not sure why I did this—I came back.

When Laura Schroff first met Maurice on a New York City street corner, she had no idea that she was standing on the brink of an incredible and unlikely friendship that would inevitably change both their lives. As one lunch at McDonald’s with Maurice turns into two, then into a weekly occurrence, Laura learns heart-wrenching details about Maurice’s horrific childhood.

Sprinkled throughout the book is also Laura’s own story of her turbulent childhood. Every now and then, something about Maurice’s struggles reminds her of her past, how her father’s alcohol-induced rages shaped the person she became and, in a way, led her to Maurice.

As their friendship grows, Laura offers Maurice simple experiences he comes to treasure: learning how to set a table, trimming a Christmas tree, visiting her nieces and nephew on Long Island, and even having homemade lunches to bring to school.

AN INVISIBLE THREAD is the heartwarming story of a friendship that has spanned thirty years and brought life to an over-scheduled professional and hope to a hungry and desperate boy.

An Invisible Thread website
Photos from An Invisible Thread
A Q&A with Laura Schroff
Excerpts from An Invisible Thread
Reading Guide for An Invisible Thread
Find An Invisible Thread on Facebook
Follow An Invisible Thread on Twitter
Buy your own copy of An Invisible Thread at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca

Check out the Book Trailer…

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have 3 copies of An Invisible Thread by Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski up for giveaway to my readers.  To enter…

• For 1 entry simply leave a comment entering the giveaway.
• For 2 entries, follow my blog (I’ll be changing this soon as GFC is disappearing for non-blogger sites – keep a look out for it).  If you already follow, just let me know and I’ll pass the extra entry on to you as well.
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will be drawing for the winners on Saturday, March 17/12.  Good luck everyone!

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Embrace by Jessica Shirvington is releasing on March 6 and let me just say right off that I loved this book! This book had me up half the night on Wednesday and then I finished it off on Thursday. It all boils down to me being completely and utterly addicted to this series and anxiously awaiting the sequel! Embrace is a YA novel but let me tell you, as an adult, I was utterly lost in this fantasy world. It has all the elements that I love in a paranormal read with angels – good and bad, a little romace, a great heroine, and plenty of action!

Violet is turning seventeen. Now for any normal teen this wouldn’t be a huge deal but for Violet it is; it’s the anniversary of her mother’s death. This birthday though is going to be a hard one for Violet to ever forget – it will be the year she learns that she is a Grigori – part human, part angel. Worse yet she learns that Lincoln, the guy that she’s fallen for and who is one of her best friends, is also a Grigori and apparantely her destined partner although they can never be together the way she wishes they could. Now if that isn’t enough to kick a girl in the butt on her birthday, I don’t what is.

Violet is steamed. Lincoln has been lying to her all along and she trusted him with everything she had. Now she finds that she has to embrace this power in her to become a Grigori but she wants nothing to do with any of this business. She just wants her old life back but even that’s hard to do because the ‘oh so hot’ Phoenix seems to always be everywhere she is. After he helps her out of a few scrapes she begins to trust him and since being with Lincoln is forbidden she takes up with Phoenix instead. The question to ask though is if she takes up with him of her own free will or not? Soon enough the drama and jealousy is swirling around as Lincoln and Phoenix both vie for Violet’s attention and love. Are either of these loves pure and true or is there some evil force lurking in the wings?

Violet is a great character. She’s sassy and spunky and doesn’t hesitate with the smart remarks. As she learns more about the mother who passed without her ever knowing her and more about herself she realizes that she may not have a choice but to embrace this world. When something happens that takes Violet’s free will from her she enters this new world and she finds that even in this world she is unique. It seems she has powers and markings on her arms that surprise even the oldest Grigori members.

Embrace is a story of the fight between good and evil – an age old battle; only now it’s between the Angels and the Exiles. There are angels of light and angels of dark. It is Violet’s duty to protect the innocent on earth. Shirvington maps out the distinct hierarchy of the angel world and there is a lot of information to take in on how this world functions. I did find it hard to follow all the ins and outs of this world at times but I expect it to make much more sense as the series moves forward. Regardless of that I was fascinated by this world and can’t wait for more.

Shirvington has created a fantastic world with characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. I would recommend this series to those who enjoyed The Twilight Saga and yet I hate to compare it to that because I actually think Embrace is much better. It also reminds me a bit of Cassandra Clare’s Immortals series in terms of the fast paced action that grabs you and holds on. Either way I think Embrace was a terrific book and I’ll be one of the first in line to read the sequel Enticed in September!

