THIS is the reason why it is good for me to be married to my husband because otherwise, there would be piles of books everywhere in our home. I swear there IS some order to my madness though honey! :)
image courtesy of: David Serra
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Blog Tour & Review: Baroness by Susan May Warren
Author: Susan May Warren
Publisher: Summerside Press (2012)
Source: Received from publisher via LitFuse Publicity Group
Buy book: here
About the Book:
Baroness – Book Two in the Daughters of Fortune series
Lily and Rose, daughters of an empire coming of age in the roaring twenties, can have anything they want ... except freedom.
Expected to marry well and to take the reins of the empire, they have their lives planned out for them. But, Lily, Esme's daughter longs to return home to Montana, to adventure outside the confines of New York City. And Jinx's daughter Rosie dreams of the bright lights of the newly emerging silver screen. But following their dreams - from avant garde France, to Broadway, to the skies in the world of barnstormers and wing-walkers will take all their courage.
And if they find love, will they choose freedom or happily ever after?
Find out more from Behind the Pages: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/books/baroness
Review:
Wow! What a whirlwind! I was definitely swept up into this coming-of-age story set in the Roaring Twenties in Susan May Warren's latest book, Baroness. I haven't read the first one, so I felt like I was lacking some of the background knowledge to really understand the story more in depth, but I don't think that it took away too much from my reading of the 2nd book. This story took you on a very emotional roller coaster with all it's twists and turns, especially since it sweeps you from the first page and doesn't let you go until the end.
Rosie and Lilly are both daughters of wealthy families, who couldn't be more different than each other, are faced with the obstacles of finding love, happiness and their self-worth amidst many trials and tribulations. I found myself feeling more for Lilly, maybe because I named my daughter Lily? I'm not sure. Her story resonated with me more than Rosie's. I liked that you followed the characters over the span of many years while watching their stories unfold before you. What a journey!
This was my first Susan May Warren book and I am impressed with the way she makes you care so much about her characters by making them so real and believable. I am very much looking forward to catching up on the first book, Heiress, and reading the third one - hopefully SOON!
Rating:
4 stars
About the Author:
Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning novelist of over thirty novels. A five-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!.
She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice. You can find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com.
Baroness Roaring 20s Kindle Fire Giveaway from @SusanMayWarren!
Expected to marry well and to take the reins of the family empire, they have their lives planned out for them. But following their dreams -- from avant garde France, to Broadway, to the skies in the world of barnstormers and wing-walkers -- will take all their courage. And if they find love, will they choose freedom or happily ever after?
Celebrate with Susan by entering her Roaring 20's Giveaway!
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- Signed copies of Baroness and Heiress by Susan May Warren
Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on
FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Please check out the other stops on the blog tour! Special thanks to Litfuse for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Bookshelf Monday :: 32
I saw this staircase bookshelf a year ago and the first thing that came into my mind was that I couldn't stand that my books where stored where my feet and subsequently all the dirt and muck that you find on floors would be. I do have to commend the owners on a great use of what is usually wasted space though!
image courtesy of: Apartment Therapy (Veronika and Sebastian)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Blog Tour & Review: Comeback Love by Peter Golden
Author: Peter Golden
Publisher: Washington Square Press (April 2012)
Source: Received from publisher via Crazy Book Tours
Summary from Goodreads:
What would you do if you had a second chance with the one that got away?
More than thirty-five years ago, Gordon Meyers, an aspiring writer with a low number in the draft lottery, packed his belongings and reluctantly drove away, leaving behind Glenna Rising, the sexy, sharp-witted med student he couldn’t imagine living without.
Now, decades later, Gordon is a former globe-trotting consultant with a grown son, an ex-wife, and an overwhelming desire to see Glenna again. Though she’s stunned when Gordon walks into her Manhattan office, Glenna agrees to accompany him for a drink. As the two head out into the snow-swept city, they rediscover the passion that once drew them together—before it tore them apart. And as the evening unfolds, Gordon will finally reveal the true reason for his return. . . .
Comeback Love is an evocative journey into the hearts of two lovers who came of age in the 1960s, and who never truly let each other go. Plumbing the depths of youth, regret, and desire, Peter Golden deftly illuminates the bonds that mysteriously endure in the face of momentous change.
