Tag: Book Reviews

The Silent Blade | Book Review, Blog Tour

Published on by Amanda Tero2 Comments


You may remember a few weeks ago, when I shared a cover design for The Silent Blade. I started out as a beta reader, designed the cover, and am now helping Jesseca as she releases this fun book!


ABOUT THE BOOK
Dromiskin, Ireland. 925 A.D.

Eira has no greater desire than to see her life returned to what it once was—before her older brother Kevin’s sudden disappearance four years earlier. But the simple life she hoped for seems unattainable; on the contrary, her life is about to get all the more complicated.


When she suddenly finds herself and Willem, her twin brother, taken captive by someone who claims to be Kevin’s enemy, things go from bad to worse. It soon becomes clear that she and Willem are to become bait in a trap set for Kevin, and Eira knows she must try to warn him. But how, when she herself is a captive?

As mysteries of the past are unveiled, and loyalties are revealed, Eira realizes how precious her friends truly are. And when mortal danger threatens those nearest to her, will she be able to trust God with the lives of her friends and family?




MY REVIEW


When a trade ship docks at Dromiskin, Eira can’t help but notice that the men on board act nothing like normal tradesmen. Willem, her twin, shares her suspicions, but not soon enough. Captured together to be used against Eira and Willem’s older brother, the twins are thrown into the middle of a heated battle.

An exciting tale of danger, vengeance, deception, sword-fights, trust and forgiveness. The story flow was smooth and never weighed down. The plot line kept my mind wandering back to it, wondering what happened in the next scene. There were a lot of questions that arose as the story unfolded, and these questions were satisfactorily answered.

And I just have to throw in a comment about the names! Eira, Willem, Casimer, Rowen, Merek, Aeden, Cian, Diarmuid … ah! I loved them all! Not too weird and balanced out by names such as Henry and Anna.

I was a little disappointed that there is practically no parental involvement in this story. And, at the beginning, what was mentioned of the parents was not completely honoring (like “Father makes me do classes” type of thing).

Some parts of this book didn’t quite “feel” the era and there was some amateur writing, but overall, considering the author’s age it was good.

There was some romance in this book, but it was sweet. No kisses.

*I beta-read this book for the author and volunteered to give my review*


GIVEAWAY
Jesseca is giving away a copy of The Silent Blade and a $5 Amazon gift card! Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


INTERVIEW

How long did The Silent Blade take from idea to finish?
I got the idea in April of 2015, so that would make it about a year and three months!

Sounds about like my timeline for writing just a novella. Can’t imagine what it’d take for a full-length novel. 😉
What is it about The Silent Blade that you feel is different from other medieval stories? What makes it unique?
Most medieval stories I’ve read focus around a group of people as the enemy. (the Vikings, the English, etc.) But in The Silent Blade it’s one man who is the enemy. Yes, he has followers, but the conflict is pretty much something just between two people. Which is different than anything I’ve read in the medieval genre. 🙂

Very true. That was a neat difference.
What future plans do you have for writing? (if you’re at the point of sharing)
Currently I’m working a historical-fiction novel set in WWII during the Battle of Britain. It’s currently in the 2nd re-writing/editing stage. It’s my “special” novel, and I’ve learned a lot through writing it, both in a historical context and through my writing it, it’s brought me closer to the Lord.
At times I feel like the book and characters have become a part of me…sometimes I’m not sure how good that is. 😉

Ooh…WWII! I might have to keep my eye out for that. 😉
How long have you been writing?
Well, I’ve been writing for school for years, but I’ve been writing my own stories apart from school for about three years.

What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned while writing?
The first draft is going to be horrible. But that’s okay, because you can go back and fix it later. Also, writing is hard. It’s nice when you get inspired, but if you want to see an idea through to the end, then you will need to discipline yourself to write even when you don’t feel like writing. Oh, and let others read your work! You will never be able to grow if you don’t learn what areas you need to work on. Those have probably been the biggest things I’ve learned!

And great lessons to have learned! I think most of us come to a point in learning all of that (or we should).
What message(s) do you hope to share with your readers?
It isn’t easy to forgive. And without God, it is so, so easy to want to take vengeance on those who have wronged us. But that’s not our place; it’s God’s.

