Wednesday, September 27, 2017

My Review: To Wager Her Heart


"None of us knows what we're fully capable of doing until God leads us to a place where we realize our strength is nothing compared to his.  He says to take a step, yet you look out and see nothing but thin air in your path.  Yet, he calls you on.  And only when you finally trust him and take that step into nothingness do you discover you're standing on solid ground."  - Ella Sheppard
(I know it's a long quote, but I love it!) 

Description:
Sylas Rutledge, the new owner of the Northeast Line Railroad, invests everything he has into this venture, partly for the sake of the challenge. But mostly to clear his father's name. One man holds the key to Sy's success--General William Giles Harding of Nashville's Belle Meade Plantation. But Harding is champagne and thoroughbreds, and Sy Rutledge is beer and bullocks. 
    
Seeking justice . . . 
   
Sy needs someone to help him maneuver his way through Nashville's society, and when he meets Alexandra Jamison, he quickly decides he's found his tutor. Only, he soon discovers that the very train accident his father is blamed for causing is what killed Alexandra Jamison's fiancĂ©--and has shattered her world. 
   
Struggling to restore honor . . . 
   
Spurning an arranged marriage by her father, Alexandra instead pursues her passion for teaching at Fisk University, the first freedmen's university in the United States. But family--and Nashville society--do not approve, and she soon finds herself cast out from both.
   
Through connections with the Harding family, Alexandra and Sy become unlikely allies. And despite her first impressions, Alexandra gradually finds herself coming to respect, and even care for this man. But how can she, when her heart is still spoken for? And when Sy's roguish qualities and adventuresome spirit smack more of recklessness than responsibility and honor? 
   
Sylas Rutledge will risk everything to win over the woman he loves. What he doesn't count on is having to wager her heart to do it. 


About the Author:

Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal's top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tameras two USA Today bestselling Southern series.




My Review: 4.5 stars
I have so many thoughts regarding this book.  I almost cried a time or two, and it definitely left me with many things to ponder.  Its one of those stories that has stuck with me, and weeks later, Im still noticing the impact on my thoughts and reactions.  I love that!  I so enjoy reading books that challenge my preconceived notions and cause me to stop and think and this one does exactly that.  

I always enjoy and appreciate the depth of historical detail in Ms. Alexanders books.  Her writing pulls me in until it seems Im right there with them, on the road to Belle Meade Plantation, or in the classroom with Alexandra, or riding the train.  The story in set in the years following the Civil War and much of it focuses on the discord in the South regarding the teaching of Freedmen and overcoming biases.  Its a very controversial topic, but I thought the author handled it with grace.  I may have picked this book up expecting an entertaining story, but I found so much more than that and turned the last page with a challenge set before me.  I also appreciated how the story ended.  I dont want to spoil anything, but it is so realistic and I liked that it wasnt an unrealistic everything works out perfectlyending.  It was real, but also hope-filled.

I so enjoyed getting to know Alexandra and Sylas!  Alexandra is kind and caring, determined and brave. Desiring to follow her dreams, she stepped into the unknown and maybe stumbled a few times, but got back up and kept fighting for what she believed in.  I loved seeing her character grow and change throughout the story as she learned to look past the color of a persons skin and see them for who they are.  Sylas is also a great character and one that suited Alexandra perfectly.  Hes a bit rougher around the edges, but with an integrity that runs deep.  I appreciated how he stood for what he valued and didnt back down, regardless of the cost.  He also loves to ruffles Alexandras oh, so proper feathers and defy societys expectations.  Both of these people became dear friends over the course of their journey and I was cheering for them as I turned the last page.

The only person I truly disliked was actually George White.  Im not sure whether hes one of the historical figures found in this story or not, but I found myself frustrated with him often.  I realize hes described as abrupt and determined and he truly wanted what was best for the students, but I personally found him to be overbearing and rather rude.  His appearances I couldve done without, though he definitely didnt ruin the story.

Overall, I very much enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and stories that leave you with a hangoverfor a few days.


Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by!  I hope you enjoyed my review (or at least the quote at the top)!  If you'd like to learn more about this book, as always, links are below!
Have a beautiful day!





Sunday, September 24, 2017

Welcome to my 200th blog post! plus contest and giveaway!

(I totally "borrowed" this photo from someone on Google, because I can't make things look pretty like this)

Hello!  Thank you so much for stopping by and celebrating my 200th blog post with me!  I can't believe it's been 3 1/2 years since I started blogging!  Odd story, but I actually started this blog solely because I was trying really hard to get on an author's (Ronie Kendig's) promotional team and one of the requirements was having a blog - I wasn't chosen that time around, but found I actually really enjoyed blogging, despite the fact I don't post nearly as often as I intend to.  That being said, since this seemed like an important milestone, I thought we might do something (hopefully) fun to celebrate!

