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Monday, August 27, 2012

Book Review with Kindle Giveaway Link: Nexus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 13)

This episode moves forward with excitement and anticipation.

Nexus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 13) 
by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley
  • File Size: 142 KB
  • Print Length: 63 pages
  • Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
  • Publisher: eXtasy Books (May 24, 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B00866K848
Genre:  Science Fiction
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 24, 2012
After Aislinn and Dylan participate in Shakan’s banishment to the Overlap, they prepare for their journey to Klatria to rescue Aislinn’s parents.
Certain that Shakan’s banishment to the Overlap has forever ended the tainted bloodline of Jhanvar, Aislinn and Dylan prepare, with the help of Altithronus, emissary to the Antiquitas, for their journey to Klatria to rescue the royals.


Review:
I felt this book was back in the groove after the last one ended so abruptly.
We learn more of the characters and history of Klatria. Although Vark is a dark, evil leader, I sense that the people used to be sweet and gentle. It seems that perhaps the dark underground atmosphere and the terrible monsters they have had to fight off have leached into some of the leaders, like Vark, and they have forgotten the goodness they once knew. I really like those who are waiting for Aislinn to help their rebellion.

Aislinn faces down an attack from Jhanvar in order to complete the banishment of Shakan. She, Dylan and their entourage return to the city to prepare for the rescue of her parents. I like how Aislinn and Dylan travel in the sphere to reach Klatria where they see the stark, glacier world. They are ready to face Vark.

I have enjoyed this engaging series and I am interested to see how the series will end in Equilibrium, Book 14, the final book..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aislinn’s gift to the overlap:
“And so the taint has been purged.” She said.... “May the light now reside in this place.” Location 287.
Thank you to the authors for providing this book for review as part of a Pump Up Your Book Tour event with Kindle Giveaway link.

~ ~ ~ KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

Pump Up Your Book and The Samsara Chronicles are teaming up to give you a chance to win a Kindle Fire!

Kindle Fire


Here’s how it works:

Each person will enter this giveaway by liking, following, subscribing and tweeting about this giveaway through the Rafflecopter form placed on blogs throughout the tour.  If your blog isn’t set up to accept the form, we offer another way for you to participate by having people comment on your blog then directing them to where they can fill out the form to gain more entries.
This Kindle Fire promotion will run from June 1 – August 31. Winner will be chosen randomly by Rafflecopter, contacted by email and announced on September 1, 2012.
Each blogger who participates in The Samsara Chronicles virtual book tour is eligible to enter and win.
Visit each blog stop below to gain more entries as the Rafflecopter widget will be placed on each blog for the duration of the tour.
If you would like to participate, email Dorothy at thewriterslife(at)gmail.com. Last day to sign up is July 27. What a great way to not only win this fabulous prize, but to gain followers and comments too! Good luck everyone!

Click on the graphic below to find out how you can win!

[If the picture link doesn't work, go to this page].


~ ~ ~WIN $50 GIFT CERTIFICATE ~ ~ ~

One lucky person who comments the most on The Samsara Chronicles’ blog stops will receive a $50 gift certificate. The blog host who receives the most comments through the tour will also receive a $50 gift certificate!


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Pump Up Your Book

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Mailbox Monday August 27, 2012

Welcome to Mailbox Monday.
FOR AUGUST: the Mailbox Monday Tour host are the ladies at 5 Minutes for Books.

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week and explore great book blogs.  This Meme started with Marcia at A Girl and Her Books (fka The Printed Page) but is now hosted at Mailbox Monday and through various blog hosts.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists. 


This was another good week for my book garden. How is yours doing?

Review Titles
I received four review books again this week: two print, one audio download and one pdf.

Print:


by Suzanne Anderson
for Book Blast promo and
review on September 4, 2012






by Loree Lough
Review on September 20, 2012
 Pump Up Your Book Tour



by Hayden Trenholm
AudioBook Download from Iambik





and
pdf:

By Jill James
Bewitching Book Tours
September 10, 2012



Wins
 
No wins received or selected books this week.
I still have some wins due in from the Coffee Anniversary Extravaganza hosted by Coffeetime and The Romance Studio.  I still need to select some more books but I haven't yet.


Purchased
None

Free 
Audio Sync - I think this is the last pair.
August 23 – August 29, 2012
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, Read by Jay Laga’aia (Bolinda Audio)
The Call of the Wild by Jack London, Read by William Roberts (Naxos AudioBooks)


I don't remember downloading Kindle titles this week.
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It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 27, 2012

This meme starts at Book Journey!

