tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58920760030600412024-03-19T03:25:17.727-05:00Jessica Looks AgainJessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-78019503662490741142019-03-30T08:24:00.000-05:002019-03-30T08:24:41.565-05:00What I've been Reading, and What I'm looking forward to...It has been a while, and so much has happened in my life in the past three months. My son turned ONE (!!!!) and the same weekend we moved out of my in-law's house and into our own apartment. Since then there has been a lot of adjustment which is still going on.<br />
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However, somehow, while my apartment is making slow progress, I have been reading a lot of super cool books.<br />
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<b>1. Romanov by Nadine Brandes -- Coming MAY</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <img alt="Romanov by [Brandes, Nadine]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51t3wv2M0cL.jpg" /><br />
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This is a historical fantasy retelling of Anastasia Romanov and her family. The book does not officially come out until May, but I was blessed to be able to read an ARC.<br />
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Oh. My. Goodness.<br />
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If you are expecting it to be anything like the 1997 movie, prepare yourself: It's nothing like the 1997 movie.<br />
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When that movie came out, I did a lot of research on the Romanovs, and it was much more like the sad history than the movie, even with the fantasy elements. However, I loved what the author did with the story. The main theme that stood out to me was the theme of forgiveness. Anastasia, or Nastya, and her family live under Bolshevik captivity for the majority of the book. They are subjected to humiliation and disrespect, and through it all, they respond with an attitude of forgiveness, and love. But, when Nastya finds herself on one end of the firing squad, and a befriended soldier on the other end, can she forgive him?<br />
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This book definitely challenged my view of what it means to forgive someone. We like to think that forgiveness means you forget what someone does to you. We know that forgiveness means you don't hold another person's sin against them. But what happens when you can't forget what someone has done? What happens when their action has lasting consequences that you have to face every day?<br />
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This quote, in particular, challenged me:<br />
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"Part of forgiveness [is] accepting what someone has done, and the pain that comes with it, and moving on with love. Forgiveness was a personal battle that must always be fought in my heart. Daily."<br />
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If that doesn't punch you in the gut, I don't know what will. This story has some very difficult moments. In fact, most of the book has a somber tone to it, with some light-hearted jesting tossed in. I really enjoyed Nastya and her brother Alexei's relationship. (Alexei is probably my favorite supporting character). Overall, this is truly a beautiful story of what it means to love, hope, and forgive. I hope you read and enjoy!<br />
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Pre-order your copy <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Romanov-Nadine-Brandes-ebook/dp/B07DT64TLH/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=802RLFED0Y8G&keywords=romanov+nadine+brandes&qid=1553782806&s=gateway&sprefix=romanov+nadine%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1-fkmrnull">HERE</a>!<br />
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<b>2. Gift of Christmas Past by Cindy and Erin Woodsmall</b><br />
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This was a beautiful story about a foster girl who is falsely accused of a crime and seemingly abandoned by the one person she thought would have her back. Consequently, she runs away with her best friend and the two of them struggle to make their own way in the world. Ten years later, she is brought face to face with the man who abandoned her, but she must put her resentment aside and work with him for the good of a young child who has been silent since an apartment fire.<br />
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This book made me think about a lot of the stigmas attached to foster children, and difficult children in general, and how we sometimes jump to conclusions about their actions and motivations without seeking to understand where they are coming from. <br />
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<b>3. Hawthorne House series by Kristi Ann Hunter</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <img alt="A Lady of Esteem (Hawthorne House): A Novella" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/9185SfTwqZL._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="A Noble Masquerade (Hawthorne House Book #1)" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91id6ErLFRL._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="An Elegant Façade (Hawthorne House Book #2)" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81RduOOiteL._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="An Uncommon Courtship (Hawthorne House Book #3)" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91Jwlx5bgQL._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="An Inconvenient Beauty (Hawthorne House Book #4)" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91cz+NX8uVL._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><br />
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This series was a very pleasant surprise. I actually started with Book 3 and then had to start over. The series follows the four Hawthorne siblings, and their adopted sister, as each of them seek to marry for love. The writing was humorous (Ooooh how I enjoyed the banter!) but also dealt with some real issues such as how past actions can impact relationships in the present, dyslexia, communication in marriage, honesty, and trusting God.<br />
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The relationships were fully developed and not rushed, giving the reader time to really get to know each character, even in the case of the novella introducing the series. A fun, adventurous series.<br />
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<b>4. Haven Manor series by Kristi Ann Hunter</b><br />
<b><br /></b> <img alt="A Search for Refuge (Haven Manor): A Haven Manor Novella" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91ZEVVTAv3L._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="A Defense of Honor (Haven Manor Book #1)" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91K-ja3uMuL._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><img alt="A Return of Devotion (Haven Manor Book #2)" height="200" src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81M1AyENVjL._AC_UL436_.jpg" width="129" /><br />
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Whereas the Hawthorne House series was a fun, light-hearted read with adventure and feel-good romance, The Haven Manor series takes a much more serious tone. Kit's reputation is ruined when her best friend is mistakenly seduced by the man who was courting her. Together, the two women leave the society of London and set off on their own to live off of their dowries. Determined to help others in their situation, the two women take in the illegitimate children of aristocrats so that their mothers can have a second chance in society. They give them an education and life skills so that they can find work to support themselves when they're older.<br />
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Honestly, I'm still processing this series.<br />
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What I love about this series is that when the characters come face to face with injustice, it spurs them to act justly on behalf of someone else.<br />
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Reading this series has made me extremely thankful for my son and the fact that I have a husband and community around me that enables me to raise him. It makes my heart bleed for women and girls who, for whatever reason, have had to give up their children. It makes me thankful for the people who have stepped in to be parents to children who have no one else to love them. It makes me mindful of women in impossible situations who do not have a community of any kind to support them, and for the decisions they are faced with. It makes me want to give hope to someone else.<br />
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Here are the books I am looking forward to reading in the next several months! Click on the titles to pre-order your copies today!<br />
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<b>1.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Paladin-Firebrand-Book-Sarah-MacTavish-ebook/dp/B07PNT6DBN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3LNFGA6CWSPCL&keywords=paladin+sarah+mactavish&qid=1553782986&s=digital-text&sprefix=paladin+sarah+m%2Cdigital-text%2C225&sr=1-1-catcorr">Paladin </a>by Sarah MacTavish - April 12th</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">When Lincoln calls for volunteers to put down the rebellion, four friends become soldiers for different reasons. Freedom. Justice. Love. Revenge. But they’re united by a secret… one of them is a girl in disguise.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">“This is my country, and I aim to fight for it. You can help me, or get out of my way. Your choice.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Hidden under an over-sized uniform and a false name, Saoirse Callahan strives to prove herself as strong and brave as any other soldier. But when an old enemy appears in camp, she knows it’s only a matter of time before her identity is exposed. And what will happen to her friends if she’s discovered?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">“I’m quite certain what I am willing to die for. But taking a life is another matter entirely.”</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Westleigh Kavanagh is a scholar, not a soldier. Still he enlists, because he believes their cause is holy–freedom for all, at any cost. When the bullets start flying, he wonders if he’s not made a terrible mistake. Too late to turn back, Westleigh prays that they’ll all make it home safely. But can his soul survive the journey?</span><br />
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<b>2.<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flight-Raven-Ravenwood-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B07NDMRWQH/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=HJWMKFKZVM1I&keywords=flight+of+the+raven+morgan+busse&qid=1553794623&s=books&sprefix=flight+of+the+raven%2Cstripbooks%2C172&sr=1-1-fkmrnull"> Flight of the Raven</a> by Morgan L Busse - April 30th</b><br />
<b><br /></b><img alt="Flight of the Raven (The Ravenwood Saga Book #2) by [Busse, Morgan L.]" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51fH6PM-9NL.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Selene Ravenwood, once the heir to House Ravenwood, is now an exile. On the run and free of her family's destiny, Selene hopes to find the real reason her family was given the gift of dreamwalking. But first she must adapt to her new life as wife to Lord Damien Maris, the man she was originally assigned to kill.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">While adjusting to her marriage and her home in the north, her power over dreams begins to grow. As the strongest dreamwalker to exist in ages, her expanding power attracts not only nightmares but the attention of the Dark Lady herself.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">With a war looming on the horizon and a wicked being after her gift, Selene is faced with a choice: embrace the Dark Lady's offer, or search out the one who gave her the gift of dreamwalking. One path offers power, the other offers freedom. But time is running out, and soon her choice will be made for her.</span><br />
<b>3. <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/Number-Love-Codebreakers-Book-ebook/dp/B07NDMPQS1/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?crid=37U29LSF4OCQC&keywords=the+number+of+love+roseanna+m.+white&qid=1553782952&s=gateway&sprefix=the+number+of+love%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-1-fkmrnull">The Number of Love</a> by Roseanna M. White - June 4th</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse089UY7mhXRvKxh1bQpfhA8qHqBj6VpJ6809W8tce4_lFsi0UzKDX9UKoVVrdkIQEnWPh3oB7EwwXOryMtYby4R9sTjY7kQ8w-m3UA4Dy19gnthHKE8WIXKR_Ldd_oqwBSSjB7QMLTY/s1600/unnamed+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgse089UY7mhXRvKxh1bQpfhA8qHqBj6VpJ6809W8tce4_lFsi0UzKDX9UKoVVrdkIQEnWPh3oB7EwwXOryMtYby4R9sTjY7kQ8w-m3UA4Dy19gnthHKE8WIXKR_Ldd_oqwBSSjB7QMLTY/s320/unnamed+%25282%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b> <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Three years into the Great War, England's greatest asset is their intelligence network--field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren't enough.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy who just won't give up. He's smitten quickly by the intelligent Margot, but how can he convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life's answers lie in the heart?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Amid biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save themselves from the very secrets that brought them together.</span><b><br /></b><b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b>4. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Story-Raider-Weaver-Trilogy/dp/1683702034">Story Raider </a>by Lindsay Franklin -- July 23rd</b><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Deceiving an empire is a treacherous game</b><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Tanwen and the Corsyth weavers race to collect the strands of an ancient cure that might save Gryfelle. But Tanwen has a secret--Gryfelle isn't the only one afflicted by the weaver's curse. As Queen Braith struggles to assert her rule, a new arrival throws her tenuous claim to the Tirian throne into question. Braith's heart is turned upside down, and she's not sure she can trust anyone--least of all herself.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The puppet master behind Gareth's rise to power has designs on Tanwen and the story weavers, and will stop at nothing to reclaim the throne. A plot to incite the angry peasants of Tir takes shape, and those dearest to Tanwen will be caught in the crossfire. As the fight for Tir consumes the realm, no one can remain innocent.</span><b><br /></b><br />
<b>5. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Home-Haven-Manor/dp/0764230778/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=haven+manor+series&qid=1553951654&s=books&sr=1-7">A Pursuit of Home</a> by Kristi Ann Hunter (Haven Manor book 3) - November 5th, 2019</b><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41h6V9mWu0L._SX321_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="207" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">In early 1800s England, Jess Beauchene has spent most of her life in hiding and always on the move in an effort to leave her past far behind her. But when she learns the family she thought had died just might be alive and in danger, she knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Derek Thornbury loves the past, which has led him to become an expert in history and artifacts. He knows Jess has never liked him, but when she requests his help deciphering the clues laid out in an old family diary, he can't resist the urge to solve the puzzle. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As Jess and Derek race to find the hidden artifact before her family's enemies, they learn as much about each other as they do about the past. But can their search to uncover the truth and set history right lead to a future together?</span><br />
<b><br /></b>Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-84490168868573623022018-12-14T00:30:00.000-06:002018-12-14T00:30:03.693-06:00Ilyon and Acktar Blog Tour: Interview, Spotlight, and Review!<br />
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Welcome again to my blog!<br />
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If you are fans of the Illyon Chronicles by Jaye L. Knight or The Blades of Acktar series by Tricia Mingerink, I have some pretty exciting news for you! Both of them are releasing the fifth book in their respective series this month!<br />
