Ramblings-n-Writings

War of 1812 Historical Fiction

Kara_S — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:32:29 +0000

ABOUT THE BOOK

For the sake of her ailing mother, Marianne Denton becomes engaged to Noah Brennin—a merchantman she despises. But as the War of 1812 escalates, Jonah’s ship is captured by the British, and the ill-matched couple learns vital information that could aid America’s cause.

Relive the rich history of the War of 1812 through the eyes of Marianne Denton and Noah Brenin, who both long to please their families but neither one wishes to marry the other. Noah is determined to get his cargo to England before war breaks out, and Marianne is equally determined to have a wedding so that her inheritance can be unlocked and her destitute family saved. When their stubborn games get them captured by a British warship, can they escape and bring liberty to their country—and growing love?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Surrender the Heart, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

I wish I would’ve had the time this week to read this book. I’m hoping to crack the cover over the weekend and will let you know what I think. Having read some of MaryLu Tyndall’s other historical fiction, I’m eager to see if Surrender the Heart measures up.

Some of you might remember MaryLu as the author of the Charles Towne Belles series, a trilogy about three sister caught up in the world of piracy.

A Switch between Maid and Mistress

Kara_S — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:47:01 +0000

ABOUT THE BOOK

They risk it all for adventure and romance, but find that love only flourishes in truth…

1886, New York City: Charlotte Gleason, a rich heiress from England, escapes a family crisis by traveling to America in order to marry the even wealthier Conrad Tremaine.

She soon decides that an arranged marriage is not for her and persuades her maid, Dora, to take her place. She wants a chance at “real life,” even if it means giving up financial security. For Charlotte, it’s a risk she’s willing to take. What begins as the whim of a spoiled rich girl wanting adventure becomes a test of survival amid poverty beyond Charlotte’s blackest nightmares.

As for Dora, it’s the chance of a lifetime. She lives a fairy tale complete with gowns, jewels, and lavish mansions–yet is tormented by guilt from the possibility of discovery and the presence of another love that will not die. Is this what her heart truly longs for?

Will their masquerade be discovered? Will one of them have second thoughts? There is no guarantee the switch will work. It’s a risk. It’s the chance of a lifetime.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Masquerade, go HERE.

View the book trailer:

MY THOUGHTS

Prior to reading Masquerade, I read two other books by author Nancy Moser – Washington’s Lady and Mozart’s Sister. I loved how these books took the reader into the heart of the main characters, Martha Custis Washington and Nannerl Mozart, and really opened up the reader’s mind to how life with it’s triumphs and struggles must have been for those ladies. Masquerade is similar, yet different.

Masquerade is a “lighter” read – I don’t mean that in a demeaning way, just that, in my opinion, the details and in-depth characterizations are less. In no way does that observation mean the plot line or story is weak. It just makes for a shorter story and one that doesn’t require as much concentration to read.

I loved the idea of a “prince and pauper” switch between a maid and her mistress. No one knows that Dora really isn’t Charlotte when they land in America because the family of Charlotte’s intended fiance has never met Charlotte, including the fiance himself. (Can you imagine traveling to another country to marry a man whom you have never met and only corresponded with via letters (and those letters weren’t very interesting or promising)? No wonder Charlotte was nervous and wanted to switch places!)

Is the switch believable to the reader? Absolutely. Each girl, while enduring bouts of guilt, nervousness, and excitement over her new role in life, develops in character and strength. Their individuality leads them down different paths, yet both find love and meaning in life.

Masquerade is another top-notch historical fiction book from Nancy Moser. As a special bonus, she included the drawings of period gowns that she based the descriptions of some of Charlotte and Dora’s gowns on.

A New Thoene Series – Zion Diaries

Kara_S — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 15:02:16 +0000

ABOUT THE BOOK

As Nazi forces tighten the noose, Loralei Kepler, daughter of a German resistance leader, must flee her beloved Germany. But is any place safe from Adolf Hitler’s evil grasp? Loralei’s harrowing flight leads her into the arms of needy child refugees, who have sacrificed everything in exchange for their lives, and toward a mysterious figure, who closely guards an age-old secret.

