Mini Review and a Giveaway: Spellweaver: A Novel of the Nine Kingdoms and a Lynn Kurland Giveaway!

This is the latest book in this series by Lynn Kurland.

In this book we follow Sarah and Ruith around the countryside in search of his evil father's spells so he can destroy them before they fall into the wrong hands.  Of course, Ruith loves Sarah and is quite sweet and attentive but Sarah does her best to put him off because he is, after all, a mighty and magical prince. Neither one can accomplish their tasks alone and so together they face the challenges and surprises that come their way.

What I love about this series is that they are fantasy adventure but there is more romance than many fantasy books.  What?!  I'm a girl that likes some love.  BUT, they are not steamy romance books, they are clean.

Content:
This book contains frequent hell's and damn's.  Bastard is also used frequently in describing someone's half brothers who were sired out of wedlock.

Okay, so in honor of my love for an occasional Lynn Kurland romance, I'm giving away A Time for Love which actually contains two books in one.  (If I Had You and Another Chance to Dream)  These aren't fantasy books like the Nine Kingdoms series, but just straight up romance.

If you are interested in winning, just leave me a comment with your email address.  Giveaway ends Monday, March 28th.

Review: A Cowboy's Touch by Denise Hunter

Abigail Jones is a workaholic. Writing is her life. She is the “truth seeker”, writing to expose corruption and lies. All that overtime work is catching up with Abby though and she finds herself with high blood pressure, headaches and heart palpitations. Her mother and Dr. agree. A three month leave of absence is just the thing Abigail needs to rest her body and mind.

Middle of nowhere Moose Creek, Montana is where Abigail ends up for the summer. Great Aunt Lucy is getting older and some time spent with her is just what the doctor ordered. The slow pace and majestic scenery will calm the nerves and the spirit. Or it would, if Wade Ryan weren’t standing in the picture looking all attractive in his cowboy hat, strong and steady, making her stomach flutter and her heart pound.

Abigail knows she is in trouble of falling deep for Wade and spending ever day in his presence only cements the fact. As she works as a nanny for Wade’s eleven year old daughter, she finds her heart and mind agreeing that a life with these two might be all she ever wants.

Wade is hiding things though. His past is secreted away and locked up tight. In digging deep to find the answers, Abigail is faced with decisions that could tear them apart. How far is she willing to go? What will she risk?

I have to say right up front that I’m a fan of Denise Hunter’s books. I’ve read many of them and I’ve loved them. This was, I think, one of my favorites. A hunk of a cowboy, sizzling attraction and a journey of love and faith. It was a perfect combination for me. I loved it. I like the imperfect characters who make mistakes but know how to be accountable and overcome. And I like examples of forgiveness too, for others and for ourselves. When my heart gets a happily ever after ending, I feel good.

I received this book from Book Sneeze for my honest review.

Follow My Book Blog Friday

Q. How did you come up with your blog name?

I can't even remember how I came up with the name for my blog.  It must not have been an "event" or I think I would have remembered it.  Gee, it wasn't even that long ago... Yup, even as I type here and think, still nothing.  It probably just popped into my head and that was that.  I love reading.  And with that said, I'm going to go "get my read on".  I hear that cowboy book calling to me....

Happy Friday, ya'll!

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Kate’s mother is dying.  For years now, Kate has taken care of her mother and watched as she has deteriorated.  Now, her mother’s dying wish is to return to her home.  Kate is not excited in the least about the dilapidated house they will be living in or the new school she will be going to.  When Ava approaches her about attending a party to meet all the kids, Kate hesitantly agrees.  This sets off a chain of events that Kate never dreamed could be possible.  Greek Gods are real?  The God of the Underworld wants to marry her?  If she survives the next 6 months?  If she passes the tests?

I have to say that I usually enjoy books that have some sort of mythological base to them.  This was really no exception.  I was pulled into the book right away and there I stayed for a whole day.  That was how long it took me to read this because this was easy reading.  There was no confusion with the plot or ideas of this book.  Kate has a generous heart that forgives easily.  I think that is an admirable trait.  I really wished that Henry’s voice was as clear to me.  I finished the book wishing I knew more about him, how he felt and why.  I liked him, I just wanted more. 

