The Many Hands by Dale Smith (Review)

The Nor' Loch is being filled in. If you ask the soldiers there, they'll tell you it's a stinking cesspool that the city can do without. But that doesn't explain why the workers won't go near the place without an armed guard. That doesn't explain why they whisper stories about the loch giving up its dead, about the minister who walked into his church twelve years after he died. It doesn't explain why, as they work, they whisper about a man called the Doctor. And about the many hands of Alexander Monro.



Featuring the Doctor and Martha as played by David Tennant and Freema Agyeman in the hit series from BBC Television.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
This was such a great DW story! I loved how every action by both the Doctor and Martha fit perfectly with their on-screen personas. Every time the Doctor was saying something or doing something in the book it was very easy to read it in David Tennant's voice and visualize him acting that way, which is so nice.

The monsters in the story were super creepy and not at all what I thought they were going to be. There were so many funny lines, that I was smiling so often it was ridiculous.

I loved that the story took place in Scotland, and when it said the Doctor had a Scottish accent I was hearing the accent David used in the episode Tooth and Claw.

Fans of Doctor Who should love reading The Many Hands - I know I did! :)

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Beautiful Chaos by Gary Russell (Review)

Donna Noble is back home in London, catching up with her family and generally giving them all the gossip about her journeys. Her grandfather is especially overjoyed - he's discovered a new star and had it named after him. He takes the Doctor, as his special guest, to the naming ceremony.

But the Doctor is suspicious about some of the other changes he can see in Earth's heavens. Particularly that bright star, right there. No not that one, that one, there, on the left...

The world's population is slowly being converted to a new path, a new way of thinking. Something is coming to Earth, an ancient force from the Dark Times. Something powerful, angry, and all-consuming...

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
The start of this story brought to mind the sad scene at the end of Journey's End, when the Doctor was left all on his own. However, then the story goes back in time to a time when Donna & the Doctor are visiting her family - I loved that! How we get to see so much more of what Donna's family was like and the last chapter in the book was so touching and sweet - any fan if Donna Noble should be deeply moved by it.

Recommended to fans of Doctor Who.

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Maggie's Turn by Deanna Lynn Sletten (Review)

Sometimes you just have to walk away…to rediscover who you are.

Maggie Harrison is a devoted wife and mother, always putting the needs of her family ahead of her own. Then, one day, without planning to, she drives away, leaving behind an indifferent husband and two sulking teenagers. Maggie goes off on a quest of self-exploration, enjoying adventures, meeting new people, and rediscovering her passions. For the first time in years, she dreams about what she wants out of life, and she realizes that her deteriorating marriage can no longer continue as it is. Can she and Andrew repair their floundering relationship, or is their marriage over?

Andrew Harrison likes his life to be in perfect order. He enjoys his work and status in the community, leaving Maggie to take care of everything at home. He knows his marriage isn't perfect, but after twenty-three years and two kids, whose marriage is? When Maggie leaves without a word, he is forced to start paying more attention to his home life and his almost grown children, and he begins to do a little self-exploration of his own. Slowly, he begins to understand what drove Maggie away, and how important she is in his life. Is it too late to resolve their differences and save their marriage? Or will Andrew lose Maggie forever?

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

I was delighted by how enjoyable a read Maggie's Turn ended up being. I immediately was drawn into the story and was connected to the characters.

Maggie is a wife and mother who has been underappreciated for years and has reached her breaking point, so one day she just takes off. First with the intention of only being gone for a few hours, however that quickly evolves into a journey that takes her through many states and making many new experiences.

Andrew, Maggie's husband, definitely needed a wake up call. His behavior was horrible and I could understand why Maggie felt she had to get a break. I loved the scenes with him realizing how much work Maggie does, not only around the house but for other as well, and that everything she does isn't as simple as he thought.

I personally didn't like that Maggie went off alone with men and put herself into situations that caused her to be tempted to cheat. I won't say whether or not she actually did anything but I feel, and this is a view I know isn't shared by everyone, that when you are married you should never put yourself into a situation that might cause you to stray - physically or emotionally.