Explore the romance, the passion, and the danger of the most anticipated series of the last twenty years.

Born from the highly acclaimed and best-loved novels of three generations of readers — The Zion Covenant series and The Zion Chronicles series — Zion Diaries ventures into the lives of the inspiring and intriguing characters who loved intensely, stood up for what was right, and fought boldly during Hitler’s rise to power and the dark days of World War II.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Gathering Storm, go HERE

MY THOUGHTS

The Gathering Storm is the first of three books in authors Bodie and Brock Thoene’s new series Zion Diaries. If you’ve read and enjoyed the previous Zion books, I don’t have to tell you anything else other than this book doesn’t disappoint.

The Zion Covenant series and The Zion Chronicle series cover the 1930s and 1940s war years in Europe. The Zion Diaries series fills in a gap between those two series (the time period in WW2 prior to America joining the Allies) and includes some of the characters we met in the previous series.

Did I enjoy The Gathering Storm? Absolutely. The plot line varies in intensity with bombs dropping, babies being born, refugees fleeing for their lives, and love blossoming. The authors carefully crafted their words to pull the reader into the emotions of the characters as they endure the various plights of war.

I really can’t think of much else to say other than if you like the Thoene books, you will love this one! If it’s been awhile since you’ve read the other series, I’d suggest going back and reading the books in order, adding The Gathering Storm to the timeline – I know I wish I had copies of the other books to re-read again!

A special thank you to Summerside Press for sending me a review copy. I appreciate their taking the extra time to answer my phone call and send me another copy after the first one didn’t arrive because of an address issue. This post does not contain any personal affiliate links, and the words under “My Thoughts” are my own.

Introducing Dark in the City of Light

Kara_S — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:03:10 +0000

ABOUT THE BOOK

What Evil Haunts the Shadows of 1870s Paris?

Baron Ferdinand Harsanyi — After his wife’s mysterious death, this Austrian attaché holds control over mines whose coveted ore could turn the tide of war.

Therese Harsanyi — Swept up in new romance and the spectacle of Paris, the Baron’s daughter is blind to the dangers stalking her family and the city she loves.

Rudolph Harsanyi — Unsure whom to trust, the Baron’s son’s grief over his mother’s death twists into growing anger and a desire to break free.

As France and Prussia plunge toward war, one family is caught in a web of deceit, political intrigue, and murder that threatens to tear them apart.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Dark In The City Of Light, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

This is another one of those books that failed to arrive in my mailbox. Having not read the book, I am unable to give you my opinion, but I would like to share what a few other readers have said.

The majority opinion is that this book is very, very heavy on historical detail, which makes it believable but also cumbersome to read. So, if you are looking for a lighthearted read to sit by the pool with … this isn’t it. If you want a historical book with some meat on its bones, try this book and maybe hang on to it for snuggling by the fireplace this winter.

Some have mentioned that the chapter divisions are too many and the dialogue overwhelming – every thought is turned into a piece of dialogue. Again, having not read the book, these comments may be a reflection of personal preference by an individual reader.

Otherwise, the plot line sounds fascinating and I really wish the book would have arrived in my mailbox.

You can visit author Paul Robertson’s website here to learn more about his books.

Losing Out on Books

Kara_S — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:58:14 +0000

I know that many of you out there enjoy reading about the new books that are hitting the market and sometimes stop by here before heading to the library or buying a book.

I’ve mentioned in the past that one of my goals as a book reviewer is to always read the book before posting anything about it. Without reading the book, I feel as if I can’t recommend a book 100% and I may let down some of my blog readers by recommending a book that isn’t up to par.

Unfortunately, you may have noticed that during the past month, I’ve had to post only the publisher’s information about a book and not an actual review. Now, I’ve done this in the past when time is running short but the book has either been read or halfway completed. Having read part of a book, I generally feel safe recommending it to my readers.

Starting in July, I’ve failed to receive books that I’ve requested from publishers. The main reason? A year ago I changed my mailing address to a PO Box because of my living situation (sharing a mailbox with my former in-laws, etc.). While I consistently give the correct address in my communications when I request books, some publishers are failing to change the address in their databases.