Amen to that!
Who are some of the top authors who inspired you?
For The Silent Blade,  Nicole Sager, C.S. Lewis, and Lois Walfrid Johnson. The way they all used a medieval (or medieval-like fantasy) setting made me fall in love with the time period, and the characters, the epic battles, the sword-fighting… *grins* So yes, those three would be the top authors who inspired me.

Lois Walfrid Johnson! She was one of my favorite authors as a child. I’ve never read her Viking series, though.
Thanks so much for “visiting” my blog, Jesseca! And best wishes on your new release!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Jesseca is an 18-year old daughter, sister, and a child of God. Her days are spent reading, cooking, spending time with siblings, or playing piano.  And writing, of course! At an early age words fascinated her, and her love for the printed page has only grown. She lives with her parents and seven siblings in the sunny state of Kansas, and she’s convinced there’s no place like home. 

Jonas and Olivia | Book Review and Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
ABOUT THE BOOK
Fourteen-year-old Olivia Wilkerson is left desolate and grieving when her patriot father passes away. Directed by his will to be placed in the care of an old friend, Olivia is forced to venture away from all she’s ever known to make her new life among people who are strangers to her.

Unaware of the new responsibility about to be thrust on him, Jonas Carmichael lives the life of a reclusive in an attempt to ignore the painful memories of the past. His heart has grown hard and bitter over the past thirty years of solitude, and his hatred towards people has only multiplied.

Suddenly burdened with Olivia, Jonas’s only burning desire is to shove the girl off on somebody else. But Olivia, still suffering from her loss, is only looking for someone to love her as her father did–and soon realizes that there is more to Jonas than meets the eye.

With the Revolutionary War pressing closer around Jonas’s secluded bubble of safety and threatening to burst it at any moment, Jonas discovers that there are choices to be made–choices that will not only affect himself but those around him as well.

MY REVIEW
What happens when a bitter old man has a serious-minded, talkative little girl thrown into his life? What would break sooner? Her happiness, or his crustiness?

Jonas and Olivia was a super sweet story! The writing will probably be best enjoyed by younger teens, but I liked it. 

Olivia made me think of Pollyanna, seeing the good in everything and practically portrayed as a perfect child. In some ways she seemed younger than fourteen, but she was still a delightful character. Jonas and Ishmael were both well-developed characters and I liked them very much for who they were.

Set during the pre-revolutionary era, it didn’t quite have a strong historical feel, even though a lot was mentioned of the upcoming war. I realize this could just be my personal opinion.

This was a very clean, Christian, and uplifting read. The main Christian theme was trusting God as a loving father. There weren’t any scenes that made me cringe. I would hand it to an eight-year-old without any qualms.

Some favorite quotes:
“If there is a piano,” Olivia decided, taking a deep breath, “it will be all right.”

“A broken heart is not easily mended, but a hardened heart has to be broken again in order to mend.”

*I received this book from the author in exchange of my honest review*

TO LEARN MORE about Jonas and Olivia and order your own copy, visit here.
Victoria is having a giveaway on her website for this book!

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 Victoria Minks is an everyday teenage MK in Japan, with oodles of daydreams and ideas. She loves historical fiction, chocolate, music, horses, and old books, and firmly believes that there is whimsy and beauty in any day. She was saved at age 5 and desires to write for God’s glory.
INTERVIEW
What is your first memory of the baby idea for “Jonas and Olivia?” It sounds a little strange, but I “met” Jonas, one of the main characters, in my head. I wasn’t even brainstorming or anything, he just popped into my thinking like “Hi there! My name is Jonas!” All I knew at first was his name and the basic feel of his character. I liked him so much that I wrote about him in my journal. And the more I found out about him and his story, and how Olivia came into the picture etc, the more I grew to like the entire story. 🙂 

That’s pretty neat! Jonas is definitely an unforgettable character. 🙂 How long did this story take from idea to published? I planned and wrote it in April of 2015. Then it got put aside for a long while till around January 2016 when I started editing. So a little over a year.

What is the most important lesson that you feel you’ve learned in writing “Jonas and Olivia?” Oh… Well as far as writing goes, probably that sometimes you need to take a step back and actually pay attention to your characters, to dig a little deeper. And for the most important life lesson: To stay dedicated and focused on what God has you doing right now, even when you might want to do other things or you get annoyed with what you’re supposed to be working on. 

Very true for both of those. What lesson do you hope your readers will glean from reading “Jonas and Olivia?” I hope that people are reminded of how good a Father our God is to us. That He’s always there for us, ready to help us, forgive us, and hold us.