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Most of you have read my interviews and reviews for Tricia Mingerink's The Blades of Acktar series before, and know what a HUGE fan I am! I was of course over the moon when I found out the series would be continuing!<br />
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Jaye L. Knight's books are new to me, but I am SOOOO ready to jump on the Illyon Chronicle fandom because her books sound awesome! In this post I will be spotlighting both books, interviewing the authors about their works, and sharing my review of Decree. Whether you are fans of one or both series, or if they are both new to you, I hope you enjoy reading the interview and learning about the books below!<br />
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Read about these books below and be sure to check out the other blog stops on the tour by visiting the <a href="https://wp.me/P4VE59-LQ" rel="noopener" target="_blank">official tour page</a><span id="goog_1533927924"></span><span id="goog_1533927925"></span>. Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!<br />
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<b>Welcome to my blog, Jaye and Tricia!</b><br />
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<b>First question:</b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What is the most important thing you want to communicate to your readers about your books?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tricia:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apparently this question has the ability to freeze authors’ brains. Because it took Jaye and I far too long to come up with answers for it, lol. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I guess that I would like readers to know that my books will always be filled with faith, action, and adventure. Whether that looks like Acktar with assassins and danger and Christianity that looks like our world or whether that is Tallahatchia with canoes and gifts and curses and allegorical Christianity. Either way there will be adventure and danger and possibility of death. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jaye: I suppose one of the most important things I want to communicate to readers is that I write about “real” people with real struggles and real flaws. I love broken characters because it allows me to show how God can love and work through broken people. It can be a bit intimidating, but I like to write about tough issues. Just look at Lacy--it centers around a prostitute. But even though I often tackle tricky topics, you’ll always find my books are clean.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>If your story worlds collided, which of your characters would be best friends and which would get on each other's nerves? Who would get into trouble?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tricia:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The characters already answered this question for themselves on the chat today on the Ilyon Chronicles blog. You can find that character chat here: </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ilyonchronicles.com/news&source=gmail&ust=1544838029110000&usg=AFQjCNGfWWz1gb7imWMRYmL4hnnP66xEGg" href="https://www.ilyonchronicles.com/news" style="text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://www.ilyonchronicles.<wbr></wbr>com/news</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But in doing that chat, it was fun how some of the characters took over. Jace and Leith, well, we expected that outcome. But Kaden, Talas, and Brandi bonding? That came out of nowhere. But I can really see them getting into trouble together if left unattended too long.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for characters that would rub on each other’s nerves, what do you think, Jaye? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jaye: I don’t see Leetra and Martyn getting along particularly well. They are both kind of prickly. Lol! Talas might get on Martyn’s nerves too since he’s so cheerful all the time. Leetra might find Brandi annoying. Haha!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tricia: Um, yeah. Let’s not put Leetra, Martyn, and Brandi too close together for too long. Things wouldn’t end well. Talas is the kind of person I can see Martyn pretending to be annoyed with, even if he secretly doesn’t mind as much as he pretends. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What is your favorite aspect of the other writer's series? </b></span></span></div>
<span class="im" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jaye: Leith. ‘Nuff said. :D I’ve said multiple times that I love Leith almost as much as I love Jace.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tricia:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #274e13; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ha, ha. Leith and his fangirls. *shakes head* </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue;">Jaye: Leith is a precious cinnamon roll.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span><b>((Jessica)) Agreed!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tricia: I love Jaye’s big battle scenes, lol! And I love how Jaye balances such a large cast of characters and makes all of them so well-loved! Also, Jace. :) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Can each of you give a favorite quote from the other person's book?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tricia:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I can’t tell you the setting of this quote, because that would be a spoiler, but I’ve always had a soft spot for Prince Daniel, and seeing Jace through Prince Daniel’s eyes was so cool: “Jace pinned him with a measuring look—not hostile, but one that said he took the matter seriously. While Jace’s mixed blood had never bothered Daniel in any way, it certainly made the man intimidating at times like these. Daniel had no doubt Jace could take on every person in this cabin and come out the victor. He’d certainly have no trouble against Daniel.” We spend so much time in Jace’s head where his soft, squishy, adorable heart is on display that we sometimes miss seeing the tough, deadly Jace. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jaye: I sadly haven’t had a chance to read much of Decree yet (Why, life? Why must you be so hectic?!) but so far my favorite quote is probably Leith’s response to Vane telling him he can’t win. “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No. But I will make it hurt. And you don’t want that. Not if you want to keep your perfect record with Lord Felix</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” My sweet, adorable baby Leith. *squees*</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>((Jessica)) I love that moment too! Don't mess with Leith!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Do the two of you brainstorm together when you are writing? If so, what do you find most helpful about the other person?</b></span></span></div>
<span class="im" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tricia: We haven’t done a lot of brainstorming together, but we have asked each other for advice on how to portray certain things, like battle scenes or trickier topics. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jaye: ^This. :D Tricia is a wonderful beta reader and has really helped me polish my Ilyon books</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Thank you so much, ladies! Readers, don't forget to check out the official blog tour page at <a href="https://triciamingerink.com/the-blades-of-acktar/ilyon-acktar-blog-tour-schedule/">this link</a> and enter the giveaway!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Keep reading to see my review for Decree and the spotlights for both books!</b></span></span></div>
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<em>The Blades of Acktar</em></h2>
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<img alt="Decree Cover 101518 Final" class=" wp-image-2894 aligncenter" height="581" src="https://triciamingerink.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/decree-cover-101518-final.jpg" width="383" /> </div>
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<strong><u>About <em>Decree</em></u></strong> </div>
The Adventure Continues.
Discover more of <em>The Blades of Acktar</em> in this collection of novellas and short stories.
<em>The Blades as They Should’ve Been </em>
A test and the Gathering of Nobles will decide Leith and Martyn’s futures. Can they fight to become more than the Blades they were? Will Keevan accept the man who attempted to kill him as family?
<em>The First Mission</em>
When Martyn visits Surgis, his past seems determined to haunt him. Can he figure out how to forgive, especially when confronted with an enemy in need of his help?
<em>To the Far Great Mountains </em>
A death sends Leith and Martyn far beyond the borders of Acktar. Will they be able to arrest their quarry before they are caught themselves?
From the story of how Leith and Martyn met to Ranson’s search for a life outside of the Blades, these stories will answer plaguing questions and expand the world of Acktar.
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Available now on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Decree-Blades-Acktar-Book-5-ebook/dp/B07JH7975X" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>!</h2>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42380288-decree" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="goodreads" border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltTfP1OwA8qe3gd34bcBo-fppib8qRAi4BA5LEEUioeaI8oNxfoiBCjz1zPiH9qZh5WB4R1cesgiAGTgF7VH8ok-nOMYb9YsuLtBaF3WN-n4eBPvvlAlwz90v6_rxC2UzdR7WMGY5-ls/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0; display: inline;" title="goodreads" width="130" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><b><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review:</span><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was SO excited when I heard that The Blades of Acktar books would be returning. This series hits all of my sweet spots: strong yet vulnerable characters, character growth, tension, witty banter, adorable romance, adventure! </span><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Decree we get to see our favorite characters after the war, working to rebuild Acktar and establishing a new law enforcement with "The New Blades" (you'll find out the real name in the book). We also get to peek into the past and find out more of Martyn's backstory, and also see how Renna and Brandi's parents met! I think their story was my favorite of the stories that take place in the past. You could definitely see which of their parents the girls took after. I also enjoyed getting to read Ranson's story and watch him grow into his post-Blade life. I love him!</span><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">While the other books are each one long story, this book is a collection of stories building background and setting the stage for the continuing story (We get more Acktar books!!!). More like a TV series bridging the gap between two movies. It's cool because we get a peek into the daily lives of our characters, but it also, by design, raises questions in the reader's mind about what's NOT happening which really builds up the anticipation for the next book.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-variant-ligatures: none; letter-spacing: 0.1px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hope you enjoy this collection of episodes as much as I did. After I finished it I went back and pulled out all the previous books again so I could reread them! I'm super excited to see our Acktarian friends return to the page and can't wait for Book 6!</span></b></i></span><br />
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Haven’t discovered the <em>The Blades of Acktar</em> yet? Find out more at on the official <a href="https://triciamingerink.com/the-blades-of-acktar/">Blades of Acktar page</a>.<br />
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<strong><u><img alt="DSC09450-2" class=" wp-image-887 alignleft" height="234" src="https://triciamingerink.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/dsc09450-2.jpg" width="165" /></u></strong></div>
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<strong><u>About the Author</u></strong> </div>
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Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.
You can connect with Tricia on her <a href="https://triciamingerink.com/">blog</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/triciamingerink">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TriciaMingerink">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/triciamingerink/">Instagram</a>.
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<em>The Ilyon Chronicles</em></h2>
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<img alt="Bitter Winter" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2951" height="675" src="https://triciamingerink.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/bitter-winter.jpg" width="450" /></div>
<strong><u><br /></u></strong>
<strong><u>About <em>Bitter Winter</em></u></strong><br />
Already struggling with a harsh winter and the threat of food shortage, a catastrophic event leaves those in the Landale camps reeling. Just when things couldn’t get much worse, camp members fall ill with the same devastating sickness that’s sweeping across the country.
Determined to gain the cure, Jace sets off to Valcré. However, there are only two sources—the queen, or a powerful gang of smugglers who have made the dangerous city their home. When Jace gains audience with the gang leader, he finds the price of the cure is steeper than any of them imagined, forcing him to make an impossible choice—betray his conscience or let those he loves die.
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Available now on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Winter-Ilyon-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B07K1G8PPK" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>!</h2>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29618434-lacy" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="goodreads" border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltTfP1OwA8qe3gd34bcBo-fppib8qRAi4BA5LEEUioeaI8oNxfoiBCjz1zPiH9qZh5WB4R1cesgiAGTgF7VH8ok-nOMYb9YsuLtBaF3WN-n4eBPvvlAlwz90v6_rxC2UzdR7WMGY5-ls/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0; display: inline;" title="goodreads" width="130" /></a><br />
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<img alt="Lacy" class=" size-full wp-image-2952 aligncenter" height="658" src="https://triciamingerink.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/lacy.jpg" width="433" /><br />
<strong><u>About <em>Lacy</em></u></strong><br />
The last thing Aaron ever envisioned was falling for a prostitute. Everything about it spells trouble. However, he can’t help noticing the way her smile lights up when she sees him and how much brokenness she hides behind it. Neither can he ignore how desperately she needs rescue and protection.
When Lacy shares a life or death secret with him, Aaron is willing to risk everything to help her and to show her Elôm’s love. Yet, such a choice could destroy his reputation and maybe even cost him his freedom.
An Ilyon Chronicles Novella
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Available now on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07K1GJXJT" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Amazon</a>!</h2>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25796274-bitter-winter" rel="noopener" target="_blank"><img alt="goodreads" border="0" height="41" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltTfP1OwA8qe3gd34bcBo-fppib8qRAi4BA5LEEUioeaI8oNxfoiBCjz1zPiH9qZh5WB4R1cesgiAGTgF7VH8ok-nOMYb9YsuLtBaF3WN-n4eBPvvlAlwz90v6_rxC2UzdR7WMGY5-ls/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0; display: inline;" title="goodreads" width="130" /></a><br />
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Haven’t discovered the world of Ilyon yet? Find out more at the official <a href="http://www.ilyonchronicles.com/">Ilyon Chronicles website</a>!</div>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Giveaway!</h3>
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<img alt="PaperbackGiveaway" class=" wp-image-2969 aligncenter" height="373" src="https://triciamingerink.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/paperbackgiveaway.jpg" width="373" /> </div>
Share in the excitement of the release and enter to win a full signed set of the <em>Ilyon Chronicles </em>and <em>The Blades of Acktar</em>! <b>(Giveaway is open to US residents only. Cannot be shipped internationally.) </b><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/624234b713/?">Click on this link to enter</a>.
