Merry Christmas

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!

In My Mailbox #42

In My Mailbox is hosted by the Story Siren.  Make sure to stop by her blog every Sunday to see the links of all the blogs participating in this weekly MEME.


I haven't participated in this meme for a while.  It's been kind of busy at my home.  I am sitting at home right now and getting the last touches done for the holiday.  I will not post all of the books that I have missed in this meme, but just the books from the last week. :)


All of these books are to review!

The Key by Felicia Rogers - book tour from Paranormal Wasteland
Enchantment by Pati Nagle - LibraryThing Early Reviewers
The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson - blog tour
Rae of Hope by WJ May - received from the author to review

Here is my week.  How was yours?  Leave me a comment.

Tangled Tides Blog Tour ~ meet two interesting characters from the book!

I am very excited to share a character interview with you from Tangled Tides.  Today we will get to know Treygan and Rownan, two brothers who are very interesting to say the least.

Karen has been kind enough to share her talents with us for this interview. :)

Both: What were your first impressions of Yara?

Treygan: Go ahead, Rownan. You can answer first. 
Rownan: Hmm, well, she was human when I first met her, so I can't say I was very impressed. But just like algae on a rock, she grows on you after a while. 
Treygan: *rolls his eyes at Rownan* My very first impression of Yara was a long time ago when she was a child. Even back then she had a fiery spirit and wasn't scared of anything. She was a cute little thing, but now she's beautiful--inside and out. 

Both: How would you describe your relationship with your father?

Rownan: *snickers* Like an unpredictable tropical storm. One day it's calm and sunny, the next day it's all dark clouds and raging winds. 
Treygan: It's not that dramatic. When we were kids he was like that, but he's been stable and domesticated for almost two decades. Sadly, I never had much of a relationship with him until recently. 

Rownan: Can you tell us some of the main differences between your home realm and life on Earth?

Aw, man. Earth is so lackluster. Don't get me wrong, I used to love coming here and hanging out in Scotland, Ireland, Alaska, and cool places, but after being trapped here for eighteen years, it made me appreciate all the magic and the slower pace of things in our realm. Plus, I really missed our parties. No party on Earth can compare to what we have in our realm.   

Treygan: The first time you saw Yara as a mermaid, what did you think or feel?

Very first impression--I was thoroughly confused. She was the wrong color. I also felt guilty and worried about what I would say to her when she first awoke. I knew explaining how and why we turned her mer would be difficult, and I was correct.  

Both:  What is the best and worst part of being brother's who are two different types of sea creatures?

Treygan: There were a lot of great advantages to it while we were growing up and while we were still close, but once the gate closed and different opinions started forming between the mer and selkies, being different sea creatures put a huge wedge between us.
Rownan: A Wedge? More like it dropped an atomic bomb on us. 
Treygan: Yes, I have to agree with that. 
Rownan: But bottom line is, no matter what, he's my brother, and I'll always look out for him--even if there have been times when I wanted to kill him. 
Treygan: *laughs* Ditto.

My thoughts:  I gave it 4 of 5 stars!  I am impressed with this complex plot that is simple to follow and understand. 

I love to read books dealing with Paranormal elements. Karen has also added into this story Greek Mythology. This is another of my favorite genres. This book really has it all. 

Yara is turning 18 when a hurricane hits her small Island home. A handsome young man stops to help her by promising to take her somewhere safe is she will wish for it. Handsome guy/ safety? Of course she is going to say yes. 

She wakes up as a Mermaid. He didn't lie, he took her somewhere safe from the storm. He just left out a few important details. 

It's difficult to adjust to her new life. She has a boyfriend and an Uncle that she is worried about. Their presence in the story adds for some very interesting developments. 

I don't think you could go wrong reading this book. My only caution would be that there are some moments where I think that it would be iffy for younger teen readers. I would advise parents read and make the decision for younger teens.

Karen Amanda Hooper

Where can you find Karen and links to the book?  Here of course!

Author Website: http://www.karenamandahooper.com

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/Karen_Hooper

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/AuthorKaren

Rhemalda Bookstore: http://tiny.cc/BuyTangledTides

Barnes & Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tangled-tides-karen-amanda-hooper/1035791101?ean=9781936850433&itm=1&usri=tangled%252btides

Review of "Borrowed Light" by Carla Kelly

Borrowed Light by Carla Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Purchased for my kindle
Genre: Religious romance

Description from Goodreads: Julia Darling never expected to cook for some cowboys in Wyoming, but when she breaks off her engagement in Salt Lake City, it's the perfect opportunity for her to escape. Determined to stick the job out, Julia faces her biggest challenge yet—letting go of borrowed light to find her own testimony. Set in the early 1900s, this is one romantic adventure you'll never forget!


My thoughts: I recently read the book that follows this one and realized that I was missing pieces of the story. I purchased this as a kindle edition, I am glad that I did. All of my questions were answered and I feel comfy and cozy with the second story now! :0)  I also wanted to post a review today because I am part of a blog tour for the second book that was posted this morning.

Julia is in an engagement that she is not excited about. She finds an add placed in the paper for a cook. The rancher is desperate. She packs her bags and heads to the frontier of Wyoming. Happily breaking her engagement in the process.

She discovers a rough and motley crew in Wyoming. It is obvious that the men have been lacking a feminine touch for a long time. She is awkward and makes several blunders until she begins to feel at peace and at home with all of the guys.

Romance does bloom. Fortunately for us, it doesn't happen at the beginning of the book. It is wonderful to see relationships and trust grow before romance comes in.  This is a clean romance that I really enjoyed.