What Are You Reading, is where we gather to share what we have read this past week and what we plan to read this week. It is a great way to network with other bloggers, see some wonderful blogs, and put new titles on your reading list.

DH and I will be flying out west tomorrow for our Alaskan cruise.
I got most of the "must do" work done, I got my hair colored and I am almost finished packing! I had to be late posting this so I could take care of hair and packing. :-)

Once again I finished five books.  I posted five book reviews, two with giveaway and one with giveaway link. I also posted an eReader and eBook Giveaway Hop.  Plus I posted the regular Friday Pick Giveaway, Saturday Sharing Beyond Books Comment Giveaway and Sunday Words. 

I got to visit a little last Sunday and Monday but none since then. I may not get to visit much this week either since we'll be heading out early and I will have limited internet on the ship. I truly appreciate all the nice people who visit me.

These were last week's posts:
  • AudioBook Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth; Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic; my rating 4.25.
Finished Reading:
1. eBook/Kindle



by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley 
Review with Kindle Giveaway link are linked above.




2. Print


The Trouble With Magic
by Patricia Rice
I really liked this.
The review and giveaway are linked above!




3. eBook/Kindle



by Kathleen Fuller 
This is a nice, engaging romance set in an Amish community. Review is linked above; Giveaway to post Tuesday.
Book Description
Publication Date: August 7, 2012 | Series: A Middlefield Family Novel

Laura’s Amish faith requires her to forgive, but she can only think of revenge.

Laura Stutzman leaves her Kentucky community for Middlefield, Ohio, with one purpose: to find Mark King, the man who pledged his love to her, then left. She can’t move on with her life until he explains why.

Sawyer Thompson wasn't born Amish, but has lived in their community for years. Now he must commit to the Amish church or return to the Yankee world. Having suffered loss at a young age, he understands Laura’s anger, but is determined to follow God’s will and forgive. As their friendship grows, Laura begins to let her guard down.

But new information surfaces about Sawyer’s past and threatens the couple’s budding relationship. Both Laura and Sawyer will need to release the anger in their hearts and forgive the people who’ve harmed them. As Laura struggles to trust God, can Sawyer remain faithful to Laura?



4. eBook/Kindle
 

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley 
  I enjoyed this episode.
Review to post 8/27 with Kindle Giveaway link
for Pump Up Your Book
Book Description
Publication Date: May 24, 2012
After Aislinn and Dylan participate in Shakan’s banishment to the Overlap, they prepare for their journey to Klatria to rescue Aislinn’s parents.

Certain that Shakan’s banishment to the Overlap has forever ended the tainted bloodline of Jhanvar, Aislinn and Dylan prepare, with the help of Altithronus, emissary to the Antiquitas, for their journey to Klatria to rescue the royals.



5. Print


by M.L. Buchman
I was really impressed with the quality of this book!
I will be posting a review with Author Interview 
and a Giveaway on August 30.


Line Edits/Releases: One book is ready with one minor item waiting.

Currently reading:
1.  eBook/Kindle
 

by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley
This is the last book in this engaging series.
Review to post 8/29 with Kindle Giveaway link
for Pump Up Your Book
Book Description
Publication Date: May 25, 2012
Aislinn and Dylan are held captive by the Klatrians. Vark wants the skull and vows nothing will stop him from gaining its power.

The royal pair’s next journey is to go back to Earth and help the Earthlings restore their planet. But now, the safety of two worlds hangs in the balance. Can they come up with a plan to escape?


2. Print
 

by Suzanne Anderson
I will be posting a Spotlight and Review for this title on September 4 with BookBlast. 
Book Description
Publication Date: June 24, 2012
What if when you most needed help,  a blue bear appeared with a note from God? One night, Miss Millie of Blossom, Ohio turns her face to the stars and asks God for help. The next day, a package arrives on her doorstep containing a blue teddy bear and a special note.  Over the course of a year, this remarkable blue bear travels across the country, showing up just when he’s needed most.    During his journey, Chester Blue helps a young girl trying to impress her big sisters; saves a sailor caught in a terrible storm; reunites two constantly fighting brothers; helps a cowboy become a rodeo clown; and aids a father and daughter in bonding after divorce.  If you ever needed a message from God, it's here...


