Review of "True Surrender" by Tracey Cramer-Kelly

Publisher: CreateSpace
Release Date: September 29th, 2011
Buying Links: Amazon     AbeBooks


Book Blurb (from goodreads):

When Major Aaron Bricewick is rescued from Afghanistan terrorists, he thinks the worst is over. But his personal journey is just beginning... The first surprise is the amputation of one of his legs. The second is the woman he left behind, now a widow with a 4-year-old son - and his new prosthetist (artificial limb maker). He vows that losing his leg won't derail his career. But maintaining his outward appearance as a got-it-together officer becomes increasingly difficult as he faces one personal demon after another - and sees his career aspirations slipping away. And though he has no intention of expanding his life to include a woman, his heart has other ideas - and he finds himself questioning the very foundation of his personal beliefs. When violence - and unexpected redemption - touch his life again, Aaron must make a stand. Which will he choose: duty or love?

Teaser:

He tried to think of something appropriate to say. How does one address a lover they haven't seen in 12 years? And in this, of all situations? Try as he night, he could not get his brain working. The drugs, he thought. It's the drugs.

My Thoughts:

"True Surrender" is heart-breaking, tear jerker of a story. This is not a bad thing by any means. It grabbed me from the beginning and held my attention right to the end. It's about faith, love, courage, duty, and honor. Aaron Bricewick has been through a lot and his troubles are not over. He has to learn how to live, physically and emotionally, with only one leg; cope with the emotional after effects of what he and his teammates endured in captivity; and deal with the consequences to his military career. In the midst of all this, he also re-unites with a former lover, discovers God, and loses a friend.


It sounds like a lot to deal with and it is, but it's a fast read, and an absorbing one. Despite the seriousness of the topics, it doesn't beat you over the head with them and it's ultimately a story of hope and love. I questioned, at times, the behavior of Bricewick's superiors and what was happening with his career. As it turned out, those questions were crucial to the story and played into the ending. Unfortunately, I felt like the resolution to those questions and how they played was melodramatic and over the top. The book was a four star read for me until about 80% in when it turned melodramatic and then it became a three star read. Despite that, I recommend this book, it was a good read.


Some quotes:

"Leaders can only make the best decisions they can, with the information they have at their disposal at that time-however limited that information may be."

"My point exactly," she said. "And how can leaders not make mistakes when they are forced to work with less than optimal information? They're only human after all."

Scott knew. Knew that he'd shut God out, even while needing Him more than anything. But could he let go of his anger?

 

I  received a PDF for review.

Review of "Ashes of a Black Frost" by Chris Evans

Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: October 18, 2011
Series: #3 Iron Elves
Buying Links: Amazon     The Book Depository

Book Blurb (from goodreads):

In the bestselling traditions of Terry Brooks, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Bernard Cornwell comes the third novel in the acclaimed epic fantasy series following The Light of Burning Shadows.

Musket and cannon, bow and arrow, and magic and diplomacy vie for supremacy once again in this all-new epic adventure from acclaimed author Chris Evans. As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves’ perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, now takes on greater urgency....

Packed with wit, high adventure, and political intrigue, Ashes of Black Frost will hook readers on this bold and exciting series.

Teaser:

He turned his attention back to Feylan, watching where he put each foot. Feylan's right boot raised, and started to swing forward to the next step, but then he paused in midair and came back down. Konowa tensed and put up his hand to signal to Pimmer behind him to stop. Feylan crouched down and brought his musket to rest on his hip, the bayonet pointing straight ahead. after several seconds, he quarter-turned so that Konowa could see the side of his face. His jaw was clenched as he whispered out the side of his mouth.

My Thoughts: 

This is another book that I would probably not have picked up without encouragement and I'm glad I read it.  That's been happening to me a lot lately; clearly I need to be more open-minded about my choices. I resisted at first because I'm not a fan of military stories, I hadn't read the first two books, and I read very little traditional fantasy lately, preferring urban fantasy and paranormal stories.