Be sure to check out Jessica’s website and blog.  You can also follow the Embrace series on Facebook and Twitter.  Pre-order your own copy of Embrace here in the US and here in Canada.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Embrace by Jessica Shirvington to share with my readers.  To enter…

• For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, just let me know and the second entry if yours as well.
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 17/12.  Good luck everyone!

Source: Review copy provided by Sourcebooks. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Today we have RaeAnne Thayne, author of Woodrose Mountain which releases on March 27, with us here at Peeking Between the Pages.  Doesn’t this book have the prettiest cover?  I haven’t yet had a chance to read this novel but it sounds wonderful and I’m excited to be able to share this guest post and giveaway with my readers.  RaeAnne joins us today with her thoughts in a post entitled My Writing Journey…

I’m one of those rare and fortunate people who have actually been able to realize a dream – forty times over! I still have to pinch myself sometimes to make sure it’s real.

While I didn’t set out to be a writer when I was young, I was always a voracious reader who used to sneak books and flashlights under my covers at night to squeeze a little more reading time out of my day. I hated not having a book in my hands and by the time I reached junior high school, my favorite genre had become romance novels. I didn’t care whether I read historical romance or contemporary romance, I just wanted (and still do!) the kind of story where two deserving people confront difficult challenges and must grow and stretch and change before they can find joy.

My love of reading led me to a career in journalism. I enjoyed the excitement and diversity of working in a busy newsroom but throughout the decade I spent as a reporter and editor, I dreamed about writing a romance novel. My friends at the college newspaper where I worked used to hang out between deadlines trying to come up with pseudonyms for me!

Like many dreamers, I didn’t do anything more than talk about it for a while but I finally gathered the courage to start my first book a few years after college, when I was home on maternity leave with our oldest daughter, who is now twenty-one. Writing that first book was a magical experience, exploring this incredible, exciting world where I suddenly had ultimate power.

By then, I was the news editor for the daily paper where I worked, charged each day with reading through every wire service story to choose those that would run in our paper. Reading each day about murders and wars and political corruption was tough, grueling business. I found a much-needed escape through this fictional world I was creating during my time off. I would get up at 4 a.m. each day, write for a few hours, then rush to the newspaper office for my shift that started at six-thirty. Writing became my joy and my comfort!

For the next five years, I did all I could to learn my craft, reading everything I was able to get my hands on about storytelling. I completed two books in that time and endured some hard disappointments and rejection, a rite of passage for all writers! I had some successes, too, which fueled the fire inside me, most notably selling several romantic short stories to Woman’s World magazine.

In August of 1995, I received The Call, informing me Bantam wanted to buy my first two books for their Loveswept line. I don’t think any author ever forgets that moment! Mine was about two o’clock on a Friday afternoon. I remember it with brilliant clarity – my five-year-old daughter and a couple of friends running around the house laughing and playing, our wild German shorthair barking at them in the background and trying to join the fun, and me on the phone to an editor I had been working with, trying to sound calm. As I hung up, I sank to the kitchen floor (probably desperately in need of mopping!) and started to shake. I can remember thinking my life was now going to change, ready or not.

I wrote three more books for Loveswept before the publisher discontinued the imprint in 1998. It was a scary time, as I had only months earlier quit my job at the newspaper to write full-time and be a stay-at-home mom upon the birth of our second child. To my vast relief and delight, I quickly found a new home with Harlequin/Silhouette, where I’ve been ever since.

Forty books later, I still can’t quite believe I have taken a dream that once seemed impossibly out of reach and somehow wrestled it into reality.

In my latest book, WOODROSE MOUNTAIN – second in my Hope’s Crossing series for HQN – my heroine has dreams of her own, of finding peace and serenity in the small Colorado town. Evie Blanchard has struggled with pain and loss and wants nothing more than a quiet place to rebuild her life. When Brodie Thorne shows up at her doorstep pleading for her help with his brain-injured daughter’s rehab, Evie is torn between protecting herself and potentially changing a young girl’s life.

In the process, she discovers – as I have over these last two decades and 40 books, that sometimes dreams shift and evolve – becoming something better than we ever could have imagined.

What about you? What are your dreams and how are you working to make them come true? If you have already made it happen, what lessons did you learn through the process?

About Woodrose Mountain

Six months ago Evie Blanchard left her hectic life in Los Angeles for the peace of a small town. She loved her job as a pediatric physical therapist there when her adopted special-needs child passed away from complications of her condition, Evie was thrown into an emotional tailspin.

Walking away from the medical field and moving to Hope’s Crossing has helped Evie find the calm and serenity lacking in her life. While some part of her misses helping children gain or regain the skills they need for daily life, she loves her friendships with the clients at Claire’s bead store where she now works, as well as the creative challenge of designing custom jewelry on the side. She has even started a popular occupational therapy beading program for senior citizens to help arthritic hands maintain flexibility and strength.

