Secret of Pembrooke Park Promotion

This is something different today. I'm part of a promotional team for Julie Klassen's latest book, The Secret of Pembrooke Park.

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes when researching/writing a book? Well the publisher has sent me a YouTube video that takes you behind the scenes of creating the manor house for Pembrooke Park.

Have fun!

Hidden Agenda - A Review

Published - January 2015, Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - Southern Crimes Book 3
Author - Lisa Harris
Title - Hidden Agenda
Format - ebook, paper
Find on Amazon

Michael Hunt is presumed dead by family and friends. Only he's not dead. Not at all. He's been deep undercover infiltrating a known drug cartel. The problem? His cover's been blown and he's about to be killed. Michael has no choice but to put his life and his trust into the hands of Olivia Hamilton, the daughter of the cartel leader he is trying to take down. When Olivia and her brother Ian find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time, they can't help but rescue Michael and escape. But with cartel members chasing them as well as leaks in the Atlanta Police Department, the trio doesn't know who to trust. Enlisting the assistance of Michael's family eases some of the danger while creating more. Michael is determined not to go down without a fight, and he will take as many cartel members down as possible. He wants this all to be over so he can explore his growing feelings for Olivia.

This was probably my favorite of all three novels in this series. Like the others, it was fast-paced and very quick to read. I had no idea how things were going to end up and I'm glad that they ended the way they did.

I loved Michael. I thought that he was very well developed. I also loved Ian. And I loved seeing how Michael interacted with his family once he was no longer "dead". I also loved how he was willing to admit he was wrong about things.

Fans of romantic suspense will love this book. I think it's the last in the series, but I would love to see more about Avery's team - Tori, Levi, Carlos.

I received this book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of romantic suspense, Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, DiAnn Mills

Rating - 4 stars

Top Ten Tuesday - Freebie

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly theme hosted by the Broke & the Bookish. Feel free to join in.

I absolutely LOVE this week's topic on Top Ten Tuesday. It's a freebie. Which means I get to pick whatever I want to. So I decided to pick my Top Ten movies that I happily watch over & over. These may not be my all time favorites, though most are. They are just ones that make me feel good when I watch it. And most are chick flicks.

So here are my top ten. Or rather 13.

1. Ever After - This Cinderella story is by far my favorite film adaptation of ANY fairy tale. I remember when this first came out on VHS. (Yes, I just dated myself). I was in college. It came out on a Tuesday. I drove to Hastings between classes and bought the video. Came back went to class. Came back to my dorm room and watched the movie TWICE before I went to sleep. Watched it again the next day. By the end of the week, my roommate and I had practically worn the video tape out. Even now, when I watch the DVD, I can happily watch it over & over.

2. Mulan - This is probably my all-time favorite Disney animated movie. It surpasses even Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Oliver & Co, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast for me. I'm not sure what it is about Mulan that I love so much. I just do.

3. Frozen - I can quote every line to every song. The soundtrack lives in my car. The DVD lives in the soundtrack case. And the Blu-ray lives at my brother's house with the Blu-ray/DVD combo case. For me, it ranks right up there with the movies I mentioned on #2.

4. Letters to Juliet - I love chick flicks. This one is sweet. And Amanda Seyfried is one of my favorite actresses. This is also the movie that introduced me to Taylor's Swift's music.

5. Sweet Home Alabama - This is another one that just makes me happy. Reese Witherspoon has some of the cutest outfits in this movie. Plus it is set in the Deep South. And I love how it accurately portrays a small town in the South. I went to college in one. Besides Reese is another one of my favorite actresses.

6. 27 Dresses - I can relate to the main character. I've been a bridesmaid in 6 weddings and have a closet that contains those six bridesmaid dresses, my high school prom dress, and possibly one or two of the formal gowns I wear to Awards Night at Seminar. Besides the co-star is James Marsden, Cyclops from the X-Men. And he's just adorable.

7. Down With Love - This is a remake of an old Rock Hudson/Doris Day Film called Pillow Talk. But it has Ewan McGregor in it. I developed a HUGE crush on him when I saw him in Star Wars Episode One The Phantom Menance. And then in Moulin Rouge, I saw him in a role that wasn't that of a Jedi. This movie is hilarious in all aspects of it.

8. The Marvel Collection: Specifically Thor, Captain America, Avengers, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America 2: The Winter Soldier - Chris Hemsworth. Need I say more? Though I like the story line in Captain America. And I just love how each of these movies are fun, funny, and just awesome. Seriously. I've been on a Marvel kick since New Year's Eve when I watched the Guardians of the Galaxy, followed by over the past weekend Thor, Captain America, Avengers, Iron Man 3, and Thor 2.