Maggie's Turn was a great book and one that I recommend.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

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BOOK DETAILS:

• Paperback: 246 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 5, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1491277289
• ISBN-13: 978-1491277287
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Available to purchase at Amazon (Paperback) | Amazon (Kindle) | B&N (Nook)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deanna Lynn Sletten writes women's fiction and romance novels that dig deeply into the lives of the characters, giving the reader an in-depth look into their hearts and souls. She has also written one middle-grade novel that takes you on the adventure of a lifetime. 

Deanna's romance novel, Memories, was a semifinalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2012. Her novel, Sara's Promise, was a semifinalist in The Kindle Book Review's Best Indie Books of 2013 and a finalist in the 2013 National Indie Excellence Book Awards. 

Deanna is married and has two grown children. When not writing, she enjoys walking the wooded trails around her northern Minnesota home with her beautiful Australian Shepherd or relaxing in the boat on the lake in the summer.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | GOODREADS

GIVEAWAY!

Deanna is hosting a giveaway on her website for a $100 Amazon gift card and signed copies of Maggie's Turn. For complete details on how to enter go to:  http://www.deannalynnsletten.com/2013/10/maggies-turn-book-blog-tour-giveaway.html

Christmas at Harmony Hill: A Shaker Story by Ann H. Gabhart (Review)

She stared up at the Shaker buildings. They took in those in need. That was why she was riding into their village. But she couldn't stay here. Not forever. They divided families. She'd heard her grandmother speak harshly of the way Shakers didn't believe in marriage and had special houses were children were kept from their parents.

Heather put a hand over the swell of her baby inside her. Surely they wouldn't take a newborn from his mother's bosom. Heather's mother couldn't have imagined that happening or she'd have never told her to come...

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
It's kind of hard to describe my feelings about this book, but I'll try. I loved the beginning with Heather being in the camp with Gideon, her husband, and his fellow soldiers. I love books set during the Civil War and wasn't expecting this Shaker book to take start in the midst of a Northern Army camp - nice surprise. Some parts of the story were really hard to get through, way too many details and not enough dialogue, so that made it tedious to read at times and really slow me down. The ending was sweet, predictable, but still sweet.

If you love Shaker novels you would probably enjoy Christmas at Harmony Hill more than I did. Regardless, if you are looking for a different Christmas story and the synopsis of this book sounds interesting to you, I think you should give it a read.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

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Emerald Green (Ruby Red Trilogy #3) by Kerstin Gier (Review)

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is.

 She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.

This stunning conclusion picks up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:
A fabulous conclusion to a great trilogy! I loved reading Emerald Green so much and hated it when I reached the end, since I knew that this was it there would be no more about these characters. My suspicions from the previous novel were correct! I love when that happens, but only when it's not completely obvious and this wasn't! Xemerius again made me laugh so much, he's such a great addition to this story!

I recommend this fantastic series to anyone who loves tales about time travel.

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Twice a Bride (The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek #4) by Mona Hodgson (Review)

Love lost doesn’t mean love lost forever.
Can unexpected romance deliver a second chance for two deserving widows?

Full of resolve, young widow Willow Peterson decides to pursue her dreams to be an artist as she settles into a new life in the growing mountain town of Cripple Creek.  When she lands a job working as a portrait painter with handsome entrepreneur and photographer Trenton Van Der Veer, the road before Willow seems to be taking a better-than-anticipated turn.

With questions tugging at several hearts in town, including the Sinclair Sisters’ beloved Miss Hattie, change is traveling down the tracks as several unexpected visitors make their way out West.  Will the new arrivals threaten the deep family bonds of the Sinclair sisters and the roots of love that are just taking hold for Willow?

Filled with the resonating questions that all women face, this romance awakens hope against grief, love against loss, and dreams against life’s unexpected turns. 

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

After reading the three previous books in The Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek series I was looking forward to reading Twice a Bride, the fourth and final book in the series. I very much enjoyed it and hate that it is the last book about this family.

I loved Hattie immediately from the first book and so wanted to see her get another love, she's a great woman and if anyone deserves another chance at love it's her. Then there's Willow, someone that I liked so much from the moment she was introduced, and I felt so terribly for all that she went through in her young life. The way love comes for both of them was wonderful and so sweet! 

My only complaint is that, at times, the story felt rushed. There were two different love stories being told, updates on the previous books main characters, and a few "problems" that were solved so quickly that it almost felt as though shouldn't have even have been in there.