3. eBook/Kindle


I had planned this as the first of my September reads
and I am looking forward to it!
Book Description
Publication Date: September 11, 2012 | Series: Chet and Bernie Mysteries
Everyone’s favorite detective team returns in a new adventure as canine narrator Chet and his human partner P.I. Bernie Little find that Hollywood has gone to the dogs.

Hoping to bring some Tinseltown money to the Valley, the mayor lures a movie studio to town to shoot their next production, a big-budget Western in the classic tradition. The star is none other than ruggedly handsome—and notoriously badly behaved—Thad Perry. When the mayor decides that someone needs to keep an eye on Thad so that he doesn’t get into too much trouble, Bernie and Chet are handpicked for the job. The money is good but something smells fishy, and what should have been a simple matter of babysitting soon gets more complicated—especially when they discover that Thad has a mysterious connection to the Valley that nobody wants to talk about. What kind of secret could Thad have left behind when he went to Hollywood to seek fame and fortune? The only people who might know the answer have a bad habit of turning up dead before they can talk.

As Bernie’s relationship with his longtime girlfriend Suzie goes long-distance, and Chet’s late-night assignations appear to have resulted in an unexpected dividend, it’s all our two sleuths can do to keep Thad and his motley entourage of yes-men, handlers, and hangers-on in their sights. Worst of all, Thad is a self-proclaimed cat person, and his feline friend Brando has taken an instant dislike to Chet.

Like the winning books before it, this fifth book in the series combines a top-notch mystery with genuine humor and a perceptive take on the relationship between human and dog that will stay with you long after the case is solved.


4. Audio/MP3
 

Titanium Rain
by Josh Finney
This is another 'audio movie' and I am excited to start listening.  I received this for review from Audio Comics through Audiobook Jukebox.
Publisher Description:In the year 2031 mankind’s survival instinct is put to the test when a civil war in China spirals into global conflict. Nations are destroyed. Millions are killed. And for many, like US Air Force pilot Alec Killian, survival will mean shedding some of his humanity in exchange for biotech and machine. Is this the ultimate corruption of nature, or the birth pains of a new chapter in mankind’s evolution?

This is the basis for one of the most acclaimed graphic novel series in recent years: Titanium Rain, created and produced by 01 Publishing and published by Archaia Entertainment. Now Titanium Rain makes the jump from the printed page to full-cast audio movie adapted for audio by co-creator Josh Finney and directed by William Dufris. Visit the Titanium Rain Audio site for more information!



I am again listening to The Listener's Bible NIV read by Max McLean. 
[Reading and listening on my new MP3.]
Instead of studying with the Tyndall One Year Bible this year I am studying with Through the Bible in One Year by Alan B. Stringfellow. It is a Study that I used for teaching back in around 1989 so I will enjoy it again.  This week the reading is 2 Corinthians.

Line Edits: I will be formatting a book over the next two weeks.
I started August with 14 books to read and review. I have completed 21 books - obviously I added a couple.  I am posting 5 reviews a week to keep up with the reading. :-)

Scheduled for August:
8/27  Nexus (The Samsara Chronicles Book 13) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
8/29   Equilibrium (The Samsara Chronicles Book 14) by Diana Kemp and Gabriella Bradley - Review for Pump Up Your Book - with Kindle Giveaway link
8/30  I Own the Dawn: The Night Stalkers by M.L. Buchman w/ Author Interview (Sourcebooks)

Unscheduled for August:
Sourcebooks (read)

Thomas NelsonWalnut Press: (read)

I did get one "Won"/TBR books in so far.:-)  

[To be posted - I am setting these up for interview/feature days. These were read and ready for reviews for Authors.  
Quest for Magic by Jean Hart Stewart - Read; review to be posted with interview.  
Seeing for the First Time (What You See is What You Get) and To See (What You See is What You Get) by Nicole Zoltack - Both Read; setting up author interview with reviews.]
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Sunday, August 26, 2012

Book Review: Faithful to Laura (A Middlefield Family Novel) by Kathleen Fuller

This is an engaging story set in an Amish community that explores issues of life-style choices and forgiveness.


  • File Size: 699 KB
  • Print Length: 303 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1595547762
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 7, 2012)
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B008JOPLJE
Genre: Inspirational, Amish
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 7, 2012 |
Series: A Middlefield Family Novel

Laura’s Amish faith requires her to forgive, but she can only think of revenge.