That was definitely a very present theme. 🙂 What is your favorite part about writing? I love planning and then that wonderful part of writing where you’re just bubbling with excitement and you’re finding out so much about your book, and everything falls into place (even if it’s silly and cut out later). 

Totally agree there!
How long have you been writing? It’s hard to say. I’ve been an extreme bookbug my whole life…I’ve told stories for as long as I can remember. I started writing them all down at around 6 or 7 and haven’t stopped since. 😉 

And then the random questions:
Would you mind sharing your salvation testimony? I’d be happy to! 🙂 I had just turned five years old, and Thanksgiving was approaching. Other than that I have no idea when the actual date was…but that’s ok because I know the Lord saved me and that’s what’s important. My dad and I were talking about Jesus and salvation in front of our rice cooker one evening (we live in Japan). I was impressed deeply by the gospel for the first time that night and realized I was a sinner, and that all the verses Daddy was sharing applied to me. But I was unsure about making a choice–didn’t realize just how very important it was. So I went to bed and didn’t really think about it for a few days more. Then one night soon after, when we were all in bed, I started thinking of it again. I never was afraid of the dark, but that night I kept remembering how Hell is a place with no Light, and I realized in the darkness of my room how awful it would be to go to a place like that–a place without the Lord! That’s when I understood that if I died right then, I would be going to Hell, because I understood the gospel and had been raised in it but so far hadn’t done anything with it. I was really scared, and definitely crying! I called out to the Lord and asked him to save me and wash away all my sins and be my Heavenly Father. I cannot even begin to describe what peace filled me when I prayed that! I knew I was safe forever, and the Lord felt so very near me. 

The little quirk in my testimony about not knowing the date came because I didn’t know I should tell my parents I had gotten saved, so they didn’t know till a few months later when we were singing “One Door and Only One” in school and I announced I was a

​ 

Christian

​

. 🙂 


What are three things you love doing? Only three? lol. It’s so hard to narrow it down, but I’d say web/graphic/book cover design, singing/playing piano, and travelling. 

The Old River Road | Book Review, Giveaway, Interview

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
Meet Ivy Rose and her debut novel, The Old River Road. This book is the first in a series of a yet-to-be-determined number of books based on the lives of the author’s ancestors. Written in a style similar to that of Janette Oke and Laura Ingalls Wilder, this is a story you won’t want to miss.

1885
When seventeen-year-old Clara Boutwell married her dashing coworker, William McDonald, she was convinced her life was near perfect. The journey before them as newlyweds in the great city of Chicago was promising and exciting. But a frightening disease soon takes William in its grip, forcing them to the clean air of the western frontier in a desperate attempt to save his life. But pioneering doesn’t prove to be easy, with miles between neighbors instead of fences. On the eastern Washington prairies, the McDonalds face hardships and trials in a new world where everything is tested, from physical endurance to emotional strength—down to their relationship and faith in the Lord.
This novel tells the incredible true story of Clara and William, the great-great grandparents of the author, in a sweet narrative full of laughter, tears, and the struggles of an early pioneering family. Prepare yourself to share in their experience as you read this account of a pioneer family in Washington state, and see their lasting legacy that has endured into the fifth generation.
Available now in paperback and ebook on Amazon
Add on Goodreads
MY REVIEW

This was one of those nice, cozy, sweet, charming reads. In a way, it made me think of Laura Ingalls Wilder. I would recommend it for those days when you just want a good read. Nothing too deep and thought-provoking but gentle and … yeah, just sweet. A lot of events happened as William and Clara met, courted, married, and went through trials and difficulties, but daily life was kind of skimmed. Which set the tone for the relaxed read, not deep-in-thought.

The main “disclaimer” I’d put is that William was the perfect husband — he was always patient and understanding. And, actually, now that I think about it, Clara’s faults were never depicted either. They were pretty much the perfect couple who had trials and such come their way. Usually “perfection” turns me off, but I don’t know. It was just truly and honestly sweet. Maybe I was just in the mood for an easy, relaxing read.

There definitely was romance in it, as it started when William and Clara met. Nothing too deep was mentioned though. They had feelings for each other, kissed and hugged, etc., but nothing that made me feel uncomfortable.

Honest, this was one of the best books I’ve read by a teenage author. I look forward to more!