Be sure to stop by each of the character chats (links in the blog tour schedule) for additional giveaways throughout the tour!
Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-89350218105125019552018-11-13T15:12:00.002-06:002018-11-13T15:23:59.452-06:00The Spirituality of CarseatsHello, everyone!<br />
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Taking a break from book reviews and cover reveals (though in all honesty, I'm behind on several of them that should have been featured months ago on this blog...stay tuned for a combo post), and procrastinating on my NaNoWriMo project again to talk to you about car seats.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuFp2qI3OYTaShBzW_k4O25tdupg1aINDD3S2ssA_MCguVYq4v7lIV4bp-jbRNIsssNtDNyHYA6dCsb-77wqrZMASczYOMyMVQtczDxTWju8SMOPYqGv4LmG1kzI9v5cIagx7P68_8oI/s1600/IMG_20181029_143811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuFp2qI3OYTaShBzW_k4O25tdupg1aINDD3S2ssA_MCguVYq4v7lIV4bp-jbRNIsssNtDNyHYA6dCsb-77wqrZMASczYOMyMVQtczDxTWju8SMOPYqGv4LmG1kzI9v5cIagx7P68_8oI/s320/IMG_20181029_143811.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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This is my son James in his car seat.<br />
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Sure, he's sleeping now. But earlier he was complaining about being in his car seat. He's not a huge fan of it. Though he will sometimes tolerate it, and sometimes fall asleep in it, MOST of the time he gets his feelings super hurt whenever I have to put him in it. And he lets me know in no uncertain terms.<br />
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"You KNOW I hate this thing! I don't like being confined! You're trampling on my free spirit. Why would you put me in this place I hate? Why don't you love me? I don't want to go! Why, Mommy, WHY!?!" he cries.<br />
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Or something like that.<br />
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"Hang in there. We'll be there soon. I love you." I say over and over again.<br />
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Unfortunately, car seats are an unpleasant necessity to get James safely from Point A to Point B.<br />
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I know these rides won't last forever. I know we can't avoid the car seat. I know the car seat keeps him safe, and he will be fine on the other side of this ride.<br />
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I was thinking the other day how much easier these rides would be if I could just explain all of this to James and make him see reason. But even if I tried, he would not understand it. He knows I love him. He doesn't always understand why he has to be in the chair. So, sometimes we suffer through some very unpleasant rides. Other times he accepts his reality and tries to entertain himself, or falls asleep.<br />
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Here is where I turn the tables.<br />
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There are times in our lives, either when something happens to us that we can't control, or we have to live with an unpleasant reality that we did not ask for.<br />
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We lose our job. We have to sell our house. We have to move. Someone moves in with us. We lose something (or someone) valuable to us. We have to take on extra work. We have to accommodate a less than pleasant personality. We are kept from the thing we want most. The THING we wanted most to avoid in life happens to us.<br />
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We ask God why? If he loves us, why would he make us go through this? Why can't he just make it stop?<br />
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In short, we are the angry one crying out in the back seat that we don't like it.<br />
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But what if that unpleasant situation is just a carseat? We can't see where we're going, we just know we don't like where we are. But what if that situation is keeping us safe while we go somewhere better? All the while, God is in the front seat trying to reassure us.<br />
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"Hang in there. We'll be there soon. I love you."<br />
<br />
When my school closed and my husband and I lost our jobs, I was very quickly offered another position in a nearby school. With a pay raise. In my favorite subjects. I would not have had to move. I could have stayed close to my friends. It seemed perfect.<br />
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But something about it wasn't right, so I declined.<br />
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I ended up moving in with my in-laws, teaching Science and Math, and spent three months away from my husband while he renovated our home to sell. Several times I wished I had accepted the offer. Several times I asked God why we had to move.<br />
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Fast forward a year and a half:<br />
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We had our first baby. A month later, we sold our house. We were able to pay off the rest of our debt, my husband finished school, eventually found a job, I quit my job, and we are set to move into our own apartment in February.<br />
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This past weekend we visited some friends from our school. When the school closed they went to the school that had offered me a job.<br />
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They told me the school was imploding because they had not been able to pay their teachers THIS YEAR.<br />
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Here is what I know:<br />
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<b>God DOES know what He's doing, we just don't always see it.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
James can't see where we're going. He doesn't understand why he has to be in the seat. All he knows is that he's in a place he doesn't like. But if I didn't put him in the seat, he would be in a compromising situation that would put him at risk.<br />
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If I had taken that job, we would not have sold our house or be able to pay off the rest of our school debt. I would probably have had to continue working after having the baby, Matthew wouldn't have had his job, and we would eventually end up in the exact same place we had been, except THIS time with a baby!<br />
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It turns out, we were in a car seat.<br />
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<b>Your sadness DOES matter to God and He is right there with you. </b><br />
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No matter how much I know the trip won't last and my little one will be fine in a minute, it breaks my heart to hear him upset when I can't soothe him. The fact that he is in a car seat that he doesn't like, does not mean I don't love him. The fact that you are in a situation you hate does not mean that God doesn't love you. It doesn't mean that He isn't listening to you. It doesn't mean He's abandoned you. It just means you haven't arrived yet.<br />
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Whatever your situation, may we all have the grace to trust Him and thank Him for His provisions while we wait in the car seat for our next destination.<br />
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"Hang in there. We'll be there soon. I love you."<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>For my thoughts are not your thoughts,</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-55-8" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">neither are your ways my ways, declares the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Lord</span>.</span></span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;">
</span><span class="text Isa-55-9" id="en-ESV-18750" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; text-align: center; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-18750A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-18750A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><div style="text-align: center;">
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,</div>
</span></span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-55-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">so are my ways higher than your ways</span></div>
</span><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-55-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and my thoughts than your thoughts.</span></div>
</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Isa-55-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>- Isaiah 55:8-9</i></span></span></span></div>
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<br />Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-61466309238024607422018-10-10T06:00:00.000-05:002018-10-10T06:00:04.952-05:00The Number of Love by Roseanna White (Another Cover Reveal!)<br id="docs-internal-guid-bdbd0cb2-7fff-85ef-58df-825d17ad841b" />
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Greetings, everyone! I have some pretty awesome news for you!<br />
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For those that have read the Shadows Over England series, you know that the main male character in book two has a pretty awesome little sister named Margot.<br />
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AND SHE GETS HER OWN BOOK!!!!!!<br />
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That alone makes me SUPER excited. I loved her snarky-don't-have-time-for-stupid-people personality in A Song Unheard and cannot wait to see how she handles herself in this next book. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Here is the synopsis:<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and code breakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.</span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><img height="872" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_3gu0pwE4BxolJvM-xFVrXlzarofi7rWUrVpAR8bEjXAnAzJ1iV6EaS0EdsAnzNiqrlYKiR7XOga5cTwbKF4klcrRoHq6sps2u62Zv5xQV6Na-6F4-Gm-au174FIcw5FpWwzLgoJ4_6SHUE-Og" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="568" /></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Number-Love-Codebreakers-Roseanna-White/dp/0764231812/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1538912884&sr=8-2&keywords=the+number+of+love+roseanna+m.+white" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Pre-Order from Amazon </span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">(other retailers not yet available)</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/roseannamwhite/the-number-of-love/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">View </span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">The Number of Love</span><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"> Pinterest Board</span></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42075376-number-of-love?from_search=true" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Add to your list on Goodreads</span></a></div>
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ISN'T THAT COVER GORGEOUS!?!? I'm a little jealous of that red sweater, to be honest! That expression on her face looks calculating. I wonder what she's thinking, or what she's trying to communicate with that number 18 on the window? Ooooo speculations! I can't wait for this book to come out. Pre-order your copy on Amazon now!<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;"><img height="269" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/PqIzaeKEZLqw88mt47KM-k0-nLiXaco1tuEjt_GJTLOyLINrd7064ywXEV5YsfcRAU_pDQ_IIntl5BUTpATtApD8rzGuT3kgRc-LxM7OyBJA04sPkiw-D4i7AfF9nWmkMLnXxHpEctC5RE8Ocw" style="-webkit-transform: rotate(0.00rad); border: none; transform: rotate(0.00rad);" width="196" /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that<br />words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing,<br />designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew<br />of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and<br />mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly<br />ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at </span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.roseannamwhite.com/%E2%80%9D" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-decoration-skip: none; background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">www.RoseannaMWhite.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; white-space: pre;">.</span></div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-7076611042629513582018-09-26T07:00:00.000-05:002018-09-26T19:00:01.179-05:00My Childhood Obsession and a Cover RevealHello again, friends!<br />
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History Lesson:<br />
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Once upon a time, the Romanov family ruled Russia. The Tsar and his family were put under house arrest during the Russian Revolution, and finally executed in 1918. (This is a VERY truncated history lesson, obviously, so if you want to know more about the family, and Anastasia in particular, you can <b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchess_Anastasia_Nikolaevna_of_Russia">read this article </a></b>on Wikipedia). Here's the thing though, several years later, a woman named Anna Anderson showed up claiming to BE Anastasia, sparking a several decades long debate over what actually happened to the Tsarina.<br />
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I don't think we've ever talked about the fact that I had a slight obsession with the Romanov family growing up which may or may not have had something to do with the release of a certain movie circa 1997. *cough*<br />
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I LOVED the movie, (though granted, there's virtually no historical accuracy about it) and when I found out it was based on a true story, my imagination took off running. I went to the adult section of the library and looked up all the books I could find on Anastasia and her family, copied a bunch of articles, created a little scrapbook of clippings and wrote little responses to them....all on my own, this was not a school project. Which was good, because there is nothing academic about my responses, they were mostly emotional ramblings of a pre-teen girl enthralled with the idea of a real-life mystery).<br />
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I was also determined to solve the mystery of what happened to Anastasia until, of course, they finally solved it and killed that dream.<br />
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Some of my sources for my little scrapbook (if you're interested):<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anastasias-Album-Tsars-Youngest-Daughter/dp/0786802928/ref=mt_hardcover?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=">Anastasia's Album</a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nova-Anastasia-Dead-Alive-VHS/dp/6304462700/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1537895251&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=romanov+nova">Anastasia: Dead or Alive?</a><br />
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Fast forward twenty years and Anastasia takes Broadway so, of course, I dropped everything and went to New York for a crazy whirlwind trip with my dear friend, Julie. Aaaaaand yes it was beautiful and made me relive all my childhood fantasies and fueled my obsession a little bit more! If you haven't heard the soundtrack you should DEFINITELY give it a listen! Christy Altomare is amazing!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr1QjsjPmQeF6AwOtrxxpPGSBJbv4yfoaCBQdNwz8gm-j9EjwCOyS2t1wrdj-RDXWoSlxYWEr07STwXts7-AQrFhR2m3WR7ba3GMzjS_W7en8yoUWvlHwNM9EJhgFgbZ9BRhOYksc8-Q/s1600/IMG_20170622_205235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr1QjsjPmQeF6AwOtrxxpPGSBJbv4yfoaCBQdNwz8gm-j9EjwCOyS2t1wrdj-RDXWoSlxYWEr07STwXts7-AQrFhR2m3WR7ba3GMzjS_W7en8yoUWvlHwNM9EJhgFgbZ9BRhOYksc8-Q/s320/IMG_20170622_205235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
**Favorite New Songs**<br />
Stay, I Pray You<br />
In a Crowd of Thousands<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9JghBZtXHyUrR1IahAGuCRyWiqTZUFuEBm_my2JM9j7lzhM3kDgTI-5XBDVh_s721yl1J6BGLFJGRtsQ1oOpaBEJKh7oEIKK3O8lJh85vLwTrEjcajigePcMxfFfJwbwlMUUJR_1TrM/s1600/IMG_20170622_180640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9JghBZtXHyUrR1IahAGuCRyWiqTZUFuEBm_my2JM9j7lzhM3kDgTI-5XBDVh_s721yl1J6BGLFJGRtsQ1oOpaBEJKh7oEIKK3O8lJh85vLwTrEjcajigePcMxfFfJwbwlMUUJR_1TrM/s320/IMG_20170622_180640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But for all my love of Anastasia and her story, and with all the many, many times I have watched the movie and listened to both soundtracks, I have never read a retelling of her story.<br />
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All that is going to change with the release of Romanov by Nadine Brandes on May 7th, 2019!<br />
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Nadine Brandes, author of <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2299934443?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">Fawkes</a> and the <a href="http://jessicalooksagain.blogspot.com/2017/03/review-for-time-to-die-by-nadine-brandes.html">Out of Time</a> series, has a new book coming out retelling the story of Anastasia Romanov in a unique and intriguing way!<br />
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The history books say I died.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather,Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: normal;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather,Georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: normal;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">They don’t know the half of it.</span></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them . . . and he’s hunted Romanov before.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Nastya’s only chances of survival are to either release the spell, and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya’s never dabbled in magic before, but it doesn’t frighten her as much as her growing attraction for Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her . . .</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">That is, until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.</span></div>
