The Memory Weaver ~ Review

The Memory Weaver
By Jane Kirkpatrick

Eliza Spalding Warren was a survivor of the Whitman tragedy of 1847 - a massacre that left her emotionally scarred.  This is her story and how this experience set the course for not only her life but that of her parents, her brother, her sisters, her husband, and her own children.

Eliza has nightmares about her time as a hostage of the Cayuse Indians.  Though she and a few others managed to survive this massacre - she is still a captive - a captive to her fears and her memories.

But the stability she has known and created is threatened when her husband determines to make a new start in the territory where Eliza's nightmare took place.  Can facing the past bring her healing or will it make the wound deeper?

Memory is a funny thing - what we remember about an event can differ greatly from what truly was and is reality.  Eliza's memories have shaped her life, but when the entries of her mother's journal are woven throughout this book takes on an added dimension.  The story is fleshed out as we see Eliza's story through the eyes of both mother and daughter.  

It is a story many are familiar with but only in regard to the lives that were lost - the Whitmans (Marcus and Narcissa).  This story delves into the lives of those who survived and continued on. Those who refused, ultimately, to be held captive to their memories.  But can one ever truly be free from the events that shaped one's life?

The Memory Weaver is a story that will touch you as Eliza come to terms with what she has experienced and fights for a future for those she loves.  Fans of historical fiction will appreciate the complex depths and emotions found within this book.  Another excellent book club selection if you are looking for a suggestion.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

"Jane Kirkpatrick puts flesh and blood on the bones of history. Set against an authentic nineteenth-century background, this is a superb story of a woman's struggle to triumph over time and place. . . . A memorable book."--Sandra Dallas, New York Times bestselling author

Eliza Spalding Warren was just a child when she was taken hostage by the Cayuse Indians during a massacre in 1847. Now a mother of two, Eliza faces a new kind of dislocation; her impulsive husband wants to make a new start in another territory, which will mean leaving her beloved home and her mother's grave--and returning to the land of her captivity. 

Haunted by memories and hounded by struggle, Eliza longs to know how her mother dealt with the trauma of their ordeal. As she searches the pages of her mother's diary, Eliza is stunned to find that her own recollections tell only part of the story.

Based on true events, The Memory Weaver is New York Times bestselling author Jane Kirkpatrick's latest literary journey into the past, where threads of western landscapes, family, and faith weave a tapestry of hope inside every pioneering woman's heart. Get swept up in this emotional story of the memories that entangle us and the healing that awaits us when we bravely unravel the threads of the past.

Hiding Places ~ Review

Hiding Places
By Erin Healy

Kate Whitby was at that age where she was in between - still a child and on the verge of becoming a young woman.  A time when her character and person were becoming unique and knowable to those closest to her.  Unfortunately those closest to her often didn't see her or notice who she was becoming.  But this was all about to change - and the change was one that would forever alter her family.

Over the course of a few days a series of events in Evergreen, Colorado, and nearby Denver are about to collide and Harrison Lodge, along with Kate's family, is about to be caught in the middle.

Kate is determined to protect those she loves, but there isn't a lot an 11 year old girl can do.  But Kate can guard the secrets everyone is keeping - secrets that if revealed could hurt her family.  Kate's kindness doesn't stop with her family.  She is one of those rare individuals who cares about those around her, those whom she sees in need, those whom are hurting.  And when she finds Charlie Fuse, a young man on the run and in need, she offers him what she can - refuge within Harrison Lodge.

But Charlie is a hunted man.  And those who are after him won't let anyone stop them from finding their prey and if those in Harrison Lodge get in the way..., there are ways to deal with problems.

Hiding Places is a well-written book that will hold you captive from the opening scene.  This is a story about family.  What makes a family a family?  Is it the ties of blood?  Is it a choice?  Bonds of loyalty?  Unconditional love?

How do the choices we make affect those around us?  And just how far out do the ripples we make reach out?  Hiding Places examines how the various characters lives intersect and entangle because of the choices they each make.  How do we hide from those closest to us?  And even more importantly why do we hide parts of who we are from our family?