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from the author.*

About the Author
Ivy Rose is an 18 year old history lover and literary enthusiast. Aside from writing, she enjoys being outdoors, chocolate, travelling, reading, and ATVing (preferably if there is mud involved). She resides with her family of 9 on the banks of the Long Lake in eastern Washington.
You can connect with Ivy via her blog, Goodreads, and Pinterest.
 INTERVIEW
Added to the exciting book release, Ivy Rose agreed to an interview. Let’s find out more about her!
How long have you been writing?
My parents tell me that I was dictating stories from the age of 3, and I remember putting pen to paper around age 7. It wasn’t until I was 14 that I really began wondering if I could become a published author.
Sounds kind of like me. 🙂
How long have you been thinking about writing The Old River Road?
I stumbled across Clara’s memoirs when I was 10, and remember thinking, “Wow, this is so cool. Someone should write a book about this!” 🙂 But in honesty, I’ve only been actively working on it for about about a year and a half.
I agree: this is so, so cool!! And the story is amazing! It needed writing down. 🙂
Who has most influenced your writing?
An author by the name of Avery E. Hitch. She wrote three absolutely incredible books and doesn’t get near enough attention for them (in my mind). I love how she did things differently—she didn’t follow all the ‘proper’ storyteller rules, she wasn’t grammatically correct for the time period she was writing in—yet I was able to connect to her characters in a way that I’ve never been able to do before.
Has there been one verse that has highly encouraged you in the writing process?
2 Chronicles 30:9 “For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn his face away from you.”
What are some fun things you enjoy doing?
Reading, for sure. Other than that, swimming, ATV-ing, playing various instruments, and singing with the oldest two of my five amazing brothers (the youngest three are pretty young still). 

GIVEAWAY


The Old River Road Prize Pack
International Prize

~Blog Tour Schedule~
Friday, July 8th (release day!) 
Emily  — Review, Spotlight
Jesseca Wheaton — Review, Interview
Saturday, July 9th
Olivia K. Fisher  — Interview, Spotlight
Faith Blum  — Review, Interview, Spotlight
Hannah E.  — Review, Interview
Monday, July 11th 
Faith Potts  – Review
Rebecca Morgan  — Review, Interview
Tuesday, July 12th
Abigayle Ellison  — Review, Spotlight
Kenzi Knapp  – Review, Interview
Hosanna Emily  — Review, Interview
Wednesday, July 13th
Blessing Counter  — Interview
Victoria Minks  — Review, Spotlight
Thursday, July 14th
Deborah C.  — Review, Spotlight
Anna S. Brie  — Review
Leona G. — Review, Interview
Friday, July 15th
Hope Ann — Review, Interview
Amanda Tero — Review, Interview
Anika Joy – Review, Interview

Claire Banschbach | Author Interview and Book Review

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
This week I have both an interview and book review. If you like non-magical fantasy, check out Claire’s Rise of Aredor series!

INTERVIEW
1) In a nutshell, what do you write​?​
I write fantasy/adventure books, mostly for teenagers. But I want anyone of all ages to be able to enjoy my stories. Mainly I want to write clean adventure stories that are worth reading.

2) What spurred on the desire for writing​?​
Basically I had an entire book in my head for almost five years. These characters were always there and I enjoyed hanging out with them. Then one day, I decided to pick up a notebook and a pen to see if I could get it all on paper. Once I discovered how much fun writing and letting myself brainstorm new stories was, I never stopped.

3) How do you balance writing with living — or is writing your full-time job?
I’m currently in Physical Therapy school, which takes up most of my time. So during semesters, I don’t get to do a lot of writing since I’m always studying for something. During breaks is when most of my writing gets done. But I have a weekly serial story I publish on my blog, so that makes me write something at least once a week.

4) Who do you hope to reach with your writing?
Anyone and everyone! I know it’s something authors say a lot, but it really is true – if my stories can impact at least one person’s life, then that will make me happy.

5) If someone asked you for your best writing tip, what would it be?
Don’t force yourself to write. I’m not a big proponent of the whole “you must write every day or so to break out of a slump” thing. If you don’t want to write, then don’t. It’s my thought that your writing will be better when you actually want to do it. And maybe that’s just the lazy person in me talking. 😉

6) ​What are three things that you greatly enjoy doing?
1. Reading. Obviously.
2. Horseback riding. I started lessons when I was 12, but it’s been a while since I’ve
been on a horse due to school and everything. 😦
3. Hiking. It’s something I don’t get to do very often, but I love it!

