Review: Something Like a Lady by Kay Springsteen and Kim Bowman

Fiction/Romance

Something Like a Lady by Kay Springsteen and Kim Bowman is a well-written regency period novel. I loved the passion with which Lady Annabella approaches life, and all the scrapes she seems to get herself in to, and how everyone is willing to help her get out of them. Such a genuine character. Lord Seabrook, well, he's a man--what more is there to say. :)

About the book:

There are worse things than hiding in a derelict old cottage, battling field mice, and sucking on one's last lemon. Or so Lady Annabella Price firmly believes. For example, spending the Season in London with her stepbrother and husband-hunting, as her mother has ordered. Instead, Annabella sends her maid in her place and exults in her questionable triumph... until the insufferable Lord Seabrook shows up.

It seems like a simple favor for a friend, something to distract him from his need to find an acceptable wife. Jonathan Durham, Fourth Earl of Seabrook, travels to Haselmere to find the duke's stepsister and make certain no harm has befallen her. But Annabella is no damsel in distress. She's a willful, spirited lady, and the impetuous beauty intrigues Seabrook. When they're caught in a compromising position and forced into a hurried marriage, Seabrook sees it as the perfect answer to both their problems. But how can he convince his unwilling bride to give their marriage a chance when she's determined to have it dissolved?

Rating: 4 roses

Blessings,
Ginger

Review: Talon by Ronie Kendig

Fiction/Christian/Suspense & Romance

Book 2 in The Breed Apart series is just another example of Ronie's devotion to our military. While I recommend reading Trinity (book 1) because it's good, Talon can be read as a stand-alone.

Ronie is now on my short list of favorite authors. I read Talon in one day. I couldn't not. I wasn't feeling well, so I had a good excuse to stay in bed and devour this novel, and devour it I did, stopping only for the absolute necessities.

Talon is another outstanding book full of suspense, danger, and LOVE.

I can hardly wait for Beowulf. January is so far away. :)

About the book:

Aspen Courtland is out to find her missing brother. Only his combat tracking dog, Talon, knows where to look. Problem is, after a brutal attack that separated dog and handler, Talon s afraid of his own shadow. The search is on, but when one mistake means disaster, can Talon muster the courage for one last mission?

Rating: My highest - 5 roses

Blessings,
Ginger

Review: Angel Falls by Connie Mann

Fiction/Christian/Suspense

I loved Angel Falls by Connie Mann. It was chock full of suspenseful moments, had good timing, and had just the right amount of guy/girl tension to keep this romance lover happy.

About the book:

When her best friend is killed in an explosion, leaving Regina da Silva with her friend s young child, she doesn't realize that the child was as much a target as her friend. Brooks Anderson has been sent to find the child and bring it to the US. When circumstances bring them together in Brazil, they find themselves being pursued by a killer as they protect an orphaned baby. As the danger heightens around them, so does the attraction between Regina and Brooks, despite their differences. Regina and Brooks have both been broken by their violent pasts, but while Regina relies on her faith to deal with her past, Brooks has turned away from God. Will their pasts stop them from realizing their true feelings for each other when their pursuer strives to keep them apart forever?

Rating: 4.5 roses

Blessings,
Ginger

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

I was doing some things in the kitchen this morning along side my youngest son (he's 9). A commercial came on the TV in the other room for a stuffed animal that has a flashlight in its belly. At some point the narrator spoke about being afraid of the dark. My son stated, "No one's afraid of the dark, just what's in the dark." Being the proud mama I am, I immediately tweeted his saying.

Now an hour later, I am sitting here getting ready to write/edit, like a good little writer should, and God plops a spiritual lesson in my heart that I just have to share with you.

Are you afraid of the dark?

Sometimes we have dark places inside of us. Dark thoughts. Dark memories. Dark emotions. We don't have to live in the darkness, not the darkness within ourselves nor the darkness of this world, though it is always around us.

What is the dark?

Lack of light.

What dispels the darkness. The LIGHT.

Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."

John 8:12,  "Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, 'I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.'"

Matthew 5:14-16, "'You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.'"

What Scripture do you use to dispel the darkness when it comes? In what ways are you being a light on a hilltop?

Blessings,
Ginger

In the last week...

Wow, it's been a whole week since I posted last. Where has the time disappeared? It seems the older I get the faster time goes by, though I know in reality that is not the case. Life is just busier.

What have I done during that time? Well, that's a good question.

I know I took the kids to the pool several times last week, almost every day. I have only gotten in once despite the warmer temperatures. I've been reading or writing, which is incredibly hard to do on a laptop outside (the reflection on the screen is an issue).

I also started writing a fantasy romance. I'm finding it to be a good release for my imagination. Anything goes in fantasy-whatever I can dream, I can make a reality. :) So far I have a shape-shifting hero and a heroine who can change her skin color, though when something unexpected happens, it changes without her thinking about it. Wouldn't that be convenient to reading another person's reaction to a situation?

The chicks we hatched several months ago have grown to almost full-sized. When I went out this morning, the young rooster tried crowing. It's comical to hear a squeaky crow, much like a young man's voice squeaks when he's going through puberty. :)

Our first fruits are being harvested (well, except for the strawberries which are finished for the year). Raspberries, cherries, white peaches, boysenberries, and gooseberries are coming in. We're taking in the last of the broccoli and cabbage--the weather is getting too warm for them. I have green tomatoes growing. My mouth is watering at the thought of having a fresh tomato to eat. I'm picky and won't eat them from the grocery store. Oh, and we ate our first batch of corn on the cob last night for dinner, too. YUMMMYYY!!!

One last thing...sadly, we have decided to sell our horses. They need more riding/attention than what we're able to provide right now. They are registered Tennessee Walking Horses, both mares. They must be sold together, since to the best of my knowledge they have never been apart. They are up-to-date on all their shots, stand well for the farrier, and are generally gentle horses. If you know of someone looking for horses (who is an intermediate or experienced rider, or who can spend lots of time with them), please pass along my e-mail (see top left of this blog).

What's going on in your neck of the woods? Are you ready for summer? Do you have vacation plans this year?

Blessings,
Ginger

A Soccer Mom's Perspective...

Join me as I post today at Writing Prompts & Thoughts & Ideas...Oh My! on my perspective of soccer. :)

Blessings,
Ginger

Review: Taming Wilde by Rachel Van Dyken and Leah Sanders

Taming Wilde was a sidestep from my normal preference of Christian fiction, but exceeded my expectations by being an excellent story.

Ms. Van Dyken and Ms. Sanders did an excellent job of pulling me into the story and keeping me tied there until the end. They even put in an unexpected twist that left me smiling.

Back cover:

Being level-headed and even-keeled is a thing of the past. Sir Colin Wilde’s broken heart has sent him over the edge. And he is convinced the only way to get over the loss of Lady Gemma is to lose himself in debauchery.

Taking his cue from the private bachelor journal of Viscount Maddox, he presses forward in his quest to become the most notorious rake the ton has ever seen.

Prim and proper Lady Gemma isn't about to let him soil his reputation, especially over a misunderstanding. In spite of the propriety ingrained in her since birth, she throws convention to the wind and sets about to do the impossible... seduce a rake and tame Wilde.

Rating: 4 roses

Blessings,
Ginger