Evie loves her life here. But her new-found peace is threatened when widower Brodie Thorne bursts into her life, along with his injured daughter, Taryn, seriously wounded in the crash in BLACKBERRY SUMMER and facing extensive rehabilitation.

Evie doesn’t want to become involved with Brodie or Taryn. It’s one thing to help senior citizens open jar lids. It’s something else entirely when the person in need is a girl who is now in a wheelchair and may never walk again or even be able to hold a pencil. Evie knows she must steel her emotions against giving everything inside her to another child. But she is no match for Brodie, 38, who will do anything for his daughter, even humble himself by asking Evie to help him care for Taryn. Brodie brings the same intensity to giving his daughter a new chance at life that he does to all his vast business and real-estate endeavors around Hope’s Crossing.

Despite Evie’s best efforts to keep a safe emotional distance, she finds herself inexorably tugged into the lives of Brodie and Taryn. The girl becomes a symbol to everyone in Hope’s Crossing of healing and recovery, of second chances, and the entire town becomes invested in helping her. Evie is heartened by the changes in the town she has come to love and she begins to realize she must confront the shadows of her past so that she and Brodie can work together to build a future for his daughter … and for themselves.

Pre-order your own copy of Woodrose Mountain at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca

About RaeAnne Thayne

USA TODAY bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne started off as a newspaper reporter and editor for fifteen years. She sold her first book in 1995 and since then she’s published nearly forty more. Her books have won many honors, including three RITA® Award nominations from the Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne finds inspiration from the rugged northern Utah mountains, where she lives with her hero of a husband and their children.

RaeAnne’s website
Find RaeAnne on Facebook
Follow RaeAnne on Twitter

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Woodrose Mountain by RaeAnne Thayne to share with my readers.  To enter…

• For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 17/12.  Good luck everyone!

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Honor Redeemed by Loree Lough is her second book in the First Responders Series. I read From Ashes to Honor last year (my review) and liked it so I was excited to read this one as well and I wasn’t disappointed. There were many characters from the first novel that were included in this one and it was nice to see them back and find out how they were faring. With that being said you don’t have to read the first one to enjoy this one but I think it adds a lot more enjoyment to the second novel by doing so. Honor Redeemed is a novel about sacrifice and love and it will definitely tug at your heart!

Honor Mackenzie has been dealt some rough blows both in childhood and in her adult years but she’s tough and she picks up and keeps going. She began working as a firefighter after losing her fiance in the days after 9/11 but soon nasty rumors began circulating about her and both her reputation and career were soon in the dumps. Because she wants to give back and honor those who lost their lives in the line of duty she decides to volunteer in search and rescue with her dogs Rowdy and Rerun and also trains both dogs and their owners in search and rescue.

Honor isn’t one for relationships so when she meets Matt she is really cautious for more than one reason – he is also a reporter and it was a reporter who had initially spread all the awful rumors about her. Matt is charming though and she is drawn to him and his sons. Yet there is always those niggling thoughts and for Honor she wonders what will happen when Matt’s little family is exposed to all the awful stories about her and for Matt his first priority is his sons and he starts to shy away from a relationship with Honor because he doesn’t want his boys hurt. Will love and faith conquer all or will Honor and Matt be torn apart?

I was pulled into this story right off and it’s because I really enjoy the author’s writing. It’s simple and just flows and I like that. I enjoy the characters she writes about and while I got frustrated with Honor more than once I still felt very drawn to her and her struggles with letting anyone close to her. I found myself very invested in the lives of those in this book and caring about where they would end up in the journey of life. I like that God and faith play a big role in everyone’s life as well. My only complaint would be that the ending was rushed and I wanted more from it. I’m looking forward to the next novel in the series as I’ve come to really enjoy Loree Lough’s work!

I read Honor Redeemed by Loree Lough for her book tour with Pump Up Your Book. Be sure to check out all the other tour stops as well and you can find Loree at her website, blog, Facebook or Twitter. Your own copy of Honor Redeemed can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.  I’ll leave you now with the Book Trailer…

Source:  Review copy provided by Pump Up Your Book and the Publisher via NetGalley.  No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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By the King’s Design by Christine Trent is why I love historical fiction! What a fabulous read! There is nothing I like better than when an author can weave fact with fiction and have me so glued to the pages that I can’t put the book down. By the King’s Design has it all – greed, vengeance, and love!