The description compares the books to Tolkien and Brooks, and I have to say, that's dead on. (The Cornwell I've read was a contemporary so I can't really judge). Evans' style and some of his beings remind me of both Brooks and Tolkien but not in any derivative fashion. He takes traditional mythological and faery tale beings and puts his own spin on them but not changing them so much that they are unrecognizable. (The back of the book contains a glossary, which I found very useful). There's a lot of fighting and some military strategy but they're not as frequent or as dense as in Tolkien. There's action, adventure, humor, politics, romance, and a solid, engaging story. There's also a lot of character growth in this story and Evans plays with reader expectations concerning certain characters, going the unexpected route. I enjoyed seeing them change and loved that Evans was willing to go beyond stereotypes and cliches. He also doesn't hesitate to kill off characters, I teared up several times.

The story dragged a bit at times, a little trimming would have been good, but it's a well done ending to the trilogy. In my opinion, you could read it without having read the first two and only be mildly confused. Still, you would better appreciate the story and the character changes if you read in order.

I received a hardcover from the publisher for review.

Crafting with Cat Hair

A few weeks ago, I did a post entitled "I NEED This Book!". It was about using your cat's fur to make projects. The publicist for the book saw my excited post and offered to send me the book. It arrived today and I've been having fun looking at it. I've identified several projects That I want to try. Once I've done a couple, I will post a review.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless Android Phone

On the Mend

I returned to work today, after being out for almost 2 weeks. I was sooooo happy to be back and the kids in both of my classes were happy to see me. I was a little worried, they had so many subs in the rooms while I was out, that my being back would just be one too many transitions for them but they all did beautifully.

Over the weekend, my energy level varied greatly, going up and down in no apparent rhythm, and I had doubts at times about my ability to resume work, and then last night my chest tightened up. Eeep. I tried to find a balance between resting and accomplishing things. Apparently I was successful as I worked a full day and I'm not nearly as tired as I expected to be nor did I have any significant breathing problems. Still, I'll take it easy tonight. After I leave the library, I'll pick up a few things at the grocery store, maybe treat myself to take out pizza, and then rest on the couch with my cat. One good thing about returning to work this week is the shortness of the work week. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, my school will be closed both Thursday and Friday, meaning I'm only working three days. :)

I saw my specialist on Friday and that was interesting. First, he was furious with my primary care doctor's medical practice. In order to see a specialist, I have to get permission, called a referral. My primary's referral review committee had denied my referral, a few weeks before I got sick (I had put in for it because I needed to schedule a check up with my specialist). So, when I got sick, I had to go to my primary care office and the doctor who saw me the first time, was in and out in five minutes, and the treatment didn't meet my unique medical needs. When I crashed and burned on Friday, Nov. 11th, I went to the primary care again, and saw the nurse practitioner. She spent more time with me and made better decisions, including sending me to the ER by ambulance. (I told the kids the story about my ambulance trip, made it sound like a grand adventure, and they loved it. They were disappointed when I said there was no fire truck or police car, just the ambulance.) At the ER, when further treatment failed to produce results, I was admitted.

My specialist is also frustrated because I'm in a holding pattern. My asthma is NOT well controlled (though back in the spring things looked good, that state didn't last). We have tried every currently available treatment, I take 5 different meds in an attempt to control my asthma, I have made changes to my living environment and still, asthma rules my life. A few years ago, it was so bad I nearly had to quit work and go on disability. Things aren't that bad now, but clearly, things are not OK. Until some new treatment becomes available, I'm stuck, just trying to get by one day at a time. 

Despite that, I'm feeling pretty optimistic at the moment. I am feeling better, both physically and emotionally and I can see an end to this flare. Granted, that end will probably not be for another two-three weeks (mind you, that's how long it will be until I'm 100% again), but nevertheless, after today, I am quite hopeful.

Over the weekend, one of my accomplishments was to make headway on my review reading and writing, and revising reviews that I had started before being hospitalized. I also read just for fun. Now that I've made some progress on catching up, I'm feeling less stressed about the blog.

Thank you all for your support the past few weeks. It made a difference. :)

Review of "Theodora" by Stella Duffy

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)
Release Date: September 27, 2011

Buying Links:  Amazon     Abe Books

Book Blurb (from Goodreads):

Roman historian Procopius publicly praised Theodora of Constantinople for her piety-while secretly detailing her salacious stage act and maligning her as ruthless and power hungry. So who was this woman who rose from humble beginnings as a dancer to become the empress of Rome and a saint in the Orthodox Church? Award-winning novelist Stella Duffy vividly recreates the life and times of a woman who left her mark on one of the ancient world's most powerful empires. Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore is a sexy, captivating novel that resurrects an extraordinary, little-known figure from the dusty pages of history. 