7) You created your own world for “The Rise of Aredor” series. How did you go about doing that?
Landscape wise, I took some inspiration from a few other books and the rest was just countryside that I personally like. Culture wise, Lawhead’s Arthur and Robin Hood books helped me develop a fascination for ancient Welsh culture which inspired Aredor. I’ve always loved anything Irish or Scottish (I used to Irish dance) which inspired Braeton. As for Calorin, some people have noticed that the name resembles a Narnian country which indeed did inspire it, but I also think that Arabic culture is fascinating as well. So with that long winded answer, I basically took elements of cultures that fascinate me and used them as a basis to construct my world.

8) What was the thing you enjoyed most about writing “The Rise of Aredor” series?
Since Corin is the main character, he’s obviously my favorite. But I love his and Aiden’s friendship, so basically any scene with them together, no matter the situation, was always a blast to write.

9) What was the hardest thing about writing “The Rise of Aredor?”
The girls. Weird answer I know, but I tend to find that writing guys is easier than girls. Odder still since I only have one brother and six sisters, so I don’t have a lot of experience with the male persona. Anyway, out of the three main female characters in the series it was a bit more difficult to construct individual characters and not have them quite so cardboardy.

10) How are your other books different from “The Rise of Aredor?”
The new series I’m working on right now is a little different in the fact that it’s magical fantasy. With most of my other books I’ve started to include more noticeable religious overtones, something that The Rise of Aredor series does not really contain as far as giving a message of faith. It’s been fun but challenging so far to work it in.

ABOUT CLAIRE

Claire Banschbach was born and raised in Midland, TX, the fourth of eight children. She was homeschooled through high school and is now a proud member of the Texas A&M University class of 2014. An avid reader of Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and many other adventure novels, Claire was prompted to begin writing her own fantasy novel at seventeen after several years of daydreaming.

She continues to write in her spare time (and often when she doesn’t have spare time). When not scratching out stories and homework with pen and pencil, Claire partakes in the joys of watching the Boston Red Sox, Aggie football, and playing volleyball. She hopes her strong foundation in God will help to guide her writing. 

She is currently working on her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Texas Tech Health Science Center.

Connect with Claire:
THE RISE OF AREDOR

ABOUT THE BOOK
20512334Lost in a foreign land and separated from his family, Corin does his best to survive as a slave in the household of a Calorin lord. With newfound friends he fights for survival in ambushes and wars. For one act of bravery, he is awarded his freedom and returns to a home that has been invaded and ravaged by the Calorin armies. When Corin sets foot on Aredor’s shores, he has one goal in mind: find his family. He is driven into the forest, where he is reunited with childhood friends. From the shelter of the woods, they begin a spirited rebellion against Corin’s former cruel master, who now holds sway over Aredor. Follow Corin’s path in his quest to free his imprisoned brother, find a father who has vanished, and ultimately free his country in The Rise of Aredor.

MY REVIEW
This book is divided into two segments or “books” (Book One: The Phoenix Guard, Book Two: Hawk Uprising), basically defining two parts of Corin’s (or Hadmid’s) life.

I couldn’t really discover a plot for the first part of the book — it seemed like the story was being driven from event to event, told in an overview sort of way. I didn’t really get “into” the characters. However, when it came to the second book, I thoroughly enjoyed it! There was definitely a strong plot as Corin set to work at finding his family and summing up the courage of the Aredorians. In some ways it made me think of Robin Hood.

There were a few things that I either missed or they weren’t there — for example, who was the inside informant of Lord Rishdah?

What I liked:
– I appreciated the “no magic” in this book!
– It was very clean as far as no morally compromising situations (really, no romance at all), no bad words; there weren’t any scenes that made me feel uncomfortable
– Karif. You’ll have to read the book to find out who Karif is. 😉
– The humor. Ah! I did laugh a few times throughout this book!
– I didn’t find it extremely gruesome, though about 90% of the book was descriptions of war and fighting. There were tortures, but they were mentioned, not detailed.