Annabelle Stirling is a very strong and determined woman for the era she was living in which was the 1800′s. After Belle’s parents died in a fever epidemic she took over running the family draper shop (cloth merchants) even though her brother Wesley is the true heir. Unfortunately Wesley doesn’t take much of an interest in the shop and would rather be out and about while Belle is truly good at what she does and loves it. In an effort to get more cloth produced in a day Belle installs a gig mill. However this doesn’t go over so well in the community as it will take away work from those who need it and Belle’s shop ends up being destroyed by none other than her own fiance and her brother. Belle is incensed and not only calls off her wedding but heads off to Parliament to make sure someone hears her case and puts a stop to this kind of thing happening to people just trying to earn a living.

Belle is turned away at every stop in London but she is not a woman to be stopped and finally ends up being heard by the Parliament. Of course they pretty much laugh her off but one thing they don’t forget is how spunky, passionate, and outspoken she is and this is what happens to reach the Prince Regent’s (the future King George IV) ears and he is intrigued. When he meets her, he is impressed and decides to have her provide the fabrics for his Royal Pavillion. Belle has already found a shop and her brother Wesley has brought all her supplies to London so she accepts of course – it is quite the honor. As word spreads, so does Belle’s business and soon enough her shop is thriving and she is more busy than ever. She even meets a man -a cabinetmaker – and while she’s attracted to him she’s also worried as she refuses to give up her independence for anyone. Just as things are going well her brother Wesley begins acting stranger than ever and all of a sudden things aren’t quite as stable as they once were. Will she fall in love? Will her flourishing business be ruined by her brother?

I can’t say enough about this novel. I enjoyed it so much. I loved all the details on being a draper and on cabinetmaking – you learn just what was and wasn’t popular back in this time period. It was all really fascinating. I also enjoyed the vivid details that the author provided when describing just what the Prince Regent was looking for in the design of the Pavillion. There is a lot of historical detail regarding the Prince Regent who eventually became King George IV and on the Regency period. For me this was a plus and I didn’t find it overwhelming at all as I didn’t previously have a lot of knowledge on this time period. When I read historical fiction I look for those details as I want to learn as much as I can while having a story to enjoy. Christine Trent achieved this and more with By the King’s Design and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it those who love historical fiction and I can’t wait to read more of her work!

I read By the King’s Design by Christine Trent for her book tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. Be sure and check out the other tour stops to see what other’s thoughts are on the book. You can find Christine at her website and on Facebook. Your own copy of By the King’s Design can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada. Better yet you can head over and enter the giveaway I have running right now for By the King’s Design and win a copy!

Source: Review copy provided by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and the Publisher. No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Just what constitutes a perfect family? Is it having both a mother and father? Is it belonging to the country club and having lots of money? In Night Swim, debut novelist Jessica Keener gives us an in-depth look into a so called ‘perfect family and what sometimes lurks behind the facade?

To the outside world sixteen-year-old Sarah Kunitz’s life looks pretty good. Her parents live pretty high with parties, expensive cars and even a live-in maid to take care of the chores and help with Sarah and her three brothers. Looks can be deceiving though and much of the time the kids sit nervous and waiting for the next blowup from their father who likes to have complete order and control of his household. Sarah’s mother, who blames her children and arthritis for making her give up a career playing the violin handles things by popping as many pills as she can manage and always having a drink at hand.

When Sarah’s mother dies in a car accident the lives of the Kunitz family are forever changed. Yet for Sarah she has felt her mother slipping away for a long time, trying to leave them. She had finally succeeded. Her father, already more concerned with himself than his kids, begins to see a younger lady friend who had been friends to both of her parents at one time. None of the kids are happy with this but Sarah especially so. This woman can’t take the place of her mother and Sarah is angry with her father for starting to see someone so soon after her mother’s death.

Drifting along Sarah, anxious to grow up and having no guidance to steer her otherwise delves into a few relationships with boys. Sarah, normally a level headed girl, doesn’t foresee the all of the consequences of jumping into relationships that she really isn’t quite ready to handle and ultimately she is faced with decisions that a girl of her age shouldn’t have to make.

Night Swim is a beautifully written novel and one I enjoyed. There are many passages that are worth reading over and over just for the beauty of the sentence itself. Sarah, even being in the midst of her confusing teenage years, is an easy girl to like and you find yourself very invested in her life and future. You find yourself feeling her pain over the loss of her mother and then her struggle to find herself in a world that doesn’t make much sense to her anymore. Night Swim is a coming of age story but even more than that it is a story of a broken people trying to find a way to heal and move on.