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*shudders* Doesn't that give you some delightful little chills! I am SO excited about this book.<br />
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Now for the cover reveal...<br />
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<img alt="https://nadinebrandes.com/romanovlinks/" border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUBHwbu9x1vqXU3sqL1Lio7rWfWTLUTnTl-e3mprTcDPl3wFYos2F-INL1i3Kej4E7c_iuZaxsX2cF0D6YPMT6jUw6qodk1YsL_xUoMjNsH3MrOmm62JGuI188sN2k638MqnTtdjaaeU/s640/Romanov+Cover+-+FINAL.png" width="417" />https://nadinebrandes.com/romanovlinks<br />
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Oh. My. Goodness.</div>
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I WISH this book was coming out in the Fall (and that I lived in a state where it actually got cold) because that cover just makes me want to grab a blanket, curl up with a Pumpkin or Chai Tea Latte and devour it! Can we talk about the gorgeous leafy design and that beautiful silhouette!? It LOOKS Russian! This is SO perfect for the setting, I can't stand it. </div>
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Romanov is up for pre-order on <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Romanov-Nadine-Brandes/dp/078521724X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1537895889&sr=8-1&keywords=romanov+nadine+brandes">Amazon</a> (<---click b="">so go ahead and reserve your copy now! You won't want to miss out on this book!</---click></b><br />
<b><---click b="">Also, make sure to add it to your <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40590407-romanov?ac=1&from_search=true">Goodreads</a></b> list!<br /><b></b></---click></b><br />
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-54302421567960693672018-09-04T12:11:00.002-05:002018-09-04T12:11:53.476-05:00An Hour Unspent - Release Day! Review! Giveaway!Happy Release Day to Roseanna White for the final book in her Shadows Over England series, An Hour Unspent! Roseanna has a bunch of giveaways <a href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/2018/09/an-hour-unspent-is-here-giveaaways-more.html"><b>posted on her website</b></a>, and an upcoming coloring contest that sounds pretty exciting! Make sure you head over there for some fantastic goodies! The books are on sale at the <b><a href="http://www.roseannamwhite.com/shop">author's website</a> </b>where you can signed copies, and the first two books are currently 20% off! They are also available on Kindle and paperback at <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D6Y14J6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1">Amazon</a>.</b><div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFThpe95mABiZp4Co0n-rLC7I7K9c846fCcOhbPkec_HVy45tFZGyjx546MDWDeGJV2aw-ktS40pdsVfEEamr4w29VWN9FrTv2GVFbI3bQOER58PsK0hbeJyjptMTdXYNZHLu5Ip4/s1600/An+Hour+Unspent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFThpe95mABiZp4Co0n-rLC7I7K9c846fCcOhbPkec_HVy45tFZGyjx546MDWDeGJV2aw-ktS40pdsVfEEamr4w29VWN9FrTv2GVFbI3bQOER58PsK0hbeJyjptMTdXYNZHLu5Ip4/s320/An+Hour+Unspent.jpg" width="206" /></a><b>About the Book:</b></div>
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Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.</div>
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Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.</div>
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As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge—and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina’s father soon finds his whole family in danger—and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape it.</div>
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<b>My Review:</b></div>
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I have so loved this series and this family, it is sad to see their story ending, but this heart-warming conclusion to the series did not disappoint! I experienced all the feels as I finally got to learn more about Barclay, the self-designated big brother of the noble family of thieves. Central to the core of his character is the desire to protect and care for others. Once someone touches his heart he is committed to them no matter what, often sacrificing what little he has to make sure they are provided for.</div>
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Evelina was quite a feisty character! Battling and surviving a childhood illness, as well as her domineering mother and aunt, has given her a fierce desire for independence and a passion for justice. She fights for the rights of the working class, even though it's not quite the fashionable cause her mother and suffragette friends would have her involved in.</div>
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Though Barclay and Evelina come from such different worlds, they see each other's profound strengths as well as their biggest hurts and fears. My favorite part of reading is watching the characters come to grips with their most defining traits and come to a better awareness of themselves. Roseanna White does this very well in all her books.</div>
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One nice surprise in this book is that we (finally!) get to learn a bit more about the mysterious Mr. V!!! Alice's small role in the story was also a real treat.</div>
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This is a beautiful story of love and family, and the importance of spending your time well, woven into the historical backdrop of World War 1. I have loved these characters and their story. I am sad to see them go, but this was such a sweet conclusion for Barclay and his family. I hope you enjoy this story as much as I have.</div>
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<i>I received a copy of this book for promotional purposes. The opinions expressed are my own.</i></div>
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<b style="font-family: "Roboto Slab", "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">Favorite Quotes:</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto Slab, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">"The Lord uses even our broken pieces in the most remarkable ways."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto Slab, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Something had to be done. And the certainty of <i>what</i> settled on him with that same solid weight that he knew so well. The one that always said, <i>Give the little one your food</i> and <i>You don't need a coat. Not like he does.</i> That certainty he was only now beginning to realize was God, showing him the way to love those put in his care."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Roboto Slab, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fafafa; font-size: 14px; font-variant-ligatures: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">"God saw him anyway, in complete clarity. So why try to hide?"</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/2018/09/an-hour-unspent-is-here-giveaaways-more.html"><b>Click Here</b></a></div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-63282200246275594922018-05-28T09:21:00.001-05:002018-05-28T09:57:06.243-05:00Dagger's Sleep and Dissociate Blog Tour - Interview with Tricia Mingerink<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Author Interview with Tricia Mingerink</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is my privilege to have the opportunity again to promote one of Tricia Mingerink's books. I have followed this woman since her very first book, Dare, in the Blades of Acktar series and it has been a joy to see her grow as an author through that series. Sad as I was to see that series end, (and as much as I am "secretly" hoping there will be follow up stories with those beloved characters some day ;-) ) I was excited to hear that she was writing a new series, in a different type of world. Dagger's Sleep is an allegorical retelling of the fairytale Sleeping Beauty, with a slight twist. Instead of a princess sleeping for a hundred years, it is a prince! Because life has been CRAZY lately, I am still in the middle of this story, so my actual review will come later. I will tell you that this book has a fantastic storyworld with beautiful descriptions, deep characters, and an intriguing plot. No surprise, of course. I look forward to giving you even more information and sharing my thoughts on the whole story, once I have finished. In the mean time, I want the author herself to have an opportunity to introduce her creation. For those of you who loved the Blades of Acktar series, and for those of you who are new to Tricia Mingerink's work, here is what you can expect from Dagger's Sleep. Please welcome again, Tricia Mingerink.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What was different about writing this story than writing The Blades of Acktar series?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The biggest difference is that Dagger's Sleep is allegorical while The Blades of Acktar has Christianity portrayed as it is in the real world. So while the Christianity part of The Blades of Acktar was fairly straight forward, I spent most of the time writing Dagger's Sleep double and triple checking that I wasn't accidentally stepping into blasphemous territory or saying something I didn't intend to say with the allegory. I'm sure there are ways any allegory can have more read into it than the author intended, but I can at least rest assured I did my best. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What was your biggest surprise or most difficult problem to solve while writing this book?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Probably the ending, getting a certain romance to turn out not creepy. I can't say too much more than that without giving away spoilers. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What did you have the most fun with?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The character of Berend. He wasn't even truly a character until the third draft when I figured out one piece of his character that really made him come alive on the page. I'm afraid I went a little crazy with the bear puns after that. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If the characters from this story met the characters in The Blades of Acktar, who would be best friends and who would get on each other's nerves (and why)?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pretty much everyone from The Blades of Acktar wouldn't like High Prince Alexander. Keevan might try to give him some good advice. Leith would grit his teeth and do his best to ignore him. Martyn would purposefully prod Alex into being arrogant just so he could internally laugh at him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Kayleigh, Brandi, and Rosanna would probably be fast friends. They all have a certain adventurous streak to them. Isi would bounce between them and Renna. Leith and Daemyn would probably get along well enough, though I think of the two of them, Leith is more willing to be lethal than Daemyn is. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">What is something (quirk, personality trait, interest, talent, etc.) that you have in common with a character in Dagger's Sleep?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I love mountains, trees, and the land the way Rosanna and Daemyn do. I love hiking and seeing new waterfalls. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you, Tricia! I hope that wets your appetite, readers. Keep reading for my review</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I received this book free from the author for promotional purposes. No reviews, positive or otherwise, were required. All opinions expressed are purely my own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you for stopping by my blog! If you would like to visit the other blogs on the tour and learn more information about Dagger's Sleep by Tricia Mingerink and Dissociate by </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-43217112589191971682018-05-24T20:58:00.003-05:002018-05-24T20:58:44.109-05:00Introducing The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin<div style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">
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Good evening, everyone! Celebrating my last day of school by reviewing a new book, The Story Peddler by Lindsay Franklin, which just came out this month! I love discovering new authors and story worlds and I was privileged to be able to join the launch team for this awesome new story. Lindsay Franklin is a delightful person, and I have really enjoyed being a part of her launch team. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RTrw0oBEoLNn13R3rC2ZlvTzpBNsPxlTHviSm9HW3tIjoQAzCNm3fPj25zW8W_GOMeDsybdRTw3DFsxUjewbul_rbnxOdwP4lh3AcjkQDiT6CHesANoW3xqVaKr5P6khyphenhyphenzqJSCcATSw/s1600/LAF+Cropped+for+Web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RTrw0oBEoLNn13R3rC2ZlvTzpBNsPxlTHviSm9HW3tIjoQAzCNm3fPj25zW8W_GOMeDsybdRTw3DFsxUjewbul_rbnxOdwP4lh3AcjkQDiT6CHesANoW3xqVaKr5P6khyphenhyphenzqJSCcATSw/s200/LAF+Cropped+for+Web.jpg" width="200" /></span></a>Goodreads Bio:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">Lindsay A. Franklin is a best-selling author, award-winning freelance editor, and homeschooling mom of three. She would wear pajama pants all the time if it were socially acceptable. She spends a lot of time in made-up worlds, and she's passionate about sparking imagination through stories of infinite possibility. Her debut fantasy novel, The Story Peddler, releases in 2018. When she's not exploring the fantastical, she's exploring the Bible and encouraging young women through her devotional books.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">Lindsay lives in her native San Diego with her scruffy-looking nerf-herder of a husband, their precious geeklings, three demanding thunder pillows (a.k.a. cats), and a stuffed wombat with his own Instagram following. You can find Lindsay on social media, too, if Wombatman hasn't hijacked all her accounts. She's @LinzyAFranklin on Instagram and Twitter, and she Facebooks at </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/LindsayAFranklin" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/LindsayAFranklin</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span><br />
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And now for my review!!!<br />
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***Full disclosure***<br />
<i>I received an advanced copy of this book. What follows is my honest review:</i><br />
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I had so much fun reading The Story Peddler! Tanwen is a Storyteller, gifted with the ability to weave beautiful glass ornaments from the stories she tells. She dreams of two things: the family she does not remember, and the fame and fortune she one day hopes to obtain through her storytelling. She is a hoot! I enjoyed reading her quirky observations of the people and world around her. She's a bit awkward, sometimes painfully so, but she knows that about herself and doesn't seem to worry about it too much. She is a very honest person, both with others and with herself. Though her goals in life are a bit misguided at first, she knows who she is, what she wants, and what her failings are. She recognizes her feelings even when she acknowledges they are unfair. I think my favorite part was being able to experience her transformation as a character through her eyes.<br />
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Braithe is the daughter of a corrupt king, desperately trying to use her position to save as many subjects as possible from the wrath of her father. She is strong and holds fast to her convictions even when it means putting herself at risk to stand up to the king. I really look forward to watching her develop more in the coming books.<br />
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Speaking of honesty, I love how the author portrayed the truth, almost as its own character. "Art has a way of revealing the truth," one character says, and sometimes in spite of the intentions of the artist. For instance, Tanwen finds herself at odds with the king when one of her stories begins to tell a different tale than she had intended and reveals truths he would rather stay hidden. Later, one of her tales speaks the truth about the one who they call The Creator, another being the king would like everyone to forget. There is a strong message that truth will always come out no matter what, which reminded me of two passages of scripture:<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">"As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” </span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">He answered, </span><span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">“I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="woc" style="background-color: #fdfeff; font-size: 15px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;">Luke 19:37-40</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify; text-indent: 25px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light." Luke 8:17</i></span></span></div>
