13 January 2013

For The Love of Books & 700th Post...


For the love of books I am always happy to read and pass on any reviews to readers around the world.
There is something so precious about opening a book and immerse oneself into a story...The feeling is unlike any other! So many worlds to discover...So many things to learn...

So Come with me and read!  I am posting new reviews regularly about all sorts of books and don't forget, many of these reviews also offers GIVEAWAYS!!

  
Imagine



Dream


Would you believe this is my 700th post? What an amazing feeling!
I just wanted to say thank you to everyone!

Happy Sunday,





10 January 2013

Texas Wildflowers by Anita Higman, Book review (& GIVEAWAY)


Publisher: Barbour Books 
ISBN-13: 978-1616265953

 For Giveaway information, scroll down at the bottom!

Synopsis :  
(From the Back of the Book)


The four McBride sisters risk their hearts for love in the islands, canyons, mountains and bayous of Texas.

Deserted at the altar, a devastated Rosy McBride heads back to Galveston Island and begins working at her mother’s scrapbooking business. Will spending time with Larson Brookfield help mend her broken heart, or will she merely wind up pasting away?


Christian counselor Lily McBride relies on her quirky common sense and God’s wisdom to help her clients. Will she be successful at her new career or break the most solemn of counselor/patient vows by falling for the handsome, eccentric, and impossibly irresistible Rubin McCall while hiking the Palo Dura Canyon?

In the mountain town of Alpine, Violet McBride owns Romantic Images, a business that teaches people how to live romantically. Will Morgan Jones, a geek she meets online, show her the real meaning of romance and the art of love?


Heather McBride’s picture-perfect life has unraveled in the bayou. Will the free-spirited Evan Finch not only reawaken her artistic passion but also give her the courage to fall in love—without her day-planner?



Will God help give these women the pluck to love the least likely of soul mates? 

My thoughts:

Thoreau said: 'There is no remedy for love but to love more'. In her latest novel Anita Higman shows us just that!

'Texas Wildflowers' is a 4 IN 1 collection of four novellas featuring the four sisters of the McBride family, the sort of family depicted perhaps by Norman Rockwell!

Lively, funny and inspiring, each sister has a definite take on life in general.  Their one constant is however their profound faith. 
They might live at the four corners (literaly) of the State, but their ties to their Mum and Dad , their childhood home (Galveston) and their deep love for each other is abundantly clear. The feeling you receive as you read each story is akin to a very strong wish to be adopted by such folks!

Anita Higman brings us her flirty endearing romances once again and you can be sure anyone may read it!  

'The course of true love never did run smooth' (William Shakespeare) or so it would seem..

Everything's coming up Rosy (definitively my favourite of all four stories!)

Forget Me Not Lily

For the love of Violet

Dreaming of Heather

Four great stories...Four lovely ladies from the lone star state, each looking for a special someone and new direction, each blessed with just the right blend of love, faith and a good dose of humour! 

Be prepared for a few good laughs and enjoy a light hearted read!


Christian romance for all and the perfect antidote to a dreary winter evening.
I give it 4 stars!


About the Author:

 
Anita Higman is fun, loving and inspires as she reaches out to her readers with her novels!

The following is  an interview of Anita courtesy of KCWS:


Tell us a bit about Texas Wildflowers.
Texas Wildflowers is a 4-in-1 novella collection through Barbour Publishing. Each novella is set in an exotic location in Texas. They are lighthearted romances, and they’re all tied together with the four McBride sisters.

Which of the four novellas was the most fun to write?
They were each fun to write in their own way, but my favorite character was Lily, the counselor, in Forget Me Not Lily. She was quirky and fun, relatable and loveable. At least that’s what I hope readers will feel.

All these novellas are set in Texas. Are the towns and parks real?
Yes, in fact one of the novellas is set in Big Bend National Park, where my husband and I went on vacation. So, when you read about the characters on certain trails, they’re real, and we hiked them!

Did you have a favorite book when you were a child?I loved fairytales. Cinderella was my favorite.

Do you have a vacation spot you’d love to visit?
I’m dreaming of Ireland. My husband and I plan to travel there next summer. Can’t wait! Then I’m going to use the emerald isle as a setting in one of my novels.