If you’ve ever moved, you know that the US Postal Service will forward mail from your old address to your new address for one year. After that, the mail gets returned to sender as an invalid address. That’s what is happening to my books and I’m so disappointed.

If I was requesting books directly from the publisher, I would have some resources to turn to in order to solve the problem. But, alas, the requests go through a 3rd party.

One aspect of the address change thing that I fail to understand is how a bunch of mail order catalogs can automatically send copies of their catalogs to my new address without my ever telling them to change the address. Yet when I tell other organizations to change my address, I lose out on receiving one of my favorite things – books.

Maybe I should start reviewing mail order catalogs instead …

A Journey to 1942 Hollywood

Kara_S — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:46:59 +0000

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hollywood 1942. When attorney Audra Schaeffer’s sister disappears, Audra flies to Hollywood to find her.

Any day Audra might have been flattered by the friendly overtures of Robert Garfield, a real-life movie star. But on the flight from Indianapolis to Hollywood, Audra can think of little else than finding her missing sister. When Audra arrives in the city of glitz and glamour, and stars, and learns her rising starlet sister has been murdered, all thoughts of romance fly away.

Determined to bring the killer to justice, Audra takes a job with the second Hollywood Victory Caravan.

Together with Robert Garfield and other stars, she crisscrosses the southern United States in a campaign to sell war bonds. When two other women are found dead on the train, Audra knows the deaths are tied to that of her sister.

Could the killer be the man with whom she’s falling in love?

If you’d like to read an excerpt of Chapter 1 of Stars In The Night, go HERE.

Contest: Lots of opportunities to win and great prizes, and the grand prize contains some of Cara’s favorite classic movies as well as all of her WWII novels: Launch Contest!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word From Author Cara Putnam:

I graduated from high school at sixteen, college at 20, and completed my law degree when I was 27.

My writing journey started in 2005 when I decided to write my first novel. Now I have eleven books published with more on the way.

People say I’ve accomplished a lot and that I must have life by the proverbial tail. Hardly! I grew up as a home schooled kid when home schoolers were misunderstood and oddities.

I struggle with balancing my writing and law career, plus being a good mom and wife.

I often fear people won’t like my books.

I’ve walked through the deep pain of miscarriage.

Really, I’m just like you – I don’t have it all together and have gone through tough times. But in His strength, I’ve discovered a strength I never knew I had. A strength I want you to discover, too.

In the end I’m just an ordinary mom who has seen God do some wonderful things as I’ve been obedient to step into the calling He’s led me into.

Stars in the Night Background

Stars in the Night was an idea that had begun to percolate in my mind. I’d written two World War II series and was actively looking for my next setting. My husband, a huge World War II history buff, and I were kicking ideas around, and I’d decided Hollywood was probably the next place for me. I’d gone to the library and gotten a stack of research books when I got the call. An editor I knew but had never worked with wanted to know if I might be interested in a new line they were starting. As we talked, I got so excited. And then she emailed me their guidelines, which listed that Hollywood was a location they were interested in setting books.

Only God could have known ahead of time. But because I followed His prompting I was ready to run with an idea. Stars in the Night is the result.

Introducing Back on Murder

Kara_S — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:19:19 +0000

ABOUT THE BOOK

Det. Roland March is a homicide cop on his way out.

A missing girl. A corrupt investigation. They thought they could get away with it, but they forgot one thing:

Roland March is BACK ON MURDER…

Houston homicide detective Roland March was once one of the best. Now he’s disillusioned, cynical, and on his way out. His superiors farm him out on a variety of punishment details. But when he’s the only one at a crime scene to find evidence of a missing female victim, he’s given one last chance to prove himself. Before he can crack the case, he’s transferred to a new one that has grabbed the spotlight–the disappearance of a famous Houston evangelist’s teen daughter.