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If you enjoy quirky fantasies, with creative magic, fun characters, and thought-provoking dilemmas, this is the book for you! But don't take my word for it, check out the endorsements from these awesome authors:<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“Traitors, rebels, and the most original magic system I’ve seen since Patrick Carr’s <em>A Cast of Stones</em> make Lindsay A. Franklin’s <em>The Story Peddler</em> a unique and engrossing debut! I read through the book in two days. Did not want to put it down.”<br /><br /><strong>—Jill Williamson, Christy Award-winning author of <em>By Darkness Hid </em>and<em> King’s Folly</em> </strong><br /><br />“Lindsay Franklin is a fearless storyteller. She weaves a colorful fantasy of light, darkness, and the many adventures in between. <em>The Story Peddler</em> is a perfect blend of humor, heartache, and healing.”<br /><br /><strong>—Nadine Brandes, author of <em>Fawkes</em></strong></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<em>The Story Peddler</em> is like nothing I've ever read. Lindsay A. Franklin weaves a magical and one-of-a-kind tale packed with danger, treason, and forbidden stories. A girl who wants to escape her mundane life. A king who harbors dark secrets. A princess in search of truth. <em>The Story Peddler</em> has it all.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Filled to the brim with mystery and intrigue, this stunning debut will transport </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">readers to a realm from whence they’ll ne’er desire to return. Save a spot on your TBR list for this beauty! <em>The Story Peddler</em> is a binge-worthy read sure to be treasured by peasants and kings alike."</span></span></span></div>
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<strong><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">—Sara Ella, award-winning author of the <em>Unblemished</em> trilogy</span></span></strong></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">#TheStoryPeddler #TheWeaverTrilogy #CorsythCrew #FlyingFluffhoppers </span></span><br />
<br />Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-79100949628242197352018-03-16T16:17:00.000-05:002018-03-16T16:17:57.866-05:00Cover Reveal - Tricia Mingerink's Latest Novel<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5e9d86c8-2a76-536c-93ff-44927ccc6b69" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
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I am so excited to announce the coming of Tricia Mingerink's upcoming novel. have been privileged to help promote Tricia's Blades of Acktar series in the past and have so enjoyed the opportunity to watch her grow as an author. Her stories grab you by the collar and don't let go until the end, making it almost impossible to set the book down. She makes you feel for each of her characters, even her villains, and the way she brings about growth and change in each of them is truly beautiful. <br />
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This new story is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a very interesting twist. I am a sucker for a good fairytale retelling, and I cannot wait to read this one!<br />
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And now for the big reveal.....<br />
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Gorgeous isn't it?!?</div>
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I LOVE the blue mountainous backdrop and the castle illuminated by sunlight. And the dagger in the title adds a nice contrast to that peaceful scenery, don't you think? I am so excited about this book. Speaking of which, here's a little blurb to make you drool...</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">About the book: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A prince cursed to sleep.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A princess destined to wake him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A kingdom determined to stop them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> High Prince Alexander has been cursed to a sleep like unto death, a curse that will end the line of the high kings and send the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia into chaos. With his manservant to carry his luggage and his own superior intelligence to aid him, Alex sets off to find one of the Fae and end his curse one way or another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">A hundred years later, Princess Rosanna learns she is the princess destined by the Highest King to wake the legendary sleeping prince. With the help of the mysterious Daemyn Rand, can she find the courage to finish the quest as Tallahatchia wavers on the edge of war?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">One curse connects them. A hundred years separate them. From the rushing rivers of Tallahatchia’s mountains to the hall of the Highest king himself, their quests will demand greater sacrifice than either of them could imagine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">Release Date: </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">May 28, 2018</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline;">About the author: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn’t writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">You can connect with her on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/triciamingerink?ref=hl" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, </span><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/tmingerink/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Pinterest</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/36134494-tricia-mingerink" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Goodreads</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TriciaMingerink" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/triciamingerink/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Instagram</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, and her </span><a href="https://triciamingerink.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">blog</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">To make things even more exciting, Tricia Mingerink is going to be co-hosting a blog tour from<b> May 22 to 28</b> with </span><a href="http://www.sarahaddisonfox.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Sarah Addison-Fox</span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> to celebrate the release of both of their latest books. Her next book </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Dissociate</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> releases May 22. More details about blog tour will be coming in April. </span></div>
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<br />Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-18800260359958931592018-02-14T06:00:00.000-06:002018-02-14T08:22:57.360-06:00Giveaways, Cover Reveals, and Valentine's Day!<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 5pt; margin-top: 5pt;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's Valentine's Day!</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In honor of Valentine's Day, I would like to highlight some awesome historical romances by one of my favorite authors and announce the cover reveal to the upcoming finale of her latest series, Shadows Over England. Make sure you read all the way to the end of this post for the cover reveal and giveaway!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at </span><a href="http://www.roseannamwhite.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #0563c1; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">www.RoseannaMWhite.com</span></a><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></div>
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In the first book of The Shadows Over England series, A Name Unknown, we meet Peter Holstein and Rosemary Gresham. Rosemary is sent by the mysterious Mr. V to steal family information about Peter's heritage for the government. She enters his employ posing as a librarian, sent to help organize his family books and gets way more than she bargained for.<br />
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<a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51WapZAPjAL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51WapZAPjAL._SX322_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="207" /></a>In the second book, A Song Unheard, we get to know Willa, Rosemary's adopted sister, as she is sent on a mission to steal a cipher from her favorite musician. She is taken off guard when he becomes enamored with her musical talent.</div>
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My favorite aspect of Roseanna White's writing is the way she makes her characters work for their happy ending. Historical Fiction/Christian Romance is one of my favorite genres, but I always get annoyed when the characters "fall in love" too fast. In a Roseanna White novel, even if the characters admit attraction early on, she makes them go through the ringer before allowing them to be together. I LOVE this because in real life every relationship has obstacles to overcome that have to do with the people IN the relationship. What happens when that person hurts you? What happens when your happy life gets interrupted by their needs? What happens when their baggage rears it's ugly head and causes trust issues?<br />
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Roseanna's characters deal with all of these, and more, and today I would like to highlight seven ways true love is shown in The Shadows Over England series:<br />
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<b>1. Love is selfless</b> - Peter shows a general love for people by the way he goes out of his way to care for them. When he first meets Rosemary, he welcomes her into his home and offers her the cottage to stay in. Twice, he puts up money to care for a sick person he doesn't even know. </div>
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<b>2. Love is a choice</b> - Though Rosemary and Willa grew up orphans, they choose to love their adopted family as their own. Lukas and Peter choose to love in spite of being hurt by loved ones.</div>
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<b>3. Love protects</b> - Both Rosemary and Peter defend each other against people who speak against them. They also stand up for those who are suffering or in trouble, regardless of the benefit (or lack thereof) to themselves, even after they have been hurt by those people.</div>
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Willa risks her life to help a girl and her mother, knowing full well that she will not be thanked for her actions.</div>
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<b>4. Love is patient</b> - Lukas makes it clear early on what his intentions are towards Willa, but he respects her limits and, while he prods gently, he never pushes.</div>
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<b>5. Love is persistent</b> - Lukas is also a very difficult man to dissuade, despite Willa's best efforts. She puts up all kinds of barriers, and he continues to let her know that he is still there for her.<br />
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In Willa's and Lukas' respective faith journeys they both come to realize how God has been present throughout their lives, even when they did not recognize Him.<br />
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<b>5. Love does the right thing, regardless of consequence.</b> - Rosemary and Willa both come to a crossroad in their journey when they have to decide whether to do the right thing and sacrifice their personal goals, or do the right thing and sacrifice someone they love.<br />
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Which brings me to my final point...<br />
<b><br /></b> <b>6. Love forgives.</b> Lukas and Peter are lied to by the women they love (who, let's not forget, have also been hired to steal from them. Can we say, counseling?) Willa has been hurt by her parents, and that hurt holds her back from forming new relationships. Peter has been threatened, shunned, and slandered by the people in his town because of his German ties. Somehow, all of these people are (eventually) able to love in spite of their very real hurts. How? Forgiveness. No relationship, no matter how strong or perfect it's beginning, can completely escape the necessity of forgiveness. We have all hurt and been hurt by someone we love. Just like the characters in these books, we come to a point where we must ask ourselves: Do I care more about my hurt than I care about the relationship?<br />
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And now it is time (hehehe) to talk about Book Three: An Hour Unspent which is due to release in September of this year.<br />
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Book Description:</div>
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Once London's top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker's daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.</div>
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Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiance to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can't help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.</div>
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As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge - and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina's father soon finds his whole family in danger - and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape it.</div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span> <span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span> <span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And now the moment you have all been waiting for....</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drumroll, please.......</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9CCYCInTLL8vl1iyhwj1zKydOo1-9o4u4e2weavXohVaeA3BVr-dh2qe_Te7eOqyesOCS6Xyi8GUPhRqSsuQoC1u3RwG1vdZoVgDSRLmxIwoFEF0-LNF4xbFV_YeJYS-TS2I8atWdaI/s1600/HourUnspent_comp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1036" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx9CCYCInTLL8vl1iyhwj1zKydOo1-9o4u4e2weavXohVaeA3BVr-dh2qe_Te7eOqyesOCS6Xyi8GUPhRqSsuQoC1u3RwG1vdZoVgDSRLmxIwoFEF0-LNF4xbFV_YeJYS-TS2I8atWdaI/s320/HourUnspent_comp.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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First, the good stuff:<br />
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I LOVE the gorgeous image of the clock face in the background with the radiant light shining through, illuminating the room. The woman on the front is a red-head, which is exciting because red-headed heroines are always awesome (Anne Shirley may disagree, but I have always loved gingers). You can tell she's going to be a feisty one. She looks ready to engage in some witty banter, and probably take someone's ego down a notch or two. Based off of the character description, and what I have read in <a href="https://justcommonly.blogspot.com/2018/01/author-interview-roseanna-m-white.html">interviews</a> with other bloggers, I would say there is a very good chance of this happening at least once in the book. Looking forward to some awesome dialogue!<br />
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My <b>ONE <span style="font-size: xx-small;">teeny tiny</span></b> complaint with this cover is that it does not have Barclay on it. I have enjoyed getting to know him as a secondary character in the other two books and am really looking forward to becoming better acquainted with him in An Hour Unspent. Because of this, I am slightly disappointed he is not on the cover, but I love what is on the cover enough to get over it. I am so excited about this book!<br />
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<img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmMpi_faz5P_jQ4dmAYC0qevTjJaivqBnVB-vp5mpOO1wcUed4sLvYWtv0n8uV6OiMMe0_WjdXSg873z74KLDzxgkNflToBIMvQOWhUCNDTLhn0SJLKULl182mf-Kuj8E5RJlG1T7mAdQ/s320/Giveaway+%25281%2529.png" width="320" /><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7b21d89b34/"> <b>http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7b21d89b34/</b></a></div>
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To celebrate this cover reveal, the author is giving away one copy of each of the first two books in the series, <a href="http://jessicalooksagain.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-name-unknown-litfuse-blog-tour.html">A Name Unknown</a> and <a href="http://jessicalooksagain.blogspot.com/2018/01/a-song-unheard-by-roseanna-m-white.html">A Song Unheard</a>. Click on the titles to read my reviews. They are both excellent and you will not be disappointed. If you would like to enter the giveaway, <b><a href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7b21d89b34/">click here</a></b> or on the link above. What a perfect opportunity to get caught up before Book 3 releases!<br />
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One final note: An Hour Unspent is now available for pre-order! Click on one of the links below to reserve your copy!<br />
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Amazon: <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://a.co/3hBOMdu&source=gmail&ust=1518317147053000&usg=AFQjCNEPu1ItoBq_YqE5bJu8m_LMKavZ-w" href="http://a.co/3hBOMdu" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://a.co/3hBOMdu</a></span> </div>
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Christian Book: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.christianbook.com/an-hour-unspent-3/roseanna-white/9780764219283/pd/219283?product_redirect%3D1%26Ntt%3D219283%26item_code%3D%26Ntk%3Dkeywords%26event%3DESRCP&source=gmail&ust=1518317147053000&usg=AFQjCNGPEKo52P1lfgErDRok79ajUh5LMw" href="https://www.christianbook.com/an-hour-unspent-3/roseanna-white/9780764219283/pd/219283?product_redirect=1&Ntt=219283&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>christianbook.com/an-hour-<wbr></wbr>unspent-3/roseanna-white/<wbr></wbr>9780764219283/pd/219283?<wbr></wbr>product_redirect=1&Ntt=219283&<wbr></wbr>item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=<wbr></wbr>ESRCP</a> </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Goodreads: <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36590922-an-hour-unspent&source=gmail&ust=1518317147053000&usg=AFQjCNHsf46FBp4n_6AWpL655Pv4yHWcHQ" href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36590922-an-hour-unspent" style="color: #4285f4; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">https://www.<wbr></wbr>goodreads.com/book/show/<wbr></wbr>36590922-an-hour-unspent</a></span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></blockquote>