Teaser:

Well trained, Theodora knew better than to lower her market value. Time after time when she didn't feel like it and she didn't want to - perform or f**k or greet or charm or act or dance or smile - time after time when, no matter how she felt, she rose from her bed and washed and put on her makeup and combed her hair and dressed for the part and stepped out on to the stage that was theatre or bed or family or stranger or - as it had been here in Apollonia - the Governor's mansion. New stage, new Theodora mask, same old strength required. Theodora was nineteen years old, sick to death of carrying on, and she carried on.

My Thoughts:

I don't currently read a lot of historical fiction, though I have gone through phases where I do. This one was interesting, an actress who went on to become an empress? One I'd never heard of? It seemed worth trying. I'm glad I did. It sat in my TBR pile for a few months and I wish I'd picked it up sooner. It's a well researched novel but I never felt as if I was reading a treatise or an info dump. Duffy does an excellent job of writing a fictional version, based on what seems to be solid research, and really making us see and feel what  Theodora saw and felt. She was not always a likable person, but the fictional Theodora, at least, recognized and admitted her faults.


"Theodora" is at times a dense read, with all of the background and the different time period to familiarize yourself but I was hooked from the beginning and cared about Theodora and what happened to her. The book ends as she is crowned empress, leaving me going, "But...but...what happened next? What kind of empress was she? Was she happy?" So, I must, it seems, hunt out books, probably non-fiction, to get my answers. Theodora had a remarkable life, very full, and it's a pity that she is not better known. I strongly recommend this book.


I received an eARC from the publisher.

Featured Books: Forever's TURNING UP THE HEAT Tour

Forever Romance has two hot new romances out, "Sinfully Delicious", a wicked, erotic contemporary romance by Lilli Feisty, and a historical romance, "Too Wicked to Wed" by Cara Elliott. As part of our feature on these books Forever Romance has offered a giveaway of two sets of both books to two commenters. Entry is at the end of the post.

Some reviews of the books: The Book Girl     Smexy Books     Drey's Library

New Kelley Armstrong Cover!

Kelley just shared on facebook and twitter the new cover for the next Women of the Otherworld book, titled "Thirteen". Isn't it gorgeous? I LOVE the colors and I'm delighted that the pentacle necklace is on the cover. I can hardly wait for this book even as I don't want the series to end.

Review of Charmed Knits by Alison Hansel

Publisher: Wiley 
Release Date: May 7, 2007
Buying Links: Amazon  Barnes and Noble




Blurb: 
Sit and Knit a Spell

Off to the Quidditch match

You'll soon be knitting enchanting things you didn't know were within your powers. Charmed Knits offers dozens of patterns for items that evoke the mystique of Harry Potter - a Wizard Robe, an Invisibility Shawl, a Quidditch Sweater, Ron's Ragg Raglan, a Clock Blanket, Harry Christmas Ornaments, and more. Easy-to-follow patterns, color photos of the finished projects, and illustrations of special stitch patterns and design elements make it easy for all knitters - from beginners to those at Mrs. Weasley's level - to work knitting magic. Charmed Knits whisks you away on a wonderful journey. Along the way, you can pick patterns inspired by the Weasleys, stock up at Diagon Alley, show your house colors, conjure up gifts, or create pieces to help you feel at home in the magical world of Harry Potter.

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed flipping through all the patterns, even the ones that I don't want to try. But could not resist putting a homemade touch on my kids' Halloween costumes. Last year my daughter only had the scarf, but I managed to get the set completed for this year's festivities. The patterns are very easy to read and follow.  And the author gave the brands and color names for everything she used. (It's so hard to make sure you're getting the right colors when ordering online.) 

Not everything is exactly like the movie...the Invisibility Shawl is a pretty lace thing. And I don't recall the Wand Cozies at all - but I still think I'll make a go of them before next Halloween. But all in all, I'm very glad I picked up this book, both as a Potter fan and a knitter. I usually won't pick up a book of patterns unless there are at least two that I would want to do...in this book, I think there are maybe 3 that I wouldn't want to do. Out of 28 patterns, that's a deal.