Blog Tour ~Review of "Enduring Light" by Carla Kelly

Enduring Light by Carla Kelly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Genre: Adult Religious Romance
Release Date: January 8, 2012

Book Description: She leaned toward him and rested her elbows on the brass rail at the foot of her bed. “All right, cowboy, just when did you fall in love with me? I’m definitely curious now.” 
He regarded her in the moonlight. “I knew I was a no-hoping goner when I caught that ridiculous hat of yours on the platform at Gun Barrel.” 
Julia sucked in her breath. She tried to be severe. “Mr. Otto, nobody falls in love that fast!” 
“I did,” he said simply, as he left her room. 


Julia Darling is finally able to marry Paul Otto for eternity. But it’s a harsh world for a rancher in turn-of-the-century Wyoming, especially a Mormon rancher. When alienation and threats begin, Julia must prove she’s her husband’s equal in strength and endurance as she learns to let go of scars on the outside and inside. 


Bestselling author Carla Kelly has woven a new story of a determined rancher, his wife, and how they discover the depths of love.


My thoughts: Before you read this book, I would highly recommend that you read the first book, Borrowed Light. I didn't and spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out the back story. I knew that I was missing some key elements. To remedy that situation, I will now read the first book. A little backwards, I know.

This is a fun, clean romance. Julia is marrying the man that she desperately loves, Paul. She is recovering from a near death experience, she was burned badly on her neck and chest and doesn't think that Paul should be saddled with a deformed wife. He sets her straight and the wedding moves forward as planned.

He is a rancher in Wyoming and the climate is tough. The ranch is remote and he is dealing with religious prejudice from his neighbors. He has joined the Mormon Church and many do not like it and want to stop their business dealings with him.

This book deals with some issues, religious prejudice, insecurity, deceit, and of course, lots of love. I would recommend reading it, just don't read the book in reverse order.  This is a clean read.  It makes reference to adult relationships, recommend to adults.

I purchased the first book for $2.99 for my kindle.  Here is the link!




Here are all the blogs participating in this tour!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			December			10
						Fire and Ice/
11	12	13	14	15	16	17
	The Sweet Bookshelf/				Getting Your Read On/	Keeping Up with the LDS Bookstores/
18	19	20	21	22	23
A Casual Reader’s Blog/	Krazy Book Lady/ WV Stitcher/	Sweeping Me/ For the Love of Books/	My Reading Room/ Lisa is a Bookworm/	Good Family Reads/	Reviews by Molly/ Bookworm 2 Bookworm/

Mid-winter's Eve Hop

Thanks to Kathy at I am a Reader not a Writer and Jessie at Oasis for YA.  Your work is appreciated.

For this hop I will be giving away one copy of "Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25" by Richard Paul Evans.  It is a YA book and is very good!  I gave it 5 stars.  You can find my review here.

This is an international contest.  I will be having a copy of the book shipped from the Book Depository. As long as the shipping is free to your country you may enter.  I will be using a rafflecopter form for this giveaway.  Please add the information requested.  I will only use email addresses to contact the winner.  You must be 13 or older to enter.  There is only one mandatory entry, it's a GFC follow.  It's located in the right side bar.  You can also tweet and follow me on twitter for extra entries.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of  Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

          ~Grab your current read.

          ~Open to a random page.

          ~Share two "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. (Sometimes I cheat a bit on this one and do a few more sentences.)
          ~Be careful not to include spoilers! (make sure that what you share doesn't give to much away.               You don't want to ruin the book for others.)

          ~Share the title and author, so the other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teaser.  :0)

I haven't been very good about posting the Meme's that I usually do.  It's the Christmas season and I have recently started working part time.  It has really cut into my reading/blogging time.  My husband is also having  both knees scoped on the 22nd.  So, I've been trying to get everything taken care of  before then, so I can concentrate on  helping him and enjoying the Christmas season.

This week my teaser comes from "Borrowed Light" by Carla Kelly.  I have just come across some of her books and I have found an author that I enjoy.

He laughed.  "And while you're at it, add something about Darling here cooking what we want to eat."

Reading on my kindle, 18% into the story.

Review of " A Nightingale Christmas"

A Nightingale Christmas by Heather Holm

Source: To review from Cedar Fort Publishing
Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Book Description: Jane Doe can't remember who she is or what her life was like before the plane crash that almost took her life.  Burned and scarred beyond recognition, she soon learns there's no one who can identify her.  Still in the hospital a year later, Jane receives a visitor just a few days before Christmas.  Lauren, compensating for the disappearance of her sister, asks Jane to live with her and her family.  Thus begins Jane's journey to a new life filled with longing and joy, pain and understanding.  And, like a nightingale, Jane learns to sing her most beautiful song when the night is darkest.

A Nightingale Christmas shows the importance of loving each other and how one small act of kindness can greatly influence the life of another.

Colleen's Thoughts: There are so many deep emotional issues addressed in this story.  Despite the fact that most of us have not experienced such a traumatic event, it is easy to identify with Jane's personal issues of lost identity, low self esteem, bitterness, anger, grief, incalculable loss, embarrassment, having to find the courage to start over, finding the strength within to overlook the scrutiny and shunning of others, etc.  Jane is a very real, very believable character.  No matter what life experiences we, as the reader, have endured, we have all dealt with at least one of the things Jane struggles with in this book.  It is a well written description of deep grief and loss and the stages one needs to go through to overcome it, and grow to become successful and happy despite life's challenges.  A sweet, heartwarming, and spiritual story with a valuable message.