9.Les Miserables - Yeah. It's not a happy movie. But I ADORE the Broadway musical and love the music. When this came out on DVD, I had a conference I was attending. I'd stopped by Walmart on my way home for the single purpose of picking this up. They didn't have it. The clerk tried to talk me into something else. I went across the street to Target, got it and the items I needs for my conference. Came home. Left for my conference. Got back the next day, watched it twice that Saturday, again the next day. With a friend a week later. And then loaned it to my best friend for a couple of weeks. I re-watched it recently.

10. Harry Potter Collection - Seriously. I love these movies. All of them. The books are reread regularly, but the movies are some of those that I will stick in and do a marathon watching session. Though I've never yet seen all 8 in one day.

11. Grease - Like Frozen, I can quote it. It's not one that I can crochet during. But I LOVE LOVE this movie. I've seen the play, and loved it. But this movie is still just a fun time.

12. Newsies - I'm not sure what it is about this movie that I loved so much. Maybe it's because I grew up watching Gene Kelly musicals and he consulted with this film. And Gene Kelly's influence is obvious specifically in the scene where "King of New York" is performed. Maybe it's because it's not the typical musical - the romances. But it's about a group of sweat shop newspaper boys who changed history. And have I mentioned how excited I am to see the Broadway show when it comes to Houston in May?!

13. Princess Bride - This is a classic. It's funny. It's romantic. It's a total feel good movie. And the book is even more funny than the movie if that's possible. Cary Elways, Westley in the movie, had a memoir come out this past fall. It's called As You Wish. And it's his experiences while making this amazing film. I'm not a non fiction reader normally, but this is one book I'd read!

January Quarterly Giveaway

Hello everyone. It's time for the first giveaway in ever so long. I've discovered that I'm not good at remembering to mail books out, so I figure I can handle a giveaway in January, April, July, and October.

Today, I've got this book by Tracie Peterson to give away. It came out in 2013, and I won a copy from a Goodreads contest. I enjoyed it, and now I want to share it with others who might enjoy it too.

About the book:
Emmalyne Knox has always loved Tavin MacLachlan. But when tragedy strikes her family, Emmalyne's father declares she can no longer marry. Despite Tavin's pleas to defy the decision, Emmalyne refuses. In her act of obedience, she gives up the future she'd always dreamed of. 

When Emmalyne's father returns to the quarry business years later, Tavin and Emmalyne meet again. And though circumstances have changed in both of their lives, they cannot deny the feelings that still exist. Can Emmalyne find a way to heal the decade-long wound that has fractured the two families...and change the hearts of those who stand in the way of true love?


To Enter:
Fill out the Giveaway Tools Form below. 

Eligibility:
One print copy of Quarryman's Bride, open to US residents only. I cannot ship internationally. 

Entry-Form

Saturday Scribbles Vol 3

Welcome to another edition of Saturday Scribbles where I share whatever is on my mind.

With the cold temperatures here to stay for a little while, I find myself trying to figure out ways to stay warm. Sure there's the most common of turning on the heater, which it is on. But there's also the piles of blankets. And my personal favorite for cold days, a cup of hot tea or a mug of hot chocolate.

I'm not too picky when it comes to tea, though I typically avoid most berry, peach, or lemon. I prefer the herbal teas. Mint, Peppermint, & Ginger are among my favorites.

But what I really love is a good mug of hot chocolate. Over the years, I've tried several different varieties. Like Nestle, Swiss Miss, Kroger brand, Hershey, Godiva, Ghiradelli's, etc. Even different flavors - mint chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, etc. But my all time favorite is the one my best friend and I made when I was reviewing The Farmer's Daughter's Cookbook. This particular homemade hot chocolate recipe is rich, creamy, and perfect as you can see from the picture below.

One of the best birthday gifts I've ever received was from my best friend last year. She figured out the individual serving size of the hot chocolate recipe. She put it into an airtight container with the instructions on the lid to add the liquid ingredients (water, milk, butter) and to microwave. I absolutely love it! The other evening, when it was really cold, I mixed up a mug of the hot chocolate, and savored it. Because a little goes a long way.

Anyway, here is the recipe for this super creamy, wonderfully delicious hot chocolate.

(Sorry it's not the individual sized serving!)

Creamy Hot Chocolate

Ingredients

• 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 5 1/2 cups milk (whole milk works best)
• 1 Tablespoon salted butter
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Mix cocoa sugar, and water in a medium saucepan over high heat.
2. Heat, stirring, until sugar is dissolved.
3. Reduce to low heat and add milk and butter.
4. Heat just until hot, stirring frequently.
5. Add salt.
6. Serve. Makes 6 cups

Enjoy!