All he has to do? Find the missing teenage daughter of a Houston evangelist that every cop in town is already looking for. But March has an inside track, a multiple murder nobody else thinks is connected. With the help of a youth pastor with a guilty conscience who navigates the world of church and faith, March is determined to find the missing girls while proving he’s still one of Houston’s best detectives.

Battling a new partner, an old nemesis, and the demons of his past, getting to the truth could cost March everything. Even his life.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Back On Murder, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

I would love to tell you my thoughts on this book, however I haven’t received my copy yet. If I do receive it, I’ll be sure to let you know what I think since the book sounds very intriguing.

If you’re interested in a review, you can find a list of other bloggers who read the book on the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance website.

Rejected: One Year Later

Kara_S — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 17:36:16 +0000

On September 4, 2009, I shared the following words with my online friends …

Four years and almost 1 month to the day after I stood before God and pledged my life to my husband, I woke up to find him gone. For good. Not coming back. Ever. That happened in early July. Since then I’ve grieved, learned to deal with the pain of rejection, went to my first divorce hearing, found out how amazing and gracious God really is, and discovered I have some of the best friends in the world.

Today marks the one year anniversary of that day when my former husband walked out of my life permanently. My perspective last year at this time was one of grief and my world crumbling down around me. Tears poured from my broken heart. The tunnel was really dark and seemingly had no light at the end.

Little did I know how dramatically my life would change within a year. I am truly amazed at how much God has done and how He has healed my heart.

Today my ex and I are casual friends. We’ve been divorced for over 8 months, and are both in committed relationships with other people. (While growing up I was taught that divorce is bad and is not an option in a marriage, yet I’m here today to say that I am incredibly thankful for my divorce. In a way, it was a relief and allowed me to finally emerge from that dark tunnel.)

My heart truly rejoices as I look back and see how God orchestrated the events of my life to bring me to where I am today.

He provided work exactly when I needed it, and in fact I am continuing to do work that I love. Initially my biggest fear was that I’d have to get an office job somewhere to make ends meet and give up the passions in my life. Not at all. I did work part-time for a couple of places, but there was always enough money for my needs and I had complete control of my own schedule. Only God could’ve done that!

God has also given me someone that I know I will spend the rest of my life with without a doubt. When I think in reflection, I’m often reminded of the Rascal Flatts song “Bless the Broken Road.” While my road has been broken and rough, I wouldn’t change a thing that has brought me to where I am and who I am today.

I do want to say a very deep heartfelt “thank you” to those of you who walked portions of my broken road with me. You know who you are and I will forever cherish you as true friends.

Review: Tomorrow We Die

Kara_S — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:58:01 +0000

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chase the Angel of Death and You Might Catch Him

Jonathan Trestle is a paramedic who’s spent the week a few steps behind the angel of death. When he responds to a call about a man sprawled on a downtown sidewalk, Trestle isn’t about to lose another victim. CPR revives the man long enough for him to hand Trestle a crumpled piece of paper and say, “Give this to Martin,” before being taken to the hospital.

The note is a series of dashes and haphazard scribbles. Trestle tries to follow up with the patient later, but at the ICU he learns the man awoke, pulled out his IVs, and vanished, leaving only a single key behind. With the simple decision to honor a dying man’s last wish, Jonathan tracks the key to a nearby motel where he finds the man again–this time not just dead but murdered. Unwilling to just let it drop, Jonathan is plunged into a mystery that soon threatens not only his dreams for the future but maybe even his life. He must race for the truth before the Angel of Death comes calling for him.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Tomorrow We Die, go to HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

I was curious to read this book for two reasons. First, it was something out-of-the-ordinary for me and not in my typical historical fiction genre. Second, author Shawn Grady is compared to one of my all-time favorite authors - Dee Henderson.

I enjoyed the book and, in fact, read it in entirety during a lazy weekend afternoon. Was it spell-binding? Yes and no. I didn’t have to read it all at once, but I was intrigued by the mysterious note and exactly what would happen to Jonathan and his friends.

In a way, the storyline is a mix of CSI and the new show on tv called Miami Medical. At least that’s what I thought after the first couple of chapters.