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Thank you for reading! If you would like to know more about Roseanna White and her books, visit her website and Goodreads page by clicking the links below. Good luck with all your upcoming releases, Roseanna! Keep writing!</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Goodreads: </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36590922-an-hour-unspent" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #0563c1; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36590922-an-hour-unspent</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> </span></div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-41681688653948174612018-01-21T20:58:00.003-06:002018-01-25T18:42:43.281-06:00A Song Unheard by Roseanna M. White<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/223708960">A Song Unheard</a></div>
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I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve on the launch team for Roseanna White's latest book, A Song Unheard. A few months ago, I wrote about the first book in the series, A Name Unknown, which followed Rosemary as she attempted to steal a name from a man whose ties to Germany have made him the object of suspicion in a pre-World War 1 England.</div>
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In this book, we get to know Willa Forsythe, Rosemary's adopted sister. She is tasked with stealing a cipher from her favorite musician, a Belgian violinist whose father had been working on an important machine that could be used against the Germans. </div>
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Will she be able to complete her task and continue to support her family?</div>
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Find out when you purchase the book on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Song-Unheard-Shadows-Over-England/dp/0764219278/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1516582703&sr=1-1">Amazon</a>, available in ebook or paperback form! ;-) Or, you can order directly from the<a href="http://roseannawhite.com/"> author's website</a> and receive a signed copy! </div>
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You can read my review and thoughts about the book below. I hope it inspires you to read it for yourself. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I hope you will too.</div>
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***I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone***</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Synopsis:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he's won—until now, when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn't—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.</span></div>
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<b>Review:</b></div>
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My must-have in any great story is multi-dimensional characters who undergo serious character development throughout the events of the story. This book did not disappoint. A Song Unheard was full of all the classic elements of a Roseanna White book: deep characters, beautiful descriptive language, humor, drama, and of course, characters and relationships who earn their happy ending after much character development. Willa and Lukas both start out as flawed and hurt characters. Willa, who was abandoned by both of her parents as a child, does not trust anyone outside of her adopted family of thieves. She has grown up poor, having to steal in order to survive. Lukas, by contrast, comes from a loving family who has always supported him, but he has not fully appreciated their influence before. He has lived the life of a famous musician socialite, going to parties, meeting beautiful women, and reveling in his fame. He struggles with guilt over not being able to take care of his family, Willa struggles to trust anyone outside of her circle. Both of them find refuge in music, and it was interesting to see the way it played into their personal journeys of faith.</div>
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This book had a great cast of supporting characters as well. I enjoyed getting to read more about Barclay, the leader of Willa's family band of thieves. He wore the roles of Big Brother and Protector very well and I look forward to reading more of his story in Book 3! Another character I hope to see more of is Margot. I absolutely LOVED her character. Some of the most hilarious and profound quotes in the book came from her and I hope she gets her own book someday.</div>
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The writing contains beautiful storytelling, intriguing characters, and a profound message of God's faithfulness and love. Thank you, Roseanna White, for another great read!</div>
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<b>Favorite quotes:</b></div>
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<i>"Can a man compose a symphony without paying attention to each individual note? Can he put together an orchestra without caring about each musician in it? It's ridiculous to posit a Creator who stands back, unconcerned. If we grant a God, we have to grant a complete God."</i></div>
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<i>"But she heard music. And for the first time in her life, she wondered if maybe...maybe this was what the Lord sounded like. If He'd been whispering to her all along, all these years. Little snippets of melodies she'd never quite caught."</i></div>
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<i>"Peter said something before he left about God calling us, drawing us while we're still sinners. And I wonder...I wonder if that's what He's been doing all along. Calling us to Him. To His work."</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Final Thoughts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I believe God finds ways of speaking to us in ways that are uniquely meaningful to us. I loved the way the author brought that out in the individual storylines of the characters. In Willa's and Lukas' storylines, He speaks to them through music. In Margot's story, He speaks to her through numbers and order. In my personal walk with God, I have heard His voice through stories and books. There have been times when I have been able to look back and make sense of events in my life by looking at them in the context of a story. His greater story. The question is not whether God speaks to us in any given moment. The question is whether or not we are willing to hear His voice, listen to His song, read His story. It brings to mind a quote from another great book, The Silver Chair, by C.S. Lewis:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>" 'You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you,' said the Lion."</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">May each of us be able to hear His voice calling to us, and be willing to answer back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Discussion Questions:</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever heard God speaking to you through your hobbies and passions?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">What spiritual lessons have you learned, or can be drawn, by experiencing these different areas of interest?</span></div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-36558540497102236922018-01-05T12:50:00.000-06:002018-01-19T08:16:33.564-06:00First blog post of 2018<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">New Year's is always a time for reflection upon the previous year, and anticipation over the year to come. What will we accomplish in the new year? How will our lives change? Looking back on the old year, what did we accomplish, and how did our lives change? I ask these questions every year and I usually enjoy looking back on the old year and finding highlights. However, this year, I don't want to do that. While I have been ready for a new beginning before, I have never, in my memory, been so glad to be rid of an old year.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>2017 was a beating.</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It must be stated, for the sake of honesty, that there were plenty of good moments last year, that I will treasure forever. Plenty of defining moments that were significant and character developing. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2017:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Relationships were solidified</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bonds grew tighter</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">New life was made </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cities and organizations came together to help each other in a time of crisis</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The impossible became reality</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I experienced new places and experiences that both enriched my life and made me grow as a person.(Traveling to New York and Broadway, being in charge of auction and having to get it set up when my partner got sick, signing up for Medicaid and going to prenatal visits, seeing my son through an ultrasound, etc.)</span></div>
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I am (or will be) be grateful for 2017. For the good experiences as well as the trying times and the way I grew and am continuing to grow (albeit very reluctantly) as a result of them.</div>
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That said, I am SO glad 2017 is over with.</div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also in 2017:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dreams were crushed</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lives were turned upside down, shaken, not stirred, and set down to dizzily navigate a new path</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jobs were lost</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homes we lost</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Friends were separated</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Goals were made and not met - both because I was unable to meet them and because I simply gave up</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Matthew and I were separated for the better part of four months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2017 was a yucky, yucky year and it has left me reeling and trying to find my bearings. I realize that, in perspective, my trials have been minor in comparison to those who lost their homes in Hurricane Harvey. I try to keep that in mind when I find myself wallowing in self-pity. I do not mean to downplay their trials, or make it seem as though mine are on the same par. This is my response and attempt to process my personal trials from last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Things are beginning to slow down now, but they will start spinning again in a month or less when my son is born. 2017 has forced me into a place where I have no choice but to take life one day at a time. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In 2018:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My son will be born. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That is both exciting and terrifying. That one event, in and of itself, is going to change my entire life...again. More about my feelings on that in another post.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Everything else new that may or may not happen seems to hinge on this one event, and it is the only thing I know for certain about this year. There are many changes ahead, most of which I cannot fully prepare for because each possibility hinges on another possibility that may or may not happen. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are many things I would like to happen, but I have no way of knowing if they will at this point, and no way to make them happen. Honestly, last year has made me afraid to make plans, and the uncertainty of where (in any sense of the word) we will be in a year has made me hesitant to put down roots.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2018 is not without its difficulties, friends. But I know this:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>I am ready to move past 2017 and let it stop defining my attitude on life. </b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want this, but at the same time I feel crippled by this because I still have days when I am driving to work and I have to give myself a firm talking to in order to keep from crying at the unfairness of 2017. I would like to know for certain what will happen. What will happen with school? Jobs? Housing? Location? Also, Parenthood?! When will, how will, what will?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How can I move on with so many questions? I don't know that I fully can.</span></div>
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Regardless, my attitude needs to change.</div>
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There are many possible things that could happen in 2018, and just as many chances that something else will happen instead.</div>
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I have no way of knowing which combination of events will occur. But I know this, I need to give up my need to control the situation (because, let's face it, I have no control over my situation) and trust that God has a plan for me that will be way better than anything I can come up with.</div>
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In spite of all that has happened, He has not left me. He has made me uncomfortable and He has forced me to grow, and, I will be completely honest, I have not liked Him for it. I have been the angry teenager pouting in her room after losing an argument with her parents. Deep down I know they have my best interests in their heart, even though I don't see it right now. Eventually, I have to decide whether to continue fighting against them, accomplishing nothing but more misery, or relinquish my control and open myself up to the possibility that they know better than I do.</div>
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So here is my prayer for 2018:</div>
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Father, help me to give up control and open myself up to your will. Change my heart so that I will be happy to go wherever you lead me. Change my desires so that they line up with your will for my life. Take away my anxiety over the future, and replace it with hope and contentment. Thank you for always taking care of me and showing me in little and big ways how much you love me.</div>
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Amen</div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-72825363770964241902017-11-15T11:18:00.001-06:002017-11-15T11:18:27.140-06:00Interview with Charles Franklin - Author of Children of the Forgotten<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
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This Fall, I had the opportunity to serve on the launch team of Charles Franklin's debut novel, Children of the Forgotten, a post-apocalyptic story about a city of adolescents and new adults that is facing extinction. Those of you who know me know that post-apocalyptic/dystopian genres are not my usual cup of tea. However, this one intrigued me for two reasons:</div>
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1. It included Knights.</div>
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2. It takes place several hundreds of years after the "apocalypse" had taken place. Most post-apocalyptic stories that I am aware of take place in the recent years after said apocalypse.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">These two elements added some interesting dynamics to the Story World and I enjoyed watching them play out. If you are interested, you can read my entire review on <b><u><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2169005722?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1">Goodreads</a></u></b> or <b><u><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R31SB69DMDXSDY/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_rvw_ttl?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B076B75VFH">Amazon</a></u></b>, where you can also order your own copy!</span></div>
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In the mean time, and to whet your appetite, the author himself has allowed me to interview him about his book. Check out his bio and his website for more information about Charles, his writing, and his inspiration.</div>
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Charles was born and raised in Texas. From there, he joined the United States Army and has traveled the world. Along the way, he saw the most beautiful set of eyes he had ever seen. They belonged to a girl ... and he married her right away. Twenty years later, they have three children and are finally headed back home to Texas for good.</div>
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Upon retiring from the Army after 23 years, Charles will continue to serve others as a teacher in the town he grew up in. When he's not in the classroom, or spending time with his family, Charles writes stories about faith, love, hope, and adventure. </div>
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His debut novel, <em style="word-wrap: break-word;">Children of the Forgotten: The Anistemi Book I</em>, will release in August and he has already begun work on the second book in the trilogy. Charles is also writing an action thriller, and has begun outlining another series set in the <em style="word-wrap: break-word;">Anistemi </em>world. </div>