Having read a few of Erin's books in the past I was delighted to discover this newest gem from her. Her books always make one stop and think after the book has been put down.  In this case one has to wonder what am I hiding and why.  Hiding Places is a suspense filled offering that will keep you guessing and wondering from cover-to-cover.

If you are looking a book club reading suggestion I highly recommend this book - it is doubtful anyone would be unable to read this book or find it unpalatable.  There are characters whom one will love and whom one will despise.  And then there are those with whom one will find empathy even if they are unfathomable to one's way of thinking.

I was provided a copy of this book by the Fiction Guild in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

Family means safety. Family means protection. Until it doesn't.

Eleven-year-old Kate Whitby leads an invisible life, the youngest member of her odd family. They live in their historic small-town hotel, where she is an expert at keeping everyone's secrets: her sister's a thief, her great-grandmother isn't as crazy as people think, her mother lives in the past, and her beloved grandfather might have killed his best friend.

Devoted to the people she loves-more than they have ever been to her-Kate vows to protect each one. Charlie Fuse has lived on the streets since his alcoholic father threw him out. When Charlie's powerful street family tests his loyalty by demanding that he kill the son of a rival gang leader, he refuses. They frame him for the murder, forcing Charlie to run.

When Kate finds Charlie injured and penniless, she hides him from his enemies and her uncharitable relatives, unaware that he has a connection to her family as old as the hotel itself.

The murderous gang tracks Charlie down. To flush him out, they take the clueless family hostage and threaten young Kate. Even then, Kate keeps Charlie hidden, putting all her childlike faith in one terrible hope: that the family who has never been able to protect her before might learn how to do it now.

About the Author:
Erin Healy is the bestselling coauthor of Burn and Kiss (with Ted Dekker) and an award-winning editor for many bestselling authors. She is a member of ACFW and Academy of Christian Editors. Her novels include such thrilling stories as Never Let You Go, The Baker's Wife, Stranger Things, and Motherless. She and her family live in Colorado. 

Facebook: erinhealybooks
Twitter: @erinhealybooks

Out of the Ashes ~ Review

Out of the Ashes
By Alicia Buck

Lady Ashelandra Camery's life is about to take an unexpected turn - her father's death leaves her under the guardianship of her uncle.  A man who despises Ash just for being her mother's daughter. But Ash has a secret - she's inherited her mother's skills with magic.  Unfortunately she must keep this hidden from her uncle, but she is determined to learn and use what she has mastered in an attempt to better her life and position until she can call her life and her home her own.

Ashlandra's love of life and independent spirit are at odds with her new position as household servant. And 4 years under the tyranny of Lord Richard may very well break her spirit and cost her her life.

This is Cinderella with a twist - instead of a evil step-mother we have an evil uncle.  There aren't any ugly step-sisters, but rather two cousins James and Jane.  But there is no fairy godmother in this story to make all of Ash's dreams come true.  All Ash has are the servants whom she now toils along side and her skills in magic.

There is a ball and a dance with a prince and Ash manages to catch both his eye and his heart, if only he knew who she truly was.  But Ash refuses to reveal herself to the prince though she is presented with several opportunities to do so.

When Ash's unique talents are needed she will be called upon to enter a world she never knew existed.  A world that could answer all her questions and possibly give her what she has been looking for since her father's death.

Magic, kidnappings, and last minute rescues. What more could a person hope for other than a happily ever after?  Prepare to be enchanted with this new twist on a timeless tale!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through the Cedar Fort book tour program in exchange for my honest review.

About the book:
    When Ashelandra’s father dies, she ends up a servant in her own house, instead of the Baroness she was supposed to become. But Ash’s secret sorcery could be the key to winning back her home and following her heart to a future she never imagined. This fantasy-infused Cinderella story puts a magical twist on a classic tale. Riveting and original, it’s a spellbinding read.

About the author:
     Alicia Buck was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on a cold November day and has hated the cold ever since. Luckily, she lives in the desert now with her husband, Jason, and three children. Alicia loves to read, and goes through book craze phases where she reads a book a day until guilt kicks in and she tries to do something productive like get back to work writing and fix the disaster her home has become. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s in English, and had to constantly defend her major when she had absolutely no desire to teach. Out of the Ashes is Alicia’s second novel.

CSFF September Blog Tour ~ The First Principle Day 3

~ Welcome to the 3rd and Final Day 
of the September CSFF Blog Tour ~

This month's featured book is The First Principle

The First Principle: A Novel
By Marissa Shrock

Rebels are trying to undermine the government and turn back the clock.  The rebels are destabilizing the economy and promoting underage pregnancies.  And they are using an antiquated book as an excuse for their actions.  A book that promotes hate and intolerance.  A book that has been responsible for almost destroying the world many times before.

But the government is wrong - their methods have failed.  The poor and middle class have as little chance of bettering themselves as they have ever had.

Revolution is coming and the rebellion is hoping that the situation Vivica now finds herself will make her willing to aid their cause. Vivica finds herself at a crossroads in her life.  One path leads to rebellion and life for her baby.  The other path leads to greater notability as the daughter of the President.  Which path will she choose?  Both come with a cost.

Throughout this book I wondered what was Vivica's relationship with her father like?  There are mentions of family pictures and his career before Vivica's birth, but nothing really dealing with him. What happened to her dad?  I really would like to know what happened to him.

I'd also be interested in knowing if there will be a second book dealing with this story.  The way this book concludes it is certainly a possibility.  I would also like to see Vivica grow up a little bit - in some ways she is so bratty which adds to her problems making certain situations more difficult and dangerous.  She definitely has trouble following rules - which is both a good thing and a bad thing.

I would recommend this book for those 14 and up, though I can honestly say I would have never read a book that dealt with the issue of teen pregnancy at this age.  In fact, Vivica's behavior would have made me put this book aside in favor of something else (probably a book with horses - like the Black Stallion series or Misty of Chincoteague).  Just being honest here - as a teen I'd have gone Ewwww gross! My sister would have blacked out the kissing scenes or glued the pages together (she still does this to some of her books, which makes for interesting reading when borrowing a book from her). But the teens I deal with at work would probably gravitate towards this book and it would be an improvement over their normally reading diet.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Kregel Publications in conjunction with my participation in this CSFF Blog Tour and my honest review of this book.

About the book:  

In the not-too-distant future, the United Regions of America has formed. Governors hold territories instead of states, and while Washington, DC, is gone, the government has more control than ever before. For fifteen-year-old Vivica Wilkins, the daughter of a governor, this is life as usual. High school seems pretty much the same--until one day, that controlling power steps right through the door during study hall.

When Vivica speaks out to defend her pregnant friend against the harsh treatment of Population Management Officer Marina Ward, she has no idea she's sowing the seeds of a revolution in her own life. But it isn't long before she discovers her own illegal pregnancy. Now she has to decide whether to get the mandatory abortion--or follow her heart, try to keep the baby, and possibly ruin her mother's chances at becoming president.

A rebel group called the Emancipation Warriors, who are fighting to restore freedoms once held unalienable, offer her asylum. Can Vivica trust these rebels to help her or will they bring everything crashing down around her? Accepting their help may come with consequences she isn't ready to face.

Marissa Shrock's debut novel crafts a chilling story of what may be to come if we allow the economic and moral crises currently facing our country to change the foundations on which we built our independence--and of the difference one person can make when they choose to trust God's lead.

About the author:

Marissa Shrock is a middle school language arts teacher, and works with her audience every day. She's a graduate of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild courses, and is a member of the ACFW. Her articles for teens have been published in Evangel and Encounter. Visit her at www.marissashrock.com.

Book available from the following online retailers:

Amazon   CBD   Barnes and Noble   DeeperShopping   

Stop back tomorrow for the third and final Day of The First Principle...

and be sure to check out all the CSFF tour stops during this 3 day blog tour (September 21 - 23, 2015)

Julie Bihn   Thomas Clayton Booher   Beckie Burnham   April Erwin 

Victor Gentile   Carol Keen   Shannon McDermott   Meagan @ Blooming with Books(you're here) 

Megan @ Hardcover Feedback  Rebecca LuElla Miller   Joan Nienhuis   Nissa 

Jalynn Patterson   Chawna Schroeder   Jessica Thomas

CSFF September Blog Tour ~ The First Principle Day 2

~ Welcome to Day 2 of the September CSFF Blog Tour ~

This month's featured book is The First Principle

The First Principle: A Novel
By Marissa Shrock

She's idolized.  Her fashions are imitated. 15 year old Vivica Wilkins's life in one of ease and plenty.  Her mother is the governor of the Great Lakes Region of the United Regions of North America.  And if nothing unforeseen happens Vivica may very soon find herself in a new position - daughter of the President!

But when Vivica finds herself in a situation she never expected to be in, she could bring an end to her mother's political dreams. Vivica is pregnant, breaking the law of the land.  She's expected to follow the procedures of the Posterity Protection and Self-Determination Act - immediate termination at a Population Management Clinic.

But Vivica compounds her rebellious actions by hiding her pregnancy - she's not sure why she's hesitating, but she is.  Is it because her boyfriend Ben is against it?  Or is it because of an incident from her past - a secret she discovered - a secret her mother had been keeping?

Sometimes one needs to grow up almost overnight... And Vivica's time has now come.  Will she follow the law, thus ensuring her mother's presidency?  Or will she follow her heart, allowing the child she has hidden the chance to be born?  Whatever she chooses there will be a price to pay...

I have to say the determination of the Population Management officers to end Vivica's illegal pregnancy was a little extreme - one can only think their determination was in part because who her mother was.  As one of the characters said to Vivica "the cost of freedom is high."  The question one has to ask ones self is What are you willing to pay the price for?  and What are you willing to pay to achieve it?

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Kregel Publications in conjunction with my participation in this CSFF Blog Tour and my honest review of this book.

About the book:  

In the not-too-distant future, the United Regions of America has formed. Governors hold territories instead of states, and while Washington, DC, is gone, the government has more control than ever before. For fifteen-year-old Vivica Wilkins, the daughter of a governor, this is life as usual. High school seems pretty much the same--until one day, that controlling power steps right through the door during study hall.

When Vivica speaks out to defend her pregnant friend against the harsh treatment of Population Management Officer Marina Ward, she has no idea she's sowing the seeds of a revolution in her own life. But it isn't long before she discovers her own illegal pregnancy. Now she has to decide whether to get the mandatory abortion--or follow her heart, try to keep the baby, and possibly ruin her mother's chances at becoming president.

A rebel group called the Emancipation Warriors, who are fighting to restore freedoms once held unalienable, offer her asylum. Can Vivica trust these rebels to help her or will they bring everything crashing down around her? Accepting their help may come with consequences she isn't ready to face.

Marissa Shrock's debut novel crafts a chilling story of what may be to come if we allow the economic and moral crises currently facing our country to change the foundations on which we built our independence--and of the difference one person can make when they choose to trust God's lead.

About the author:

Marissa Shrock is a middle school language arts teacher, and works with her audience every day. She's a graduate of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild courses, and is a member of the ACFW. Her articles for teens have been published in Evangel and Encounter. Visit her at www.marissashrock.com.

Book available from the following online retailers:

Amazon   CBD   Barnes and Noble   DeeperShopping   

Stop back tomorrow for the third and final Day of The First Principle...

and be sure to check out all the CSFF tour stops during this 3 day blog tour (September 21 - 23, 2015)

Julie Bihn   Thomas Clayton Booher   Beckie Burnham   April Erwin 

Victor Gentile   Carol Keen   Shannon McDermott   Meagan @ Blooming with Books(you're here) 

Megan @ Hardcover Feedback  Rebecca LuElla Miller   Joan Nienhuis   Nissa 

Jalynn Patterson   Chawna Schroeder   Jessica Thomas

CSFF September Tour ~ The First Principle Day 1

~ Welcome to Day 1 of the September CSFF Blog Tour ~

This month's featured book is The First Principle

The First Principle: A Novel
By Marissa Shrock

It is a funny thing, sometimes you are just meant to read a certain book.  I was offered the opportunity to read this book two other times this year, but I didn't take it.  Though this book sounded interesting I had scheduling issues so I wasn't able to accept. I guess, the third is the charm, as some like to say.

The First Principle is about choices and obeying the law and those in authority.  What makes a law the most important principle in our lives?  Who is to say what is right?

This is a decision 15 year old Vivica Wilkins must decide for herself when she is faced with obeying the law or following her heart.  A secret that she discovered years ago may be what will decide not only her future but the future of those closest to her. But is she willing to sabotage her mother's chance to become President of the United Regions of America (North America basically) and join the rebels who are determined to turn back the clock?

Sometimes one needs to grow up almost overnight...

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Kregel Publications in conjunction with my participation in this CSFF Blog Tour and my honest review of this book.

About the book:  

In the not-too-distant future, the United Regions of America has formed. Governors hold territories instead of states, and while Washington, DC, is gone, the government has more control than ever before. For fifteen-year-old Vivica Wilkins, the daughter of a governor, this is life as usual. High school seems pretty much the same--until one day, that controlling power steps right through the door during study hall.

When Vivica speaks out to defend her pregnant friend against the harsh treatment of Population Management Officer Marina Ward, she has no idea she's sowing the seeds of a revolution in her own life. But it isn't long before she discovers her own illegal pregnancy. Now she has to decide whether to get the mandatory abortion--or follow her heart, try to keep the baby, and possibly ruin her mother's chances at becoming president.

A rebel group called the Emancipation Warriors, who are fighting to restore freedoms once held unalienable, offer her asylum. Can Vivica trust these rebels to help her or will they bring everything crashing down around her? Accepting their help may come with consequences she isn't ready to face.

Marissa Shrock's debut novel crafts a chilling story of what may be to come if we allow the economic and moral crises currently facing our country to change the foundations on which we built our independence--and of the difference one person can make when they choose to trust God's lead.

About the author:

Marissa Shrock is a middle school language arts teacher, and works with her audience every day. She's a graduate of the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild courses, and is a member of the ACFW. Her articles for teens have been published in Evangel and Encounter. Visit her at www.marissashrock.com.

Book available from the following online retailers:

Amazon   CBD   Barnes and Noble   DeeperShopping   

Stop back tomorrow for Day 2 of The First Principle...

and be sure to check out all the CSFF tour stops during this 3 day tour (September 21 - 23, 2015)

Julie Bihn   Thomas Clayton Booher   Beckie Burnham   April Erwin 

Victor Gentile   Carol Keen   Shannon McDermott   Meagan @ Blooming with Books(you're here) 

Megan @ Hardcover Feedback  Rebecca LuElla Miller   Joan Nienhuis   Nissa 

Jalynn Patterson   Chawna Schroeder   Jessica Thomas

The Sword and the Song ~ Review and Author Interview

The Sword and the Song
The Song of Seare 3
By C.E. Laureano

They may have won a reprieve in the war against the Red Druid but the war is just getting started. If they can't find a key, a weapon, to use against the Red Druid Seare is just the start of the end.  The evil refuses to be stopped.

The Brotherhood is no more and Ard Dhaimhin has become a place of refuge to those fleeing the war.  The city can't long survive its unexpected growth after the losses it suffered in the last battle. But hope has not been lost.

Eoghan won't claim the throne as High King, much to Conor's dismay who is ruling the city and the people in his stead.  Comdiu has yet to lead Eoghan to this path and he refuses to take the initiative on his own.  This situation is creating a rift between these two friends who are like brothers.  Can their bond survive the coming attacks?

In the midst of this despair there is joy, Aine and Conor are expecting their first child.  But this results in a new danger to Aine keeping her confined within the city's safety.  But safety within the city is soon to be called into question when an attack in launched from within.  But who is working against them from within?  Can they find out before it too late?

War is coming and time is against them as they race to keep Niall from the prize he seeks.  But to win the war a price must be paid...

This is the third book in the Song of Seare trilogy and it is an emotionally charged conclusion that will keep you reading, wondering what will come next.  To truly understand and appreciate this book you need to read the first two books in the series.  This series is Aine and Conor's story - a story that has its moments of heartbreak and joy.  This is a beautiful and moving conclusion that you don't want to miss.

C.E. Laureno has created a world that one would like to revisit again.  Fans of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Patrick Carr, and Chris Walley will delight in this series and the timeless battle of good vs. evil.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through their blogger program in exchange for my honest review.


About the Book:

THE SHADOW OF WAR. 

A clash of brothers. A terrible sacrifice. 

In the face of powerful darkness, who will prevail?

The island of Seare is at war. The Red Druid is gathering strength and power to stand against Conor, Eoghan, and the brotherhood.  But there is strife within the brotherhood as well. Eoghan still refuses to claim his rightful rule, and the resulting conflict creates an uncomfortable distance between him and Conor.  When Conor leaves to find the key to defeating the Red Druid, Eoghan and Aine worry he will succumb to the danger, and they attempt their own mission to defeat the Red Druid through Aine’s magical gifts.

BUT NOTHING―AND NO ONE―IS AS IT SEEMS

Author Interview:

1. How did the Song of Seare Trilogy come about? 
I’m a longtime fantasy reader, starting as a child with the Chronicles of Narnia and The Hobbit, but this particular series began with a single premise: what happens when you have a young man who is raised to rule, but his personal, religious, and philosophical beliefs are different than the country over which he’s meant to reign? The story went through a number of iterations. In the early drafts, Conor was already in his twenties and about to take the throne of Tigh. But I realized that the real story began much earlier, where those personal beliefs were formed: his fosterage with a rival king. As I dug into the story, I realized that Conor was only a small part— or maybe the culmination—of a generations-long struggle that has at last come to a breaking point. And so the final storyline of the Song of Seare trilogy was conceived.

2. Why Celtic fantasy?
I’ve been interested in Ireland for as long as I can remember, maybe because of my distant Irish heritage. I had the opportunity to travel there during college, and I’ve never felt such an instant affinity for a place. While America will likely always be the place I “hang my hat”, I realized that Ireland was my heart’s home. Ever since then, I’ve written Irish characters and settings. But it was only when I started reading books by Juliet Marillier—wonderful historical fantasies that showed the pagan/Christian conflict from the pagan point of view—I knew I wanted to do something similar with a Christian slant.

3. How much is based on history and how much was made up?
The culture of Seare is very much based on ancient Ireland before the 10th century, but since relatively little is known about that time period, much of it is extrapolated from research done in the 1920’s. (Some of that research, like the idea that the Irish wore kilts, has since been disproven.) But the food, weaponry, law, and social structure of Seare is very similar to how things might have been in ancient Ireland. Of course, the addition of magic changes things, so I got to imagine how the existence of supernatural gifts and blood magic might have affected their culture. I also re-envisioned the faerie mythology from a neutral, mischievous role into something more malevolent.

4. What kind of research did you do to write this book? 
I have a fairly extensive library on Irish history, and what I wasn’t able to buy, I checked out from the library (thank goodness for inter-library loan…some of my books came all the way from Nebraska.) Because Seare was united by a man who had been a mercenary in the Holy Land, I also did a lot of research on the Near East and the Roman Empire from that time period. You’ll see traces of Asian, Middle Eastern, and Greco-Roman influence in the Fíréin brotherhood, especially their fighting and training styles. I also used my background as a martial artist and fencer to create a fighting style that was believably cross-cultural.

5. If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be?
Aine…because it guarantees that I would also get to spend time with Conor and Eoghan! After all, one or the other is always shadowing her. Plus, she just seems like the type of person I’d like to hang out with: practical, no nonsense, and filled with interesting knowledge. She’s also the one you want around if you’re going to do something dangerous—her healing ability would come in handy!