I read Night Swim by Jessica Keener for her book tour with TLC Book Tours. You can pop into the other tour stops and see the thoughts of others on this novel. Be sure to check out Jessica’s website and you can find her on Facebook and Twitter as well. Your own copy of Night Swim can be purchased here in the US and here in Canada.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of Night Swim by Jessica Keener to share with my readers. To enter…

• For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (no PO boxes) and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 10/12.  Good luck to all!

Source:  Review copy provided by TLC Book Tours and Fiction Studio Books.  No compensation was received for this review and all opinions are my own.

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Good day everyone.  Yes, I’m supposed to have a review for you today of By the King’s Design by Christine Trent as she is touring with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours but unfortunately for me I am still plagued with a wicked migraine.  It’s finally going away I think but I’m exhausted and have been unable to read much.  Unwilling to let Christine down completely I’m going to post a book spotlight with a giveaway today but please check back next week as I will have my review of By the King’s Design up and may I just say that it is an excellent read so far!

About By the King’s Design by Christine Trent

Thanks to her patron and great architect, John Nash, Belle Stirling is a rising star in the homes of London’s fashionable elite. Even the Prince Regent wants her elegant, high quality fabrics used in the decoration of his new palace, Brighton Pavilion. But when those closest to her conspire against Parliament, she risks losing her reputation, her business. . .and even her life.

Read an excerpt
Check out the backstory
Read some reviews
Reader Discussion Questions

Buy your own copy at Amazon.com or Chapters Indigo.ca

Check out Christine’s tour stops at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours

Find Christine at her website and on Facebook

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

I have one copy of By the King’s Design by Christine Trent up for grabs and the best thing is that it is open Internationally!  To enter…

• For 1 entry simply leave me a comment entering the giveaway.
• For 2 entries, follow my blog.  If you already do, thank you, and please let me know so I can pass the extra entry on to you as well.
• For 3 entries, blog or tweet this giveaway and spread the word.

This giveaway is open INTERNATIONALLY and I will draw for the winner on Saturday, March 10/12.  Good luck everyone!

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The Night Strangers by Chris Bojalian – can I just stop here and say wow! This book kept me on the edge of my seat and my heart pounding more than a few times. It has all the makings of a creepy story that I really love – noises in the night, secret ceremonies, suspected witches, and ghosts. There isn’t much more that I ask for in a good thriller and The Night Strangers delivered it all to me and more.

The novel opens with the crash of pilot Chip’s plane due to a flock of geese flying into the engines. Despite his efforts to save his passengers, many perish but some do survive. Chip is tormented by nightmares and guilt, not to mention that he can’t seem to go anywhere without being recognized. Chip and his wife Emily feel it’s best to move with their two girls Hallie and Garnet and start somewhere fresh. It is with this thought that they end up in Bethel, New Hampshire and find a beautiful Victorian home that seems perfect for them. All except for that strange door in the basement that has been sealed up forever with 39 bolts – even stranger is that is the exact number of passengers that perished in the crash.

Soon after they move in they begin to notice strange things about the house and even the neighbors. It’s not that they haven’t been welcomed because they certainly have especially after some of the townsfolk learned that the Chip and Emily had twin girls. The thing that was really strange was the interest these people were taking in their twin girls. As time goes on they discover that their girls aren’t’ the first twins to live in the home. There were twin boys at one point; one of who committed suicide. Emily seems most bothered by these women who have taken such an interest in her girls and even more she is disturbed by the reputation she is beginning to find out that these women have as suspected witches. They call themselves herbalists but their mixing of all kinds of potions for this and that along with their suspicious behavior has caused other townsfolk to label them as witches. Other than being obsessed with the twins they also seem obsessed with baking goodies for the family to eat and for some reason they focus this attention on Chip.

As for Chip he is understandably suffering from depression. He holds himself responsible for the lives lost on his plane even though it wasn’t his fault. Worse yet though is that it seems that some of those ghosts have followed him to his new home and insist on communicating with him. Most dominant is a father and daughter and what the father is demanding of Chip is unbelievably horrifying. Yet Chip feels such guilt and he feels like he needs to help these people. As time moves forward though Chip is becoming increasingly tormented by this father and he feels he is losing his mind. He begins to investigate and as he uncovers more and more about his house and the townspeople, he becomes even more scared for his family.

The Night Strangers really kept me turning those pages. It’s a story that unfolds slowly, yet steadily and keeps you completely in its grip as it does. The novel builds and builds right up to the ending that shocked the pants of me. I’m still thinking about it. I don’t think I’ve been that surprised by an ending in a while. This book is well worth reading in my opinion! Beware though of reading it alone at night with the lights out – you may get more than a little creeped out!

Source:  My own copy.  Review first posted on Book Trib.

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