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You can get in touch with Charles on his <a href="http://www.charlesfranklinauthor.com/"><span style="color: blue;">website</span></a><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.749019607843137);">, </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/charlesfranklinauthor" style="background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Facebook</span></a><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.749019607843137);">,</span><strong style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.75); word-wrap: break-word;"> </strong>or<span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.749019607843137);"> </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/cdfrank76" style="background: transparent; text-decoration-line: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Twitter</span></a><span style="color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.749019607843137);"> </span>if you'd like to follow along with his journey.<br />
(Taken from his website)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>1. What was the inspiration for this story? Did the plot come first or the characters? </b></span></div>
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The plot definitely came first. Post-apocalyptic stories are some of my favorites, and I always enjoy how the characters fight against whatever foe has caused this end-of-the-world scenario. As a fan of these stories, though, I found myself wanting to tell my own tale and fill it with faith. Plenty of authors have done it and done it well, but I hope I put a bit of a different twist on it!</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>2. Which is easier for you to write, plot or characters? </b></span><br />
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It's funny that the plot came to me first, and now I'm going to say that characters are so much easier for me to write. I can't remember how many times I've had to go back and fix a timeline or completely alter a scene because I left out vital information, so I really struggle with plot! But with characters, I feel like my writing just flows and I--sadly--end up having to cut out a lot of stuff. There was a scene with a character named, Bliss, where something takes her back to a horrible time in her life and she lashes out. The intensity of that scene left me trembling for quite some time afterward. It was a quite sad, yet amazing experience!</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>3. Who was your most difficult character to write and why? </b></span><br />
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I'd have to say, Felicia. When I got my first edits back from my publisher, they said that Felicia was too perfect. After reading back through, I agreed. I really wanted her to be an inspirational, strong female character, but I had to go back and give her some flaws and struggle to make her more relatable. I guess the difficult part was having to be a little mean to her at times ... I hope she forgives me!</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>4. If you can answer this without spoilers, what was your hardest problem to solve plot-wise? </b></span><br />
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There were many, but I think the hardest was finding an appropriate climax. The story builds and builds (well, I hope it does) to something that I wanted to be a furious clash between opposing forces. And not only did I wanted it to be an epic clash, I also wanted to show each main character's growth throughout. I pray that I was able to do that.</div>
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<b>5. Which character do you relate to the most and why? </b><br />
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Collin and I have both lost our parents, so we share that right away. But, I also relate to his feelings of inadequacy and fear. It was once a great struggle of mine--even though I was a Soldier--of feeling like I just wasn't good enough. I guess you could say that I went through a bit of a wake-up, just like Collin, and I realized I have a strong, mighty God right next to me. In fact, God taught me so much as I wrote Collin's story, and I grew right along with him!</div>
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<b>6. What surprised you while writing this story, either about the characters or the turn of the plot? </b><br />
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There's a certain point in the story, where two characters are reunited, that I never saw coming! It's a pretty big twist, so I won't spoil it, but in the middle of them seeing each other for what I honestly thought was the first time, a line just came to me that altered the rest of the story. From that point on, a million ideas flooded my brain and I'm really excited for everyone to meet these two and follow their adventure through <i>CotF </i>and the next two books.<i> </i>It's going to be quite a ride!</div>
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<b>7. What message do you hope your readers come away with? </b><br />
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I want them to know that, even when it seems like the world is ending, it's not. Each of us is fighting a battle, and some days the enemy seems to be winning. But, this is not true. We serve an awesome, powerful God, Who only has good things in store for us. One of my favorite lines from the novel is, "All is lost. All is gone. But this one thing: hope." I hope my readers remember that when things sometimes seem too much to bear.</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b>8. The concept of the society's government was super interesting to me (medieval knights, but also very democratic, etc.) What were your inspirations for setting up the government that way? </b></span><br />
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Since the story is set a century after the fall of the modern world, I felt like firearms would have been extinct for a long time...I mean...they're extinct in this story, anyway! Once I started exploring the need for hand-forged weapons, I wanted to add some pride to being a defender of the city. So...the knights were born. There is also a lot of history with them and the symbols that some of them wear, too. I hope to explore that more in future stories. As far as the government, I didn't like the thought of some sort of dictator, or king, and I wanted the struggle that takes place between an elected leader and a council. There is <i>so </i>much potential for drama there! And so much more to come!<br />
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Thank you so much for joining me on my blog, Charles! I look forward to reading more about these wonderful characters and settings in your future books!<br />
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-39390859455428203742017-10-16T19:33:00.001-05:002017-10-16T19:33:13.606-05:00Skeleton and Ghost by Nathaniel James Dowell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36417142-skeleton-and-ghost">Skeleton and Ghost</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17238292.Nathaniel_Dowell">Nathaniel Dowell</a></div>
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My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2155315111">5 of 5 stars</a></div>
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If you are a child at heart who loves Halloween but are not into the over-the-top creepy aspect of it, or if you are looking for a book to share with an important child in your life, this is the book for you. It is an adorable story of a skeleton who longs to walk around in the outside world, but cannot because he has no ghost. Along comes a ghost looking for his family and so begins a beautiful relationship!<br />
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The story is sweet and the writing is enchanting. The illustrations are gorgeous creations by the author himself! This is the perfect book for you to share with your child, little sibling, niece, nephew, or friend.<br />
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Happy Halloween!
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/38245929-jessica-dowell">View all my reviews</a>
Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-76991430445733249392017-10-08T15:23:00.001-05:002017-10-10T08:21:01.640-05:00Go Teen Writer's Instagram Challenge Week 1<div style="text-align: center;">
"I am so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers." </div>
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~ Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables</div>
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Everything seems magical in October. It could be because it is Halloween month, and everyone has their various decorations out. It could be because the weather is changing, if ever so slightly (in Texas anyway). Everything is transformed into a pumpkin! Coffee, cereal, soups, desserts.<br />
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Anyway, in the spirit of October and the magical season, I have decided to participate in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BZoKHQXFdw9/?taken-by=goteenwriters">Go Teen Writer's October '17 Instagram Challenge</a> (even though I'm not a Teen).<br />
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I'm not a huge fan of hardcore Halloween stuff, but I like the slightly-mystical-not-too-serious-not-too-dark-fall-festival-pumpkin-carving-Legend-of-Sleepy-Hollow-Disney-version type of Halloween. I felt like this qualified.<br />
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As you can see, each day has a prompt for the participant to follow with a picture that somehow matches. Creativity is encouraged. This is the first time I've done something like this, so I'm excited to give it a try.<br />
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Rather than post once a day for 31 days (which, let's be realistic, wouldn't happen, and would be annoying if it did), I will be posting once a week with my findings. If you decide you would like to participate, feel free to post your favorites in the comments below!<br />
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<b>Here is Week 1:</b><br />
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Day 1: <b>Magic ⭐</b><br />
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Obviously, coffee is a magical drink. Especially first thing in the morning when everything is still dark outside.<br />
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You reluctantly make your way into the kitchen, not really wanting to start another day yet, but knowing you must. Then you hear the whisper of your favorite coffee brand beckoning you from the cabinet. You open the cabinet door and there it is. Glancing over your shoulder to make sure you are alone, you quietly pull it from the shelf and open the bag. As the scent of the yet-to-be-brewed concoction hits your nostrils you feel a twinge of excitement and inspiration. The day has possibilities you have yet to discover, and this drink holds the key! You glance at the clock. Time is growing short. Hurriedly, you fill the cauldron (coffee-maker) with water, grind the beans with your mortar and pestle (coffee-grinder), and soon the brewing has begun.<br />
The cauldron grumbles and spurts, unhappy at being woken from its slumber. However, even this cranky machine is susceptible to the power of the brew and its grumbles become purrs as it eventually complies with your wishes. You pour the dark drink into your chalice (coffee mug), taking a moment to savor the beautiful aroma. Then you take your first sip, and the world around you begins to change.<br />
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Day 2: <b>Ghost 👻</b><br />
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This picture could have a double meaning because it includes the appendix of the science textbook, which is like a ghost because my 7th graders SWORE it wasn't there, and then it magically appeared when I looked for it...kind of like a ghost. But within the appendix, we also find a picture of an amoeba which I thought looked like a cute little ghost waving its ghost-like arm. The caption says that the amoeba is extending its pseudopods to engulf and digest some food. Sounds kinda creepy to me.<br />
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Day 3:<b> Pumpkin 🎃</b><br />
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Like I said, EVERYTHING turns into a pumpkin! And you don't even have to wait till midnight. I tend to be skeptical about flavored cereals, but I LOVE pumpkin spice things, so I tried it. Honestly, my taste buds had to adapt at first, but I have decided this is a win. It's not overly sweet, which I appreciate, but it does have an addictive element to it. It works great as breakfast or a snack, and you get to feel festive while you eat it.<br />
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Day 4: <b>Orange 📙</b></div>
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This one was easy because orange is one of my school's colors so it's everywhere, including my classroom. This is a picture of my back wall. I teach Science, Math, and Yearbook. Can you tell what the different items represent? On the far left I have our Yearbook Planning board, that helps us keep track of what pages we have worked on so far. Next to that, we have the 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens which we talked about on the first day of school. These also kind of serve as my class rules (Be Proactive, Begin with the End in Mind, Put First Things First, Think Win-Win, Seek First to Understand and Then to be Understood, Synergize - work together, Sharpen the Saw - take care of yourself). Next to that is my clock, which is two minutes fast, much to the dismay of my students, and the steps of the Scientific Method. After that is the Periodic Table of Elements and the Roman Numerals. You may also notice some random folded pieces of paper along this wall. This was from a multiplication scavenger hunt I did a few weeks ago with the kids. Each paper has a famous mathematician and a multiplication problem that leads to a different paper. At the bottom of each paper is an answer to a different problem. The kids had a lot of fun with that one because they got to get out of their chairs.<br />
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Day 5: <b>Black</b></div>
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Because I can....Sonograms are black (and white). This is a picture of my son...wow, that sounds weird coming from me. I've managed to wrap my head around the fact that I am pregnant and will have a baby this February, but when I think in terms of "Mom" and "Son" it adds a whole new level to it! Anyway....Look at that little thumb-sucker! Isn't he cute??? He gets increasingly more active with each day, usually when I am sitting down. 22 weeks and counting!<br />
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Day 6: <b>Moon</b><br />
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Thursday night we had a full moon, and even though I don't have a fancy camera, I had to do my best to shoot it. There is something about gazing at a full moon that quiets your soul and begs you to stop everything and listen to the world around you. My in-laws live in a neighborhood in the city, but it is its own little woodland haven. Each of the houses has a huge yard surrounded by trees. In the morning and evenings, deer can be seen grazing on the grass, and some lucky residents have been able to coax them into eating out of their hands. It is a beautiful little retreat that allows you to forget you live in the middle of the city. Everything was quiet and still the other night, and the moonlight was gorgeous. I was so excited that the rays showed up in the picture. I love the yellow houselight as well. I think it adds a little bit more October to the picture. ;-)<br />
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Day 7: <b>Candy</b><br />
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In general, I am not a huge candy fan, but one must make allowances for chocolate. Especially when that chocolate is dark chocolate and combined with almonds. I'm not sure if this technically even counts as candy. It's more of a sophisticated snack.<br />
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These things are AMAZING and dangerous. Much more dangerous than candy. If you are thinking of purchasing some, be aware: They have addictive properties! Proceed with caution.<br />
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Okay, well that's all I've got for this week. Hopefully, I will be creative enough (and have enough time), to continue. We will see. Feel free to post your own finds in the comments. Either way, I hope you have a beautiful October!<br />
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<b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b> <b><br /></b>Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-56039888263443864182017-10-03T15:36:00.001-05:002017-10-03T15:36:54.561-05:00Examining Beliefs"Truth doesn't mind being questioned," my parents told me as I was growing up. I have always looked at this statement as something solid that I could hold on to. If truth is truth, it will hold up under pressure.<br />
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That's great.<br />
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Until you are questioned on something you have always accepted as true without putting much thought into it.<br />
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Suddenly, your beliefs are challenged by someone who HAS thought about things and come to a different conclusion. They actually have reason and evidence to back up their claims. Does that mean that what you believe is no longer true? Does that mean you were wrong?<br />
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There are two possible answers:<br />