What I didn’t like:
– I can’t call this a Christian book. The higher powers of Zayd and Lleu is mentioned. Hope of earning a place in Lleu’s halls.
– I’m not big on dreams, and there were two scenes: one where Hamid dreamed that a dead friend warned him of upcoming danger, another where a wounded man dreamed that he talked with a messenger from Lleu then was healed. Those were just a little weird to me.
– From a fictional point of view, I enjoyed it. They seemed to always get the inside scoop, always be one step ahead, always have mistakes turn into victory, etc. (exception at the climax, of course) If I wanted to read a story where the good guys always managed to be smarter and more skilled than the bad guys, this was it. But if you like realistic stories (which, I tend to…), too many good things happen to make it believable.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading The Wildcat of Braeton in the next month or so!!!

*I received this book from the author in exchange of my honest review*



Understanding Exposure | Book Review

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments

If there was one book that I would feel pretty confident in handing to an upcoming photographer, this would be it. Peterson’s Learning to See Creatively was good, but it didn’t really teach a person how to use their camera. I have a fairly good working knowledge of exposure (thanks to my photographer brother), so most of what Peterson explained I somewhat knew (some of it, I need much more work on). He definitely goes into depth with explaining the triangle of ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. This isn’t a book that people new to camera terms can pick up and understand in a day. Some of it will take processing and hands-on exercising.

Sometimes, Peterson went into too much “layman explanation” for me. Since I understand ISO and since I prefer technical explanations, I found his “worker bees” analogy to be confusing, but new photographers may find it helpful.

Again, Peterson is not my preferred photographic style, but his explanations work for any style. And though he’s a Nikon user (I’m Canon all the way), he presented the information in such a way that either camera users can find it helpful.

There were a few pictures I decided to edit because there was a little more skin showing than I prefer, but it was only 3-4 images. Also, there were a few times Peterson used words that I prefer not to.

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from Blogging for Books*

About the Book

Understanding Exposure has taught generations of photographers how to shoot the images they want by demystifying the complex concepts of exposure in photography. In this newly updated edition, veteran photographer Bryan Peterson explains the fundamentals of light, aperture, and shutter speed and how they interact with and influence one another. With an emphasis on finding the right exposure even in tricky situations, Understanding Exposure shows you how to get (or lose) sharpness and contrast in images, freeze action, and take the best meter readings, while also exploring filters, flash, and light. With all new images, as well as an expanded section on flash, tips for using colored gels, and advice on shooting star trails, this revised edition will clarify exposure for photographers of all levels.

Photo of Bryan Peterson

About the Author

BRYAN PETERSON is a professional photographer, an internationally known instructor, and the best-selling author of Understanding Exposure,Understanding Shutter Speed, Learning to See Creatively, Understanding Digital Photography, and Beyond Portraiture. In addition, he is the founder of the online photography school The Perfect Picture School of Photography (www.ppsop.com). He lives in Chicago.




Buy the book on Amazon

The Beautiful Pretender | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
25891581MY REVIEW

“A suggestion from most people is a suggestion, but a suggestion from the king is a command.”

When Lord Thornbeck is commanded to find a wife, he balks at it, not wanting the traditional marriage of rank. He is persuaded to invite ten ladies to his castle so that he can test their character and determine which one is fit to be a margrave’s wife.

The real Lady Dorothea has run off with her lover knight, and Dorothea’s father, the Lord Plimmwald, is determined to gain Lord Thornbeck’s favor. His believes his only option is to send Dorothea’s lady maid as Dorothea, so Avelina assumes the role of lady for two weeks, given the instructions to gain Thornbeck as an ally, but not as a husband.

Given this premise, the main theme of the book is romance … and as I prefer romance only in small doses, it just wasn’t for me. I enjoyed Avelina’s friendship with Magdalen. And the first half of the book, as Avelina was adapting to a new life was interesting. I loved the setting … like a lot. Dickerson does a good job capturing the era.

It was pretty much predictable and, having read one other Dickerson book (“The Golden Braid”), I found the main plot line basically the same: *mild spoiler ahead* girl falls in love with man above her rank, girl gets in trouble and he rescues her various times, there is treachery, the girl and guy end up alone, she now saves his life, etc. *end of spoiler* I could easily get this book mixed up with “The Golden Braid” because of the similarities.

What brings my rating down: as in “The Golden Braid,” there was a scene in which the hero and heroine were thrown into an “avoidable” but compromiseable situation. Of course, both were of strong, moral, upright character so even though they cuddled for warmth, nothing happened. I just don’t see the wisdom in this type of scenario being held up to young ladies.