Laura Stutzman leaves her Kentucky community for Middlefield, Ohio, with one purpose: to find Mark King, the man who pledged his love to her, then left. She can’t move on with her life until he explains why.

Sawyer Thompson wasn't born Amish, but has lived in their community for years. Now he must commit to the Amish church or return to the Yankee world. Having suffered loss at a young age, he understands Laura’s anger, but is determined to follow God’s will and forgive. As their friendship grows, Laura begins to let her guard down.

But new information surfaces about Sawyer’s past and threatens the couple’s budding relationship. Both Laura and Sawyer will need to release the anger in their hearts and forgive the people who’ve harmed them. As Laura struggles to trust God, can Sawyer remain faithful to Laura?


Review:
Laura Stutzman thought she had found the man who would be her husband and help mate in her family’s bakery. Instead the young man, Mark King, had deceived her, stolen her family’s life savings and even tried to kill her. He set a fire and glass that blew from a window has scarred her face. Those scars are healing but the scar to her soul and confidence has not healed. She moves to the Middlefield, Ohio Amish community seeking to find Mark and have revenge against him.

Sawyer Thompson is a young man who was adopted by an Amish family when he was 14. After the loss of his parents he suffered abuse in the foster care system. He loves his adoptive parents and is trying to decide if he is ready to leave the Yankee world behind and commit himself to the Amish lifestyle.

Laura takes a reception, clerical job at the woodcrafting store owned by Sawyer’s father. Sawyer sees the beauty behind her pain but she has built a wall to keep others out.

Sawyer’s extremely wealthy grandmother locates him and arrives to take him back to New York to become her heir. Sawyer is angry that she thinks she can walk in and that her money will lure him away from the parents who have taken him and sheltered him for the past six years.

Can Laura release her anger and find a way to forgive Mark? Can she open up to allow Sawyer’s interest or should she return home to her own parents?  Will Sawyer stay with the Amish community or will he be drawn away by his grandmother’s money?

I really enjoyed the warm story as it developed around Laura and Sawyer. Ms. Fuller created strong characters in the Amish people and in the ‘Yankee’ grandmother. I was a little less enthralled with a side drama of betrayal in another family that required confession and forgiveness. It is a situation that acknowledges that we are human and sinners - all needing grace.

The writing flows well with clear descriptions. It was particularly interesting to me to see how the author portrayed the grandmother’s reactions to the simpleness of the Amish community. Since I was raised in 'Pennsylvania Dutch' country near an Amish community, it was strange to think there are people who have no idea of the Amish culture.

The faith based messages are expressed through the life choices of the characters as well as sometimes being shared outright. Anyone who enjoys inspirational themes set in the Amish world and developed around 'real people' should enjoy this story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
There are inner scars that are harder to treat than surface ones:
...the daily applications of Vitamin E oil were helping the scars fade. But there were deeper scars, invisible ones. No cosmetic treatments could heal a soul. Location 93.
I liked this message of sovereignty:
Once we accept that God is in control of our lives, then we can work on understanding his will. Location 1511.
Wise words on mercy:
“I don’t deserve it.”
Leona shook her head. “None of us do....  If we deserved it, it wouldn’t be mercy....” Location 1553.
Thank you to Ruthie at Thomas Nelson for providing this title through NetGalley.  Please watch for a Giveaway with ALL THREE of the Thomas Nelson titles I reviewed this month. The Giveaway will post tonight or Tuesday depending on when I can complete the post (as I am still preparing for our trip). :-)
This story was set in Ohio for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also list this on my ARC and New Author lists.
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Sunday Words of Encouragement August 26, 2012

Sometimes God speaks through His presence with few words! This morning we had a lovely communion service. A word of the Lord was shared declaring that He had all things - future, past and present - in His control.
Pastor ended up summarizing his sermon and I only had one paragraph of notes!

Whatever trail or tribulation you are facing, God is in control. He is with you in it and through it.  Physical, mental, spiritual, our financial. He can and will handle it if you allow him control. Have you released your concerns to Him? As Paul says: 'His grace is sufficient...His Power is effective through my weakness' (see the verse below).  God's Power rests on you; He has tented His presence over you. Satan, take notice: these are God's  protected children.

This is a new worship song we have been singing.
It touches my spirit.


A Verse for Today
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

May I always acknowledge that I am weak (after all, I am nothing without the Creator's touch) and any strength I have is from God.  May I give thanks and praise Him for His mercies and blessings.
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