I also really liked the idea that any little decision may be a test.   Someone is always watching to see how act and react, and just maybe proving our worth isn’t so much in the big, earth-shattering things, but in the everyday ways that we treat other people and handle ourselves.

I’d say this was a great debut title by Aimee Carter, who, by the way, has a way cool first name.  J  I’m looking forward to her next book because I was left hanging!  (but not too bad…)  I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for my honest review.

There was some language and sexual content in this book.  If you are interested in the break-down of these things, you can head over to The Literate Mother to check it out.

Review: A Tale of Two Castles by Gail Carson Levine

Elodie leaves her family in pursuit of her dreams of becoming a masioner.  But her best laid plans change instantly upon arrival in the town of Two Castles.  There are no apprenticeships, and Elodie’s copper is stolen so she has no money.  She meets the dragon, Meenore, in town and finds herself agreeing to be IT’s assistant.  Meenore is no ordinary dragon.  She is a mystery solving dragon, brilliant in the game of observation and deductive reasoning.  Elodie’s first case with Meenore involves the Ogre that lives in one of the two castles in town.  Count Jonty Um is a giant, shape shifting Ogre who’s greatest desire is to be liked and respected by the townspeople who clearly do not like him.  Count Jonty Um seeks out the help of Meenore when his dog is stolen.  Elodie soon finds that this mystery is much more than finding a missing dog.  It’s about saving the Ogre’s life and maybe even her own.   

I knew I would enjoy this book from the second paragraph.  It says, “Albin stood to the side a few feet and blew his nose with a honk.  He could blow his nose a dozen ways.  The honk was the saddest.”  I have enjoyed every book I’ve read by Gail Levine and this was no exception.  I loved the mystery solving duo of Meenore the dragon and Elodie and the friendship that developed between them.  I loved how Elodie didn’t take someone else’s word on who she should like and why.  She gave everyone a chance and judged after knowing them.  This was a fun, adventurous book, cleanly written and well done.  Recommended reading level by publisher is ages 9-12.  I would agree.

I read this book courtesy of NetGalley.  A Tale of Two Castles will be released May 10^th 2011.

Follow My Book Blog Friday

" who are You the Boy/Girl, instead of You the Blogger?

I am Aimee.  I am a wife and a mother.  I have 3 awesome kids that keep my busy!  I've been working in the real estate world for the past few years and I have the best job ever.  I'm currently on the Friends of the Library Committee in our city.  Yea for libraries!  I sing with an all women's choir which I totally love.  I do digital scrapbooking and I'm currently working on my brother's wedding pictures.  

I love the summer and the sunshine!  Flip flops are my favorite next to bare feet!  Chocolate.  I can't forget that.  :)  Tell me something about you!  Happy Friday!

Review: Mine Is the Night

Mine is the Night

By Liz Curtis Higgs

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genre’s to read.  Liz Curtis Higgs has a real way of writing so that as a reader, you connect with the characters and the places of her stories.  In this book, I was carried away to eighteenth century Scotland and immersed in the language, customs and celebrations of its people.

 

Elizabeth Kerr, newly widowed, displaced and without title, accompanies her mother in law to Selkirk seeking refuge and a chance to rebuild a life for herself.  Elizabeth is quite talented with a needle and is unafraid of the work that will be required of her to support her family.  So much loss and betrayal have left Elizabeth and Marjory with broken hearts and lives in peril.  They find help and hope in Lord Jack Buchanan, a wealthy, retired navy man.

 

Although it took me awhile to become really invested in these characters and the story, it did happen.  The care and love of Elizabeth, Marjory and Annie for each other was inspiring.  The lessons of family and loyalty were strong and uplifting.  I really enjoyed the Scottish influence.  It was so good, so satisfying to read a happy ending for all.  That is just the way I like things to end.

This is a Christian based fiction book.  There was no profanity or sexual content. 

I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for my honest review.