Even though this book could easily be read as a stand alone, as the author does a fabulous job of giving all the necessary details about each one of the previous books' stories, I would recommend reading them in order. I loved this book and series and think any fan of historical fiction would greatly enjoy them too.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

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Waiting on Wednesday (November 13, 2013)

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Carolina Gold by Dorothy Love

The war is over, but her struggle is just beginning.

Charlotte Fraser returns to her late father’s once-flourishing rice plantation on the Waccamaw River, determined to continue growing the special kind of rice known as Carolina Gold. But Fairhaven Plantation is in ruins, the bondsmen are free, and money is scarce.

To make ends meet, Charlotte reluctantly accepts a position as tutor to the young daughters of Nicholas Betancourt, heir to the neighboring Willowood Plantation. Then Nick’s quest to prove his ownership of Willowood sends Charlotte on a dangerous journey that reveals an old family mystery—and threatens all that she holds dear.

Inspired by the life of a 19th century woman rice planter, CAROLINA GOLD continues Dorothy Love’s winning tradition of weaving together mystery, romance, and rich historical detail, bringing to life the story of one young woman’s struggle to restore her ruined world.

Why I want to read this:

I loved reading Dorothy's previous series and am looking forward to reading more by her. 

Carolina Gold will be available December 10th 2013 from Thomas Nelson.

The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom (Review)

In this fable, the first man on earth to count the hours becomes Father Time. The inventor of the world's first clock is punished for trying to measure God's greatest gift. He is banished to a cave for centuries and forced to listen to the voices of all who come after him seeking more days, more years. Eventually, with his soul nearly broken, Father Time is granted his freedom, along with a magical hourglass and a mission: a chance to redeem himself by teaching two earthly people the true meaning of time.

He returns to our world--now dominated by the hour-counting he so innocently began--and commences a journey with two unlikely partners: one a teenage girl who is about to give up on life, the other a wealthy old businessman who wants to live forever. To save himself, he must save them both. And stop the world to do so.

I GIVE THIS BOOK: 

MY THOUGHTS:

I listened to the audio version of this book and thought the narrator did a fantastic job - I loved all the different voices!

The start of this book was great, Dor's story drew me in immediately! I was fascinated with his fascination with measuring time.

Sarah's story was sad to me. I felt so terrible for her, kids can be so mean. Ethan was such a jerk and I hated that Sarah couldn't see that.

Victor's story instead of making me feel bad for him actually made me a little irritated with him. Here he has a wife who loves him and instead of spending what time he has left with her, he wastes it on trying to find a way to preserve himself so he can live forever.

It was a quick read, but there just wasn't much to it and the ending didn't really make complete sense to me. Overall it was good and if you're in the mood for a quick read that makes you think a bit this would be for you.

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BOOK DETAILS:

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (September 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401322786
• ISBN-13: 978-1401322786
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.9 x 7.6 inches
• Available to purchase at Amazon | B&N | CBD

Singularity (The Jevin Banks Experience #2) by Steven James (Review)

When his friend is murdered, illusionist Jevin Banks is determined to find out what really happened. Drawn into a web of conspiracy and top-secret research on human consciousness, Jevin won't stop digging until the truth is revealed. Soon he uncovers a dark secret--one that could change the very fabric of human life on the planet.

Bristling with mystery, suspense, and intrigue, "Singularity" is the second riveting book in The Jevin Banks Experience. Readers will devour this scientific thriller, flipping pages late into the night until the final shocking page.

I GIVE THIS BOOK:

MY THOUGHTS:

The opening scene in Singularity was spine-tingling and shocking - which is great in a thriller. Some of the stuff in the book was a little hard to understand, even though it's told in a very easy way, so I found myself rereading some of the more detailed portions.

I read Placebo, the first book in this series, a year ago and wasn't thrilled with it (only gave it 3 stars), so I wasn't expecting much from this book. I was pleasantly surprised by how great Singularity was. I loved this book so much that I wonder if I were to reread the the first one if I'd love it more, since now I know the characters so much more. If I ever have the time I think I just might.

If you are looking for a scientific thriller I think you should read Singularity. I highly recommend it.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.***

Available November 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. 

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