It was suggested to me (thanks, Gary!) that it would be fun to have a writing contest and I completely agreed!  So, whether you aspire to be a writer, or if the extent of your writing endeavors is confined to post-it-note reminders, please join me and have fun!

The Details:
To be entered, email me a short story, poem, or shopping list (no longer than 1,000 words, please) by midnight (EST) Friday, October 6th.  I actually just have one guideline to follow, beyond the 1,000 word limit (I hate that I have to even say this, but): as this is a Christian based blog, please write your entries with that in mind.  Any entry containing profanity will be excluded, as I will not share that on my blog.  Now, with that out of the way - 
 I'll read all of the entries and, probably with the help of a friend or two, will choose a winner (if I get a large response, we might have a post to vote for your favorite).
Please send your entry to bookluver1492[at]gmail[dot]com

What You Win:
The winner will have their story/poem/shopping list as a guest post on my blog Saturday, October 7th!  And, they will receive a package of randomness that I will put together between now and then! (right now, it includes a journal, pens, maybe some chocolate, and possibly a book)

So, if this sounds like something you or one of your friends (please let them know) would enjoy doing, please email me!  Oh, and be sure to make the title of your email something I'd recognize in my spam folder like "contest entry" or "200th post contest" or the like.  Just in case Google can't handle me actually getting emails from real people for a change.  :)

Anyway, thanks again for stopping by and if you've been with me since I started, thank you so much for sticking around this long!  I so appreciate you!
And if you have any questions about the contest, if I left out some important detail, or my brain didn't translate to typing well, please comment below or email me and I'll get back to you! 

Have a beautiful day!













Wednesday, September 20, 2017

My Review: In His Eyes



Description:
Her heart sought shelter. Her soul found home.

Ella Whitaker rescues a newborn from the dying arms of a woman of ill repute and at long last she has someone to love. In need of a wet nurse, she arrives at Belmont Plantation just as Federal soldiers demand to speak to the owner. Thinking quickly, Ella masquerades as a Yankee officer's widow in order to have a roof over her head and a home for the child.

Major Westley Remington has dedicated his life to serving his country. The Civil War has divided his family, torn his thoughts of glory, and left him with a wound that may never heal. Westley returns home on medical furlough to settle his fathers estate at Belmont Plantation, only to find his home is being run by a fiery and independent womanone many believe to be his wife. Now he is faced with a conflict hes never been trained to fight, and one she has yet to conquer.




About the Author:
Stephenia H. McGee is a wife, mother of two very active little boys, author, and lover of all things historical. Stephenia currently lives in Mississippi with her husband and sons where she writes stories of faith, redemption and life steeped in the South.
(You can find my interview with Ms. McGee here)






My Review: 3 stars
This is the first book Ive read from Ms. McGee and I really didnt know what to expect from it, but Im a sucker for marriage of convenience stories and was curious to read it.  Though its not my favorite book this year, I still enjoyed the adventure and am looking forward to reading another of this authors tales.
Ms. McGee has a unique writing style and I quite enjoyed her way with words.  Her descriptions gave this story vivid colors and created clear images in my mind of the place and characters.  There is one place where I especially love them, but I dont want to spoil anything, so Ill refrain.  I was also curious about the setting and time period.  Ive read several books set right after the Civil War and each has offered a different or new perspective on such a horrible time in my nations history.  Its obvious that the author has done a good bit of research and highlighted some things I wasnt aware of, so I definitely enjoyed that.  I do wish she had taken a bit more time with the characters.  I wanted to love Ella and Westly, but didnt feel as though I really knew them.  I knew their emotions and their thoughts, but I didnt connect with them.  There was just something missing and they felt rather shallow to me.  And there were a couple events that were a little skimmed over and instead of getting the entire picture, I felt as though I was given just pieces of the puzzle and was expected to fill in the rest.
I did love the spiritual side of the story!  I so enjoyed watching Ella learn where to find her worth and her peace, and I appreciated how the titled played into that part of the story.  I thought Ms. McGee handled it beautifully!

Overall, I did enjoy this story and am anticipating trying another of this authors books.


Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my review!

I have exciting news: I just realized that this post is my 199th - which will make the next one my 200th!!  So, we should do something fun for the next one!  Any suggestions??  Should I do a giveaway?  If so, what should I share?  Or a Q&A with someone?  Or a game?  Or something else?  Please leave me suggestions in the comments, or if you found me on social media, leave me a comment there!  So exciting!

Oh, and in my excitement, I almost forgot - purchase links are below!

Have a lovely day, friends!