Also, the spiritual plot was sadly lacking. Pretty much the only prayer was for God to help the situations go how the characters deemed best. There was being open about telling God their feelings because He already knows everything … but even that seemed very self-centered. The strongest spiritual quote in the book was, “Do you think a God who sent His Son to be born in a lowly stable to poor people, announced to shepherds in a field, could care about gold and ivory and jewels? Perhaps God cares about our hearts, not our wealth.” Overall, it had a Catholic feel with praying to the saints, confessing sins to the priest, etc. (which would be accurate to the time period).

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from LitFuse Publicity Group*

ABOUT THE BOOK

What happens when a margrave realizes he’s fallen in love with a servant?

The Margrave of Thornbeck has to find a bride, fast. He invites ten noble-born ladies from around the country to be his guests at Thornbeck Castle for two weeks, a time to test these ladies and reveal their true character.

Avelina is only responsible for two things: making sure her deception goes undetected and avoiding being selected as the margrave’s bride. Since the latter seems unlikely, she concentrates on not getting caught. No one must know she is merely a maidservant, sent by the Earl of Plimmwald to stand in for his daughter, Dorothea.

Despite Avelina’s best attempts at diverting attention from herself, the margrave has taken notice. And try as she might, she can’t deny her own growing feelings. But something else is afoot in the castle. Something sinister that could have far worse—far deadlier—consequences. Will Avelina be able to stop the evil plot? And at what cost?

BUY ON Amazon
or ENTER THE GIVEAWAY


The Beautiful Pretender Melanie Dickerson

Anchor in the Storm | Book Review

Published on by Amanda Tero3 Comments
MY REVIEW

Lillian’s prosthetic leg immediately drew me into this book. I just haven’t read about many heroines that had an appalling “disability” and yet, you love the character, don’t pity her. I could identify with Lillian in many ways–her “cold-heartedness” (or “wooden heart”), her bluntness, her blunders. She felt very real.

Arch was also to be admired. And yes, what I admired most was that he was real. He had a very real, very strong struggle to grow through in his naval career, and he didn’t tackle this struggle on his own–he continually prayed for God’s help.
I’ve read more non-fiction than fictional WWII books, so this was a new type of book for me. I didn’t think that the war was glorified in it–being that Arch was in the middle of a ship with men struggling with their nerves and Lillian worked at a store that saw the social war affects first-hand. It was very interesting and brought the era to life.
Being the second book in the Waves of Freedom series, I wasn’t sure how Anchor in the Storm would read as a stand-alone. No worries. It read amazingly. I assume that the first book was about Jim and Mary; this second book is about Jim’s sister, Lillian. There were some references to Jim and Mary’s back-story, but it only embellished this story, it didn’t make it feel like a gap was missing somewhere.
The spiritual theme of this book was that Christ is the anchor for our soul. Both Lillian and Arch clung to that. I really, really appreciated that, at times when one would be wishing for physical comfort from their love, they brought it back to, “No, Christ is my sure anchor.” In some ways, it could be that this message was the only spiritual message in the book, but it was definitely very present–not rushed over.
The mystery in this book kind of surprised me (this is Sundin’s first book that I’ve read, so she may usually have mysteries, I don’t know). It was complex, interesting, and true-to-life. Another plus, in my opinion.

There were a couple things I didn’t care for. One, being that when Lillian was taken advantage of by a former boyfriend (back-story), she didn’t tell her family or parents. Younger readers probably wouldn’t want to read this because of that situation, plus there was considerable romance throughout the book and some violence (murders mentioned, ships bombarded, things like that).

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review, from LitFuse Publicity* 

ABOUT THE BOOK
One Plucky Female Pharmacist + One High-Society Naval Officer = Romance–and Danger
For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg’s attentions only annoy–even if he “is” her brother’s best friend.
During the darkest days of the war, Arch’s destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves–and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian’s trust and affection?
Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won’t soon forget. 

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Anchor in the Storm Sarah Sundin

The Reluctant Duchess | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
About the Book
The Reluctant Duchess by Roseanna M. White

Lady Rowena Kinnaird may be the heiress to a Highland earldom, but she has never felt good enough—not for her father, not for the man she thought she’d marry, not for God. But after a shocking attack, she’s willing to be forever an outcast if it means escaping Loch Morar and the men who have jeopardized her life.

Brice Myerston, the Duke of Nottingham, has suddenly found himself in possession of a rare treasure his enemies are prepared to kill for. While Brice has never been one to shy away from manor-born ladies, the last thing he needs is the distraction of his neighbor, Lady Rowena, who finds herself in a desperate situation. But when the moody Earl of Lochabar tries to trap Brice into marrying Rowena, Brice finds he’s not as opposed to the idea as he expected to be.