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1. No, they just came to a different conclusion than you and your theory or belief is just as valid as theirs.<br />
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Or...<br />
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2. You may be the one in the wrong.<br />
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<br />This possibility scares us. We don't like that scenario. We dismiss it immediately, discounting the other party as radical, or emotional, or extreme. We come up with all kinds of theories for why they believe what they believe, never once asking, but assuming we know their motivation. To ask questions would be to grant validity to their opposing view, and we can't have that. To look into their evidence would be to admit that they possibly have good reasons for believing as they do, and that could lead into a discussion we are not prepared to have.<br />
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No, it is better to stay away from such arguments and listen to people that agree with us. Accept their much smarter-sounding arguments, and look at their single-sourced reasons. That's safe. It reaffirms what we have always known to be true without having to hold it up to the light.<br />
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There are two problems with this approach and they both stem from a frightening fact: If we choose to respond to arguments this way, we don't actually believe that the truth is truth and it will hold up under pressure.<br />
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<b>Problem 1:</b><br />
By not taking the time to examine our belief system, we may persist in a belief that is not only wrong but also harmful to ourselves or others. We perpetuate lies. We walk blindly into situations that will end up being a trap for us. We allow suffering to continue.<br />
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History is filled with examples of this<br />
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Nazi Germany<br />
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Child Labor<br />
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Jim Crow Laws<br />
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American Slavery<br />
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Human Trafficking<br />
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Pick an issue. We are not blameless.<br />
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We turn a blind eye to what is actually happening because we don't like to think about what it would mean if it were true. We listen to the voice that brings comfort and says the right things. The correct things. The things that sound like truth. The voice that says the right key words.<br />
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"Did God ACTUALLY say...." Genesis 3:1<br />
"You will not surely die." - Genesis 3:4<br />
"God know..." - Genesis 3:5<br />
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Instead of questioning it, we accept it because it sounds like truth. We do not hold it up to the light and other things we know to be true.<br />
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We rationalize. We ignore things that cause us to question ourselves and the people we love. We choose to believe a lie.<br />
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If we listen to enough lies we will eventually forget what truth is. Truth will become relative. Truth will be what we want to hear.<br />
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<b>Problem 2:</b><br />
By not examining our beliefs, and the beliefs of others, we are powerless to defend against beliefs that actually ARE wrong. They have better arguments, they have valid reasons for believing as they do, and yet they are wrong. We have no right to argue with them, however, because we have not done our research. We have not examined or listened to their arguments to understand where they are coming from. They will not listen to us because we are uninformed and we have ignored and dismissed them.<br />
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Any way you cut it, our unwillingness to examine truth allows darkness to continue, in ourselves and in others.<br />
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As Christians, this should terrify us because we are called to be witnesses to this world. How can we do that if we choose not to engage with it? This means we may have to examine our own beliefs. We might be wrong. If we are, we need to own it. If we are not, we need to fully understand and be able to defend our positions.<br />
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If I believe in truth, I need to allow it to do its work. I should not feel threatened when people ask me a question to which I have no answer. I need to think about why I have no answer. I need to struggle with my beliefs and examine other viewpoints prayerfully. I need to find the light, and bring it to others.<br />
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There are many things that may change in this world, including my beliefs on certain issues. There is only one thing that is constant, and that God. His truth will hold up every time.<br />
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There are many things that are challenging me right now, particularly because of society's volatile response to these issues:<br />
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What is my role as a Christian living in America?<br />
Should Christians pledge allegiance to anything or anyone other than God?<br />
Should we really respect all leaders and those in positions of authority?<br />
Does it really matter if someone kneels instead of stands?<br />
How should I react if I see a wrong that needs to be righted?<br />
Is the history I have always studied an accurate account of what happened?<br />
What should my response be to someone who is suffering regardless of the cause?<br />
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Several people in my life have answers to these questions. Not surprisingly, they disagree.<br />
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What do I do with that?<br />
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First, I need to recognize that people in my life who I care deeply about will not always agree with each other, or me.<br />
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Second, I need to realize that I am not God, and am therefore subject to mistakes, including mistakes in my beliefs. I cannot assume that I am right and someone else is wrong. We are both human. Eventually, one of us is going to get something wrong. I need to seek the truth outside of people's opinions.<br />
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Third, I need to figure out what I believe, independent of others. I need to ask people I disagree with how they came to their beliefs and actually listen to what they say. I need to examine the evidence, or lack thereof, they lay before me. I need to think critically about what they say and how it lines up with my own observations and experience. I need to do my own research into the matter and vary my sources.<br />
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And I need to decide. I may come to a different conclusion, or I may see that they actually have a point. But whatever conclusion I come to, I will have a reason for what I believe.<br />
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In the end, I will be held responsible for me. I cannot be careless.<br />
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If what I believe is true, it will hold up under questioning.<br />
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Father, please help me to hold myself accountable for the things I profess to be true. Help me to seek truth and not be afraid to question it, no matter what it leads to, knowing that You will not lead me astray.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text John-8-31" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text John-8-32" id="en-ESV-26402" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;">and you will <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26402C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26402C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>know the truth, and the <b>truth <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26402D" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26402D" title="See cross-reference D">D</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>will set you free.</b>”</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text John-8-32" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>John 8:31-32</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text John-3-19" id="en-ESV-26129" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> "</span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26129AJ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26129AJ" title="See cross-reference AJ">AJ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>And this is the judgment: <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26129AK" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26129AK" title="See cross-reference AK">AK</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the light has come into the world, and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26129AL" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26129AL" title="See cross-reference AL">AL</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>people loved the darkness rather than the light because <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26129AM" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26129AM" title="See cross-reference AM">AM</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>their works were evil.</span></span><span class="text John-3-20" id="en-ESV-26130" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26130AN" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26130AN" title="See cross-reference AN">AN</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26130AO" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26130AO" title="See cross-reference AO">AO</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>lest his works should be exposed.</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"> </span><span class="text John-3-21" id="en-ESV-26131" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span><b>But whoever <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26131AP" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26131AP" title="See cross-reference AP">AP</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>does what is true <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26131AQ" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26131AQ" title="See cross-reference AQ">AQ</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God</b>.”</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text John-3-21" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; text-align: start;"><span class="woj" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>John 3: 19-21</i></span></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 1Pet-3-15" id="en-ESV-30423" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px;"><b>"</b></span><span class="text 1Pet-3-15" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">but <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30423A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30423A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30423B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30423B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><b>always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you</b>; yet do it with gentleness and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30423C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30423C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>respect,</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text 1Pet-3-16" id="en-ESV-30424" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">having a good conscience, so that, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-30424E" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-30424E" title="See cross-reference E">E</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame."</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 1Pet-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 1Pet-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">1 Peter 3:15-16</span></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="text 1Pet-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="text Acts-17-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 12px;"><b>"</b></span><span class="text Acts-17-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">The brothers<span class="footnote" data-fn="#fen-ESV-27520a" data-link="[<a href="#fen-ESV-27520a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">[<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts+17%3A10-12&version=ESV#fen-ESV-27520a" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; color: #b34b2c; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: top;" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</span> immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-27520B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-27520B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>went into the Jewish synagogue.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Acts-17-11" id="en-ESV-27521" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;">Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; <b>they received the word with all eagerness, <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-27521C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-27521C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="text Acts-17-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></b></span></div>
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<span class="text Acts-17-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Acts 17:10-11</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white;">If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>1 John 1:6</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />"Let no one deceive himself. </span><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-28412C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-28412C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 0.625em; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, <b>let him become a fool that he may become wise."</b></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>1 Corinthians 3:18</i></span></span></div>
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<br />Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-74315878672578342222017-09-21T21:26:00.002-05:002017-09-23T20:47:18.360-05:00Summer of Changes<div class="lr_dct_sf_h" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; padding-top: 10px;">
Greetings everyone!<br />
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This has been a long and crazy summer, full of a LOT of life changes that I was not expecting at all. I have been working on this blog entry since mid-July at least, and am finally finishing it right as summer closes. Even after I posted it the first time, I have gone back two or three times to add things I forgot to mention. It is interesting to look back and see where I was a couple months ago with all of the changes that have taken place. In some ways, I am still there. However, looking back, I am able to see God's constancy and His grace. I am so thankful to have a God who loves me in spite of myself.<br />
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This will be a very long entry, so feel free to skip. It will not hurt my feelings. I needed to post this for a couple of reasons. #1: Writing this entry has helped me process a lot of the changes that have taken place and I wanted to share that with you. #2: I have several ideas for different blog entries that I can't get to until I get this one posted and we move on with life.<br />
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All that being said, let me tell you about my summer....<br />
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<b>JUNE</b><br />
*The day after school ended for the year, my co-workers and I were told by our Board of Trustees that the school would be closing due to low enrollment for the Fall semester. This was not something any of us had been expecting. Enrollment had been down for a couple of years, due to a lot of factors, but I think most of us felt that we were past the scary part. We had a donor ready to build us a building, we had an advertising deal with a Christian radio station, the staff had put countless hours into making each event a success, and the parents were supportive.<br />
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To say this was a devastating blow would be an understatement. Many of us had worked at this school for several years. This was my first job outside of college. Matthew had started working there part-time while going to school so it was as much his school as mine. We were each other's family. My co-workers' kids were like my nieces and nephews. My students were my babies. We had watched these kids grew up. We had their parents' numbers on speed dial. I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. We sat in the room weeping and going through all five stages of grief like a hamster on a hamster wheel.<br />
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When I packed up my room, it was for the last time. I had no idea what I would be teaching next year if I would be teaching next year, or where I would be teaching next year. All I knew was that the best school in the world was closing and my heart was breaking.<br />
<span style="text-align: right;"><br /></span> <span style="text-align: right;"><b>*One week later, this happened:</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhqAiYOdFP1yMHqi8AtpacUODn8nY_r2qamN48f2Tvk9jUADO2cdV4B2ls_0dNz7YxRZswCzjwuLU2TcdAