Archive for November, 2011

29
Nov

Book Review: ‘Love on the Line’

   Posted by: Faith    in Tasty Tomes

Love on the Line

by Deeanne Gist

Historical / Inspirational

Release Date: October 2011

 

LoveontheLine_cover.inddSynopsis:

It’s a Battle of Wills … and Love Is on the Line!

Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man’s world . . . which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He’s a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do. But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.

My Thoughts:

There’s nothing like a Deeanne Gist novel… truly. I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but when I do, this is the kind I like: Factual, realistic, funny, and entertaining. The romance is believable and ignites with just a tiny spark, building to a slow burn—not a “head over heels” type of situation found in plenty of other novels of this variety. The characters make mistakes (in this novel, the hero makes more than enough mistakes to go around, but he’s well-intentioned) and the people are flawed but genuine.

What I really love about Gist’s novels is the level of historical detail she puts into them—she draws on real-life examples and situations to create her story, often weaving elements of true stories into her fiction. And she always includes a little note at the end of each book, mentioning which details are true, and where the inspiration for certain characters or events came from.

While the synopsis above may read as a little bit cliche, I assure you, it shouldn’t be a deterrent. And even though the book is published under an CBA publisher, there isn’t anything in here that wouldn’t be found in a typical ABA published historical novel.

…just a cast of entertaining characters, and a good, solid story.

About the Author

deeannegistDeeanne Gist–known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee–has rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very original, very fun historical & contemporary romances. Add to this three RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you’ve got one recipe for success. She has a very active online community on her website at IWantHerBook.com and at Facebook.com/DeesCircle.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
".

28
Nov

Book Review: ‘The Christmas Shoppe’

   Posted by: Faith    in Tasty Tomes

The Christmas Shoppe

by Melody Carlson

Seasonal Fiction / Inspirational

Release Date: September 2011

Synopsis:

christmasshoppeThe small town of Parrish Springs is not quite ready for Matilda Honeycutt.

A strange older woman with scraggly gray hair and jewelry that jangles as she walks, Matilda is certainly not the most likely person to buy the old Barton Building on the town’s quaint main street. When it becomes apparent that her new shop doesn’t fit the expectations of Parrish Springs residents, a brouhaha erupts. After all, Christmas is approaching, and the last thing the town needs is a junky shop run by someone who looks and acts like a gypsy. But as townsfolk venture into the strange store, they discover that old memories can bring new life and healing.

Once again, Melody Carlson delivers a Christmas story that will touch hearts and delight the senses. Sure to be a classic, The Christmas Shoppe is filled with the special magic the best Christmas stories share—that intangible mixture of nostalgia, joy, and a little bit of magic.

My Thoughts:

Well, I don’t have a whole lot to say about this book, other than… it’s short, cute, and a lovely little diversion on a snowy day. Grab yourself a mug of tea, a blanket, and a comfortable spot on the couch, and curl up with this on a lazy Sunday afternoon during the holidays.

The story is full of quirky (and a little cliche, but still enjoyable) characters, a simple plot, and a heartwarming message that’s appropriate for Christmas. I’m afraid that if I say too much more, I’ll give the surprise away, so… all I can say is, if you’re feeling some holiday blues, or need a break from running around, pick up this little gem and breathe easier for a few hours.

About the Author

Carlson_MelodyMelody Carlson is the award-winning author of over two hundred books with sales of more than five million. She is the author of several Christmas books from Revell, including the bestselling The Christmas Bus, The Christmas Dog, and Christmas at Harrington’s, which is being considered for a TV movie. She is also the author of many teen books, including Just Another Girl, Anything but Normal, Double Take, The Jerk Magnet, and the Diary of a Teenage Girl series. Melody was nominated for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her books in 2010 and 2011. She and her husband live in central Oregon. For more information about Melody visit her website at www.melodycarlson.com.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. 
Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

14
Nov

Writing the Opposite Gender

   Posted by: Faith    in Rye Thoughts

Hey all… I’ve been buried in NaNoWriMo prep and writing for the past month and a half now, so this blog has been the last thing on my mind… but meanwhile, I’ve written a few articles for the fantasy website/blog Fantasy Faction. (There’s a pile of great writing & book-related articles on there, so head on over if you’re a fantasy fiction fan!)

Soooo… if you’re interested in reading a little bit about writing the opposite gender when creating fantasy characters… here are the links!

hot-female-2

Writing Fantasy Gender Stereotypes, Part One: Writing the Opposite Gender

 

Writing Fantasy Gender Stereotypes, Part Two: Inclinations & Deviations 

 

…and as per usual, I have a few book reviews coming up… and hopefully a few notes on this year’s NaNoWriMo experience… year five! Ahhh!!!

What are you all up to this month?