What are 5 things that your readers might not know about you?
  1. While I was in college I tried working in a pillow factory. I was terrible at it. I got so weary with the repetition I started yakking with the woman next to me. We got reprimanded over and over until I quit. I discovered one thing from that college job—talking is something I excel at.
  2. I once won a hog-calling contest at a banquet. I was not embarrassed, but I should have been.
  3. I have a bird phobia, and yet I love birds! (That is, from a distance.) My house is filled with the fake kind—prints on the walls, statues, and general bird doodads. Go figure.
  4. I keep some interesting treasures near me when I write—a wooden jewelry box my son made me when he was in school, a candle from the 1960s, a hat once owned by a famous mystery writer, the inner parts of a music box, a birthday card that plays The Twilight Zone theme song, and an old family toy helicopter that says, “Going up.”
  5. Thirty-four years ago I rappelled off a cliff alongside the man I was dating. We kissed in mid-air while dangling off that cliff. I ended up marrying that man, and we've celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary!

What awards have you won?
I’ve won two book awards. One of my co-authored books entitled, A Tribute to Early Texas, won a San Antonio Conservation Society Citation as well as a Westerners International Book Award. Also, I was given three honors by readers: I was a Favorite New Author in the 15th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards, and my co-authored novel, Castles in the Air, was a Favorite Contemporary Romance in the 16th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards. My most recent award is a 2011 RWA Readers Choice Award (first place) for my novella, Once Upon a Christmas Eve.

When readers finish the last page of Texas Wildflowers, what do you want them to come away with?
I would love for them to be inspired, challenged, and entertained. If I accomplished even one of those things I would feel my writing time wasn’t wasted.

Bestselling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has thirty-two books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

Visit her at her website (HERE).

AND NOW FOR OUR BOOK GIVEAWAY.....


Courtesy of the Author and Kathy Carlton Willis Communications :
Every blog that gets comments from at least 10 different comments (besides the author and the blog tour host) will offer a free book to one of the commenters. 
Be sure to tell your friends to come read this blog and leave a comment! Share on facebook, twitter, linked-in or wherever you hang out!

So Readers, it is up to you! 
I would love to hear from you and find out which of the McBridge sisters you think you would like to find out more about it? (You know my choice if you read the review).
Place a comment and your name will be in the drawing! To be fair, let's give it until Midnight on 15 January 2013! Be sure to include a way to contact you for winning confirmation.

 Best wishes to all!!

 

I received this book free from KATHY CARLTON WILLIS COMMUNICATIONS as part of their blogger review program.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.


07 January 2013

The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish, Book review

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-0764205552

Synopsis:

Seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk does not go outside. She’s ruled by anxiety and only feels safe in the tiny tourist-town museum she and her mother run and call home. 
Then the chance arrival of a woman Molly knew six years ago changes everything. Six years ago, newly single Claire Rodriguez was an empty shell. Only in the unique friendship she strikes up with a young girl–a silent girl who’ll only talk to Claire–does she see the possibility of healing. 
But one day the girl and her mother vanish, their house abandoned. 
What happened that drove them away? 
And how can Claire now offer Molly the same chance at finding a life anew?

My thoughts:

The story alternates betwixt both Molly and Claire's recounts of events as they occurred in 2002 and then again in 2009. 'The Air We Breathe' is an emotional catalogue of two people hurting, a young girl and the woman who reaches out to her after a tragic event. That said, we cannot forget the bystanders in the story, Molly's mother for one who protects her daughter at any cost and others we meet later on in the plot.

Molly was abducted during a fatal robbery and escaped after 10 days only to face years of anxiety and isolation, a direct result of the kidnapping. 
Claire lost her children in a tragic accident and is surviving only just. Crosswords puzzles gives her an opportunity to keep everything in little boxes...

A chance meeting brings them together or is it really chance? That's where the story truly starts as we read on and discover the Greater Power beyond the events. 

Christa Parrish brings her readers a caring approach to both protagonist's deep and moving experiences, stating facts and not dwelling on the ugly but rather on the recovery. 
I found the whole concept far more impressive than if she had chosen to delve on dramatic details and thus giving her novel a tabloid's characteristics. 

This is a book you should read to appreciate its full impact as a Christian! I do not think I will ever see another Gideon's Bible again without remembering what can happen when someone reaches out and shares God's words! 