Rowena wanted to escape the Highlands, but she’s reluctant to resort to marrying a notorious flirt just to gain his English home. And when she learns that Brice is mixed up in some kind of questionable business with a stolen treasure, she ’fears she’s about to end up directly in the path of everything she was trying to avoid.


My Review
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m not a huge romance fan, but if there’s one type of romance I like, it’s between a husband and wife who are learning to love each other (as opposed to unmarried people falling in love…I don’t know, it’s just me). Brice, being my favorite character from The Lost Heiress, was still my favorite character. I enjoyed reading how he learned to listen and his wife learned to love. It was really a sweet story.
Throughout the whole book, it seemed like the characters regularly sought God and prayed, which I appreciated. Some of the characters were evidently stronger in faith than others, which I thought gave a realistic aspect.
However. When I think back on the book, the main thread that stands out to me is the marriage bed. Whether it was Rowena being physically abused by her supposed lover or her learning to trust again, this theme just wasn’t in my comfort zone, even though it was done fairly discreetly. For this reason, I would not recommend this book to girls under twenty.
The continued thread of the Fire Eyes was alluring. There is something about them that are enticing and exciting. In this, though, there is a lot of discussion about curses and the spiritual realm. I don’t think I particularly disagreed with the author on this, because the conclusion I found was that there are spiritual battles being fought (which I believe is Biblical) and that the curse was not a curse of superstition, but a curse of greed. The way the author brought this about, though, was slightly confusing so I might not have fully grasped her intentions.
So, those two things pull my rating down to three stars–which I realize is just my personal preference and convictions.

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from Bethany House*

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About the Author
Roseanna M. WhiteRoseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna has a slew of historical novels available, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her new British series. She lives with her family in West Virginia. Learn more at http://www.RoseannaMWhite.com

Counting Blessings | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment

About the Book

by Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by Lee Holland

Children count along from 1 to 10, following the sweet rhyming text by beloved author Eileen Spinelli and the cute and cuddly illustrations by Lee Holland. Along with counting, this padded cover board book teaches children to see the blessings in life. With whimsy and joy, Counting Blessings captures the attention of young children, filling their minds with numbers and their hearts with happiness.


My Review
I absolutely adore the illustrations in this little book! They just make me smile. I read this book with my six-year-old sister (I read a page, she read a page), and she enjoyed it and thought it was cute too.
The rhyming has a nice flow and I like the thought of counting blessings. The only negative I can see is that it’s not particularly a Christian book, in that there are no mentions of where these blessings come from–just that there are more than we can count. However, it would be simple for a parent to take the book and expound on it with their child about why we should count our blessings and that all blessings come from God.

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from Book Look Bloggers*

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Live Fearless | Book Review

Published on by Amanda TeroLeave a comment
My colored page
I finally got in to review a coloring book! The whimsical drawings are fun and cute, the lines fairly clear and easy to follow. The format of it is interesting too–one side a picture, the other side a prayer journal section.

As I colored a picture, I noticed that some of the lines overlaid others. For example, you would see a stem then on top of it you would see a flower–with both lines crossing. 

I also didn’t care that the Scripture quotations were in various versions.

*I received this book in exchange of my honest review from Bethany House Publishing*








ABOUT THE BOOK
Embrace God’s Comforting Presence While You De-stress, Meditate, and Create! 
Life can be overwhelming as we go from one urgent demand on our time to another; it’s important to slow down and remind ourselves who we are and who God is. Coloring is a wonderful way to relax and focus our minds, giving us the refreshment and freedom to be all we were meant to be. But this book gives you more than a chance to color–it also focuses your attention on the peace that God brings through his presence in your life. 
This beautiful, intricately designed coloring book highlights verses from the Bible that focus on the courage that comes with knowing God is by your side. He wants us to live bold lives, free of fear, and his Word gives us the peace and reassurance to do so. Presenting this uplifting message in a fun and creative format, “Live Fearless” encourages you to drink deeply from Scripture as you color and create. Space is included for reflections, prayers, or even doodles. 
You can even share your art–and God’s comforting presence–with others by posting photos on social media or by cutting out the pages to keep for yourself. Gather your favorite coloring supplies and start creating!