Review:
This is hands down the best book I've read all year so far. I fell hard for this book from the moment it grabbed me in the first couple of pages. I've waited all year for a book to do that to me and it was such a pleasant journey. I couldn't put it down and finished it during a couple late nights of not sleeping to keep reading.
What I enjoyed most about this story was that you really understand why Gordon goes searching for Glenna after twenty years and Peter Golden was masterful in writing the dialogue between the two. It is so witty, intelligent and real. Within the first few pages of dialogue between the two, you know right away why these two individuals were attracted to each other so many years ago. Their chemistry just oozes off the pages and you can't get but swept up by their young love.
I especially enjoy stories that flashback and it was very well done in Comeback Love. It wasn't too frequent and it didn't give away too much. I love that you follow their journey from the beginning of their relationship to the present time through the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Being a child of the 80's, I was intrigued by all the history about the 60's and 70's in this book. It was very enlightening and I learned so much.
The only negative thing with this book was that the abortion stuff made me uncomfortable. Being a pretty conservative Christian, those parts were a little hard to digest.
I just loved this book so much. Read it. NOW! You will not be disappointed by this book. If you are in search of a beautifully-written love story, look no further. Comeback Love will sweep you up and take you on a wonderful journey.
Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Monday, April 16, 2012
Blog Tour & Review: The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck
Author: Rachel Hauck
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 2012)
Source: Received from publisher via LitFuse Publicity Group
Buy book: here
About the Book:
One dress. Four women. An amazing destiny.
Charlotte Malone is getting married. Yet all is not settled in the heart of Birmingham's chic bridal boutique owner. Charlotte can dress any bride to perfection-except herself. When she discovers a vintage mint-condition wedding gown in a battered old trunk, Charlotte embarks on a passionate journey to discover the women who wore the gown before her.
Emily in 1912. Mary in 1939. And Hillary in 1968. Each woman teaches Charlotte something about love in her own unique way. Woven within the threads of the beautiful hundred-year-old gown is the truth about Charlotte's heritage, the power of faith, and the beauty of finding true love
Review:
I fell in love with the cover when I saw it for the first time. I don't know what it is about weddings, especially bridal gowns, and women, but I am a sucker for all things wedding-related even though I am already married. This story was a wonderful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end.
The Wedding Dress tells us the story of four very different women whose stories are woven together by a dress. The main character, Charlotte, owns a bridal gown store and can find a dress for every woman but herself. I really enjoyed learning about all the different women, Emily, Hillary, Mary and Charlotte as she goes about finding about the women that wore the vintage wedding dress before her and how this particular dress impacts each of their lives over the span of multiple generations. It reminded me a lot of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants because miraculously this wedding gown did not need any alterations between the four women.
It is a wonderfully crafted tale of true love, faith and redemption. You will enjoy learning about the characters, especially Emily and Charlotte, and grow to really be invested in them as a character. I appreciated the little doses of God sprinkled through the book to tie in the spirituality aspect as well. What a wonderful reminder about how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is always in style, never wears out and fits everyone!
This story is as beautiful as the cover. I know you will fall in love with it!
Rating:
5 stars
About the Author:
Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle, and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, The Songbird Novels.She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets.
Visit www.deboracoty.com for more about Debora and her books.
Rachel earned a degree in Journalism form Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor. Visit her web site at www.rachelhauck.com to reader her blog, and to follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
What is "true" beauty? Join the conversation at Rachel's Author Chat Party Event Page. On the eventing of 4/19 we'll gather to talk about inner and outer beauty and share moments of beauty in our lives.
In the meantime, celebrate with Rachel by entering her True Beauty Giveaway!
One "beautiful" winner will receive:
- A $200 Visa Cash Card (Treat yourself to a spa day or weekend
get-away!) - The Wedding Dress (by Rachel Hauck)
So grab a few of your friends and your copy of The Wedding Dress and join Rachel on the evening of April 19th for an evening of fun.
Please check out the other stops on the blog tour! Special thanks to Litfuse for inviting me to be a part of this blog tour.
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