Beautifully written, 
5 Stars!! 



About the Author:


Christa Parrish is the author of 'Home Another Way', Finalist for the 2009 ECPA Christian Book Award for Fiction and 'Watch Over Me', Winner of the 2010 ECPA Christian Book Award for Fiction.

"If the book we are reading does not wake us, as with a fist hammering on our skulls, then why do we read it? A book must be an ice axe to break the sea frozen".

Find out more about this interesting author on her website (HERE).

I received this book free from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS as part of their blogger review program.
I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.



05 January 2013

Something So Beautiful And So Simple...

 (Mother Theresa)

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”



02 January 2013

A New Year, Many Books To Read & Reviews...

2013 is here and whatever this means to you in terms of goals, I will have to admit my first thought was I will read and read and read...Reading happens to be a perfect vehicle for dreaming and I am such a dreamer...

There are many new books appearing on the market for this year and I am happy to see most will be available in the format I prefer: hardbacks or even paperbacks. So far I am not convinced ebooks are the thing for me (albeit I realize for students or commuters it must a life saver!).

Having read my share of duds (when will I stop reaching for a book because of the appeal of its intriguing cover or tantalizing resume?) I try to remember ONLY the ones I enjoyed and of course the ones I anticipate (more on those further on).

We all have different tastes and anticipations when reading a novel but I believe we shall agree we look for a diversion from the humdrum of everyday life. Mystery, Fiction, Non Fiction, Biography or Autobigography, Historical Fiction, Romance or Self Help etc...There is no right and wrong upon choices in most cases (albeit I stir away from expletives and violent situations personally and there are some genres I cannot see myself reaching for! Our society is violent and perverse enough!)

As to the definition of a good book...

It all depends on the passion of the author...Any avid reader will tell you it is obvious from chapter one the writer enjoyed writing the story or not. Did he/she feel a relationship with his/her characters? Did he/she believe in the story? The amount of research done is always a giveaway in my opinion.
Was there a message to pass on to readers and how clear does it come through...

I could go on and on but since we are all different, here is a list of what I like in a book...

History!!!
Romance
Locales
A little mystery
Strong protagonists
Nasty antagonists
Triumph of good over evil
Dialogues!!!
Interesting plot!
Unusual endings
Closure (I am wary of sagas)
Humorous characters
Cliffhanger chapter endings

What I do not like in a book...

Politics
Racist and self serving plots and extreme comments
Expletives!!!!
Violence
Ghosts (or vampires!)
Clichés
Poorly described (or not at all) locales, characters and plots
Writers who preach about their beliefs through their characters
Endings that don’t really end (problems with sagas again!)
Selfish and insipid characters

It seems to me that logically if a writer enjoyed writing her/his book I will enjoy just as much reading it!
So grab a good book and read! It matters little if you read a few lines or a few chapters at the time just immerse yourself and dream...


For those of us who follow Sarah Sundin's work closely, her next book is coming out in August 2013! (see announcement HERE)
A heartfelt article written by Sarah about 'Unsung Heroes' can be read (HERE) as well ! (just a hint, you will find the article in question on pages 79, 80 and 81 - there are however some great reviews from other well known authors).





So Now That We Are In A New Year...

Bloggers visited other blogs and sent Holiday Greetings along with thank you's for sharing beautiful photos of decorations, scrumptious looking baked goods and wonderful crafts.
I personally went OOOOHHHH and AAAAHHHH when I saw these (hubby regularly asked when gazing on a new sweet if the recipe was included of course!). 

Blogland gives each of us a chance to visit without even leaving our home and so I went from Russia to Norway, England, Scotland and Ireland, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany, Down Under, Sri  Lanka, the East Coast and the West Coast of the USA and many places in between...

I have learned much this past year and I hope to do so again in 2013! Thank you everyone for sharing!

Let me take this occasion to show you my favourite photos of this past Holiday Season!

1- Meet Flossie and Millie in Somerset, UK (http://redpenrita.wordpress.com/)


2- Howard in the UK as well...(http://howardscosyhouse.blogspot.com/)



Isn't he beautiful?!
Ready to dog sit anytime Folks!!

Where would we be without our best friends?