The action is fast paced, and the characters are interesting, but not necessarily memorable. The story is written from the first person point of view, meaning we as readers only know and feel what the main character (Jonathan) knows, feels, and observes. Does first person POV work in this story? Definitely. It adds to the suspense and also the intricate details of Jonathan’s life as a paramedic. (For those who may get queasy at medical stories, there’s a lot of medical description in this book.)

Would Dee Henderson fans enjoy Tomorrow We Die? Probably. To me, the suspense level and romance between the characters wasn’t as strong as Dee’s stories, but the comparison between the two authors is reasonable.

From reading reviews by other readers, Tomorrow We Die is labeled as better than Shawn Grady’s first book, Through the Fire.

A special thank you to Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Bethany House Publishers for sending me a copy to review. The words under My Thoughts are entirely my own and contain no affiliate links.

Reflection on My Census Journey

Kara_S — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 12:28:39 +0000

At the end of April I started training for the US Census, and for the next two months I was one of those people that knocked on doors. Lots of doors.

As I drove hundreds of miles on country back roads, I learned a few things about life in West Virginia and life in general.

One of the first things I learned was that anything not 100% necessary in my life had to go. What that meant was if it didn’t help pay the bills or put food on the table, I had to think twice about it. Juggling the census and my work with Two Lane Livin’ became a very delicate balancing act. Throw in some book reviews and things got interesting. Blogging (as you well know) didn’t happen very often.

By weeding out the unnecessary things, I learned what was important to me and what I needed in my life to be happy. Those things have been added back in now that this phase of the census is over. The unimportant stuff is left in my past to collect dust.

While spending hours driving around and knocking on doors, I discovered that West Virginia has some of the nicest, most helpful people that you’ll find. So many offered information on how to get from Point A to Point B and avoid hazardous road conditions like rocky low water crossings, 4-wheel drive ruts, creek bed roads, and gigantic potholes (seriously, I’ve seen a few that could swallow my car). Others offered advice on neighbors – who worked and who didn’t and when the best time was to catch them at home. I learned family history as well as who lived in the hollow the longest, where the old homesteads were, who was related to who, and tons of other fascinating stories.

Another thing I discovered is that there are passable back roads. To the average person who doesn’t live in West Virginia that might not make sense, and to those of you who do live in WVa., I think I hear you snickering. West Virginia is ranked as one of the better states for interstate highway systems. The problems start when you exit off the interstate to a rural road. The state roads are maintained at an okay level. Patched areas are prevelant as the state attempts to control the potholes, but most state roads can be navigated safely at 45-55 mph. Turn off of a state road on to a county road and … well … things go from okay to risky. Top speed is 25 mph on a “paved” road and 15 mph on a gravel (aka dirt) road.

Driving for the census taught me that the shortest distance in miles, not necessarily time, between Point A and Point B is often the gravel road. Any time you take a gravel road in WVa. you are taking a risk. Many gravel roads used to be main thoroughfares years and years ago (think horseback riders about 20 years ago). Sometimes the road is still there and according to maps and the GPS it is a viable road. After venturing up more roads than I can count, I learned to ignore the map and rely on what the indicators told me. I got pretty good at guessing if a road continued through or if it was too rough for a car to pass or if it just plain ole’ stopped at a gate. I also perfected my 3-point turning skills and backing-up-down-a-hill skill. With my newfound knowledge, I feel safer knowing I can take backroads with confidence and make it home with my car still in one piece.

Another thing I learned is that so many old homesteads are just left to ruin. It’s really sad. West Virginia has some gorgeous old farmhouses that have been restored. But for every one that has been restored, I’d guess there’s at least 5 that are rotting away. I’m talking about homes with real hardwood floors, two-story porches, and beautiful lattice work, all with farmland and views to die for. My understanding is that most of these homes belong to families that just can’t get along. The patriarch of the family left the family homestead to the kids, but they can’t agree who gets to live in the house, so no one lives in it or maintains it. It really is quite sad to see so many pieces of architectural history just deteriorate because of some family squabble. I’d love to live in and restore some of these old homesteads. New job in my future? Probably not.