So tell me what are some of your favorite hot chocolate recipes?

Seeker - A Review

Published - February, 2015, Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Author - Arwen Elys Dayton
Title - Seeker
Format - hardcover, audio, ebook
Find on Amazon

Quin Kincaid has trained her entire life to be a Seeker. While she doesn't entirely know what that entails, she knows it is her destiny. The night that she and one of the other apprentices take their Oaths, she discovers the truth her father kept hidden from her. Vowing to be a different Seeker than her father, Quin soon finds herself in a battle for her life that leads her to question everything she'd been taught or told about her family, the boy she loves, and even herself.

This is the first book I've ever read by this author. And while there are comparisons to the Divergent Series or to Hunger Games listed on the back from various review sources, I found that comparing this book to those series is probably not the best thing. The only comparison to those series would be that this is in fact a dystopian novel. And that the main character is a girl. But that's where the similarities end.

I'll admit that the description of this book intrigued me. It really did make me want to read it. Picking it up, I had questions. And as the story unfolded, my questions didn't fully get answered. Even after finishing it, I still don't have a clear understanding of exactly what a Seeker is or the purpose of the Dreads. But I can live with unanswered questions because I know that there will be a sequel due out next year.

The story is told through the points of view of Quin, John, Shinobu, and Maud. It also takes the reader from Scotland to Hong Kong and back again. The various points of view didn't really bother me. I'm used to reading things with multiple points of view. The jumping from location to location didn't bother me too much either because I'm used to that. What did bother me though was that the "interludes" were back story into the characters that would probably have been useful to have earlier in the book.

As far as the characters go, my favorite was the Young Dread, Maud. I thought she was the best developed. John, Shinobu, and Quin all could have used some deeper development. And the whole love triangle thing drove me crazy. To me, the choice as to which of the boys Quin would ultimately end up with was obvious from the beginning. And while one of the two boys is made out to be a villain, I found that the author didn't do the best job in driving that point across. I actually thought that he was more misunderstood than anything else, and that his determination to reclaim what he considered rightfully his family's property had him heading down a path that could very well have been wrong. But was he a true villain? No, not in my opinion.

Overall, though, I enjoyed the book. It's probably not a favorite. But is was a fairly quick read. I'll look for the sequel when it comes out next year so I can see if my questions are answered.

I received a Kindle copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of reviewing. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion.

Recommended to fans of young adult fiction, dystopian fiction

Rating - 3.5 stars - I liked it. I didn't love it. It's a little beyond just ok. Amazon/Goodreads rating will be 3 stars.

Review to be posted on Amazon on the book's release date February 10, 2015.

Emissary - A Review

Published - January 2015, Revell Books, a Division of Baker Publishing Group
Series - Legends of the Realm Book 1
Author - Thomas Locke
Title - Emissary
Format - ebook, paper
Find on Amazon

Hyam is an ordinary farmer. Or so he thinks. Until his mother dies right before his 21st birthday. Her final request sends him on a journey where he finds out that he isn't who he always believed he was. His search for answers brings him to a telepathic people who commission him to be their representative to the other nations. Yet while he is the emissary, his own powers are growing. Hyam seeks assistance from one of the wizards of Long Hall. There he discovers that long held secrets and myths are actually real. But an evil power is growing across the Realm and only Hyam ,with the assistance of the friends he meets along the way, may be able to stop it.

I enjoyed this fantasy novel far more than I thought I would. There were times that the writing was reminiscent of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or Jordan's Wheel of Time. But despite being very descriptive, I did find myself engrossed in Hyam's story. His past is a mystery that I'd hoped would be uncovered in the book. Parts of it were while others weren't. And so I was intrigued. I kept reading, even through multiple descriptions.

I've learned over the years that Christian Fantasy is really more of a hit and miss genre. Perhaps it's because this author, Thomas Locke, is a pseudonym for established author Davis Bunn that helped make this one more of a hit for me than others. Still, it ended up being a pretty fast read for me. I wasn't overly bogged down in pointless descriptions and there was enough action to keep me entertained.

I enjoyed the magic in this book. And the factors that made this a true fantasy book. While I didn't see obvious Christian factors like there are in the Chronicles of Narnia, I did see the good vs evil. I think my favorite part was when Hyam met the Elves. To me, that reminded me a lot of Frodo and Rivendell.

I think that fans of fantasy would really enjoy this book. I received the book for free from Revell Books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of fantasy, Tolkien, Robert Jordan, Davis Bunn

Rating - 4 stars