The Betrayal of Maggie Blair

photo © 2008 Monterey Public Library more info (via: Wylio)













Title: The Betrayal of Maggie Blair


Author: Elizabeth Laird


Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt


ISBN: 9780547341262


Available: April 8, 2011


Source: Net Galley

Maggie Blair is accused of being a witch. If it was the 21st century all would be fine in the world, but in 17th century Scotland that accusation can bring imprisonment and most often death. Even if she does escape, her family and their Presbyterian faith will lead her to the same fate. Maggie faces many tough decisions in the course of these pages and none of the choices can lead to good....or can they?

Words can't explain how I felt about this book. This book is well....awe inspiring. With all of the paranormal books available for teens out there, I thought this would be another vampire/undead sort of book. I was wrong! This is the history they don't normally teach about in school or in church. Although it was a little slow at first, it really picked up around page 30 and I couldn't put it down. A word of warning for tender hearted, there is a little blood, not so detailed but I could definitely imagine what was seen, heard and smelled. This book has so many realistic scenes that it came to no surprise that the author, Ms. Laird, actually has a real link with the characters in her genealogy. As with many well written suspenseful books, this one kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering just how we got to this point and how were we going to get out.

Ms. Laird who is actually an author from the U.K. has many young adult books on her wall of fame. I, unfortunately, have never read any. That will soon be remedied! She loves to travel and has traveled quite extensively throughout her life and those travels figure quite widely into her books (she was even once chased by a rhino). She has a website and a blog so you can find out even more about this very talented author.

This book gets a 7 out of 7 thumbs up from me, but a word of warning for those who squirm at the thoughts of injustice done to those who deserve far better, there is a bit of blood and gore.

This book was provided to me free of charge from NetGalley. I received no other compensation for this review and all thoughts contained within are all my own!

Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington

Title: Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington
Authors: Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss
Publisher: Summerside Press
ISBN: 9781609360009
Publication Date: Available
Source: Purchased


When Rosalie's fiancee failed to return from WW2, she was sad, but also relieved. She wasn't sure she loved him enough to commit. In a strange twist of coincidences she meets one man that turns her stomach because of his profession, a reporter by the name of Kenny Davenport. Not trusting the true side of Kenny, Rosalie is sure to avoid becoming Rosie the Riveter at all costs. But will it cost her true love as well and can she get over the grief of knowing she never told Vic the truth?

This is definitely historical romance at its best! This particular series (the postcard, Love Finds You) started last year and has current and historical stories. This one is by far my favorite. This era of our history seemed to come alive under the penmanship of Ms. Goyer and Ms. Fleiss. Even if you have no idea what our women went through in the states during that era, this book will teach you. The research that must have went on in this book is amazing.

The authors do have a contest on their website that I stumbled across. Visit Tricia Goyer's site and enter to win Rosie stuff and to meet one of the authors.

I would let my 10 year old read it (well, if she liked those mushy love stories).

A very high 7 thumbs up out of 7.

I did not recieve any compensation for this review.

A Night in Santa's Great Big Bag

Children's Book Review

Title: A Night in Santa's Great Big Bag

Author: Kristin Kladstrup

Publisher: Viking

ISBN: 9780670011650

Available: Now

Source: Library

This is a very cute secular Christmas story on the happenings in Santa's bag. Lamb, who belongs to Louis, unexpectedly hitches a ride in Santa's bag. While traveling all over the world, he befriends the other toys and tries to help them make the transition to his world better! The dilemma is how will Lamb get back to Louis? I'd tell you...but really....you should read the book!

I really like this book. Lamb is a lovable character who all kids will fall in love with and maybe just pull out their beloved stuffed animal. I highly recommend this book to fill those cold winter nights while getting ready for Christmas. It would also make a cute Christmas Eve story while getting out the stockings.

7 thumbs out of 7

All thoughts and views are entirely my own. No compensation given.

Gratitude Giveaways

MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!

What a better way to snuggle under the covers during this cold weather than to read your own free copy of..

This book is two heartwarming tales of two couples (past and present) finding romance under the mistletoe. Both authors are very accomplished writers and have many credits to their names!

NOW THE RULES!
Contest begins today, Wednesday the 17th and will continue until Sunday the 28th.

Mandatory Entry

Because this is a follower contest you must be a follower to enter. If you would like to include a favorite childhood holiday story, please do so! Make sure you add your email address in the comment box along with your name and story. If I can't reach you....you can't win!

One extra entry is available if you tweet, blog or post to facebook this contest! In the comments, please leave me the site (tweet) that you posted.

US only please

The following linky list is all of the other over 180 participants in this giveaway! Plenty of reading material for the upcoming holidays! Thank you so much to I am a Reader, Not a Writer for getting this all together.

Who Is Jesus.....Really

Title: Who is Jesus....Really

Authors: Josh McDowell and Dave Sterrett

Publisher: Moody

Pub. Date: 1/1/2011

ISBN: 9780802487674

Source: NetGalley

This is a non-fiction book aimed for the college level person. It is a series of books (small) that are primarily set in a coffee house and have a dialogue pertaining to the title. In this volume, they are debating the historicity of Jesus. Was he a real man? Does history back up his life? There are several 'characters' in various stages of belief. From the strong believer to the atheist and they get together to debate the issues as they see them.

This wasn't exactly what I thought it would be when I started. I actually found myself cheering when the believers were able to bring a point across to the non believers that made them stand up and take notice. There is a lot of historical examples found in this book and it would make for a great go to guide when coming across to skeptics who want to know how Jesus fits into history. It is written simply enough that I believe it would be a great book for even a Jr. High youth group to dive into and learn how to defend their faith without giving up or getting angry. If you are looking for a more in depth analysis of who Jesus is, I would suggest "The Case for Christ", but for a beginning look at dialogue this is an excellent start.

As of this review, there are 2 other books in this series and "Is the Bible True...Really" is actually the first book. The other book is "Did the Resurrection Happen....Really". I am looking forward to January so I can share these books with my daughter's youth group. I hope they will open up a dialogue and dive deeper in their beliefs.

Josh McDowell himself was once a non believer and has since become a well respected author and speaker on the truth behind Jesus and looks to teach youth the the truth.

Dave Sterrett speaks for Probe Ministries and teaches Christ centered living at conferences, schools and churches.

6.5 thumbs up out of 7....pretty close, but I wish there would have been a dictionary for those 'big' words that not all college graduates may even know.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley for an honest review. This review is my own words and thoughts. No other compensation was given.

Gratitude Giveaway

Stay tuned...

Tomorrow will be Gratitude Giveaway hosted by I am a Reader! I will be having a giveaway for ...well...something booky! Check out I am a Reader, Not a Writer for more than 180 other giveaways!

In My Mailbox 1

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. I wasn't going to do a meme, but I have so much fun looking through other blogs and adding to my TBR list, that I thought I'd try this for awhile. So...for this week, here's my IMM!

I bought:

I won in a giveaway (giveawaygal)

From the library:

And from Netgalley:

Vespertime

The Betrayal of Maggie Blair

thx for dropping by!