 


Sunday, September 3, 2017

Christian Fiction Reader's Retreat belated update

I would like to be able to say that I can’t believe I forgot to write a post about the Christian Fiction Reader’s Retreat that I went to three weeks ago, but that would be a lie.  I’m honestly not surprised in the least that it completely slipped my mind, until a friend reminded me just today that I’d been slacking (not what they said, but still true).  But, better late than never, right?  
I don’t have many photos - I was too busy just soaking everything in (plus, I forgot my charger and my phone was dying) and I have an ongoing list of people that I wish I had gotten a picture with, but missed.  So if we’re there next year, I’m taking pictures with /of everyone!  Haha!  So this is mostly going to be stories and happy chatter, with a few visuals thrown in.  :)

To begin, my trip to Cincinnati, OH, got off to an auspicious start with a flat tire at the bottom of my driveway caused by this tiny piece of metal.



So, I intended to leave about 10am and ended up actually getting on my way closer to 11:30am. Thankfully, it happened while I was at home and my dear family took care of me: with my uncle calling a friend of his to fit me in to get my tire repaired, then my dad bringing me a couple spare tires, when we discovered mine was ruined - I’m so thankful for my family!

Despite the rough start, I finally made it around 6pm and met up with Denise (who graciously offered to share her room with Jessica and me [I don’t have any pics with her! :( ]) and we decided to head to the hotel and see who was already there.  One of the most exciting moments for me happened while we were standing in the lobby of the hotel where the retreat was being held and Denise and I were talking and I heard someone call my name and turned around and saw Jen Turano waving at me!!  I couldn’t believe that one of my very favorite authors recognized me and knew my name!  I adore her books (and she is as sweet and hysterical in person as her books would lead you to believe) and was SO excited to meet her!  So, that was fantastic!  And we got to meet and talk with Dawn Crandall and Joanna Davidson Politano (her debut novel releases a month from today!), which was a lot of fun.  

I apologize if I’m giving too many unwanted details, so skipping ahead - the next morning, waiting in line to register, we got to hang out with Pepper Basham’s daughter, Lydia (who made the amazing bookmark pictured below).  Lydia, on the very off chance that you ever stumble across this, I adored meeting you!  And I know you’ll be excellent in theater.  :)  We learned a lot of behind the scene things about Pepper’s books (which I actually haven’t had the chance to read yet, but I so need to buy a copy of Just the Way You Are - I’ve heard so many great things!) and were treated to Lydia’s talent for accents.

Isn't this bookmark just lovely?!
She also made a gorgeous one for Carrie for her
book boyfriend that I totally would've "borrowed."  ;)

We picked up the awesome swag bags that everyone was telling us about (the propaganda is all true) and went to find seats, though as soon as we did, we got shifted around and split into teams for games (I got to be on Melissa Tagg’s team!).  I won’t add too many more details, because if I did, this post would be so long!  Which would be fine with me, but I know some people have lives outside of books and blogs.  ;)  But it was phenomenal!  Carrie and Annie and everyone else involved did a fantastic job!  I can’t begin to fathom everything that went into creating and executing such a thing and I know how tired they were at the end of it, but it was such an amazing day!  There’s just something about being in a room full of people (there were roughly 200 of us) who all share at the very least, two things in common:  A love of God and a love of books.  We spent roughly 10 hours together, praising God and talking about books and writing and fictional people (the book boyfriends session was so much fun!).  I got to meet so many amazing people, readers and authors alike, and made some great new friends!  And you all need to be proud of me - I only bought 3 new books!  This was huge, considering how many others I wanted to buy, but managed to resist.
I’m definitely hoping I can go next year, wherever it’s at (I heard Jen Turano is going to be one of the speakers - how can I miss that?!) and I promise if I do go, I’ll remember my cell phone charger and will take more photos.  You can keep scrolling if you’d like to see the few I actually did get.  :)

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking the time to read my belated ramblings!

Now, for photos.  Be amazed at how few I have - and I still need to get Melissa Tagg to send me the one on her phone . . . .

Meeting Katie Ganshert!
(she also recognized me and stopped
over with "You're Sarah, right?" so excited
to meet and hug her!)


Meeting Dana R. Lynn!
I won her book during author speed chats
and got to spend a few minutes talking with her -
she's such a sweet lady and I'm looking forward to reading her book!


Kristi Ann Hunter!  I tried to abscond with an
advanced copy of her new book, but alas, Carrie and Annie were
watching me.  ;)

Fifth time's the charm, I suppose!  Ha!
It only took 5 tries and restarting the computer
for it to load this photo of Ronie Kendig!
I was so excited to find an early copy of her newest
book in my swag bag!  I literally couldn't stop
smiling when I found out about it.  And getting to talk
about Dane with her was so much fun!



Becky Wade is the sweetest lady!  She let me talk her
ear off for a few moments and I seriously
wanted to claim John Lawson as my
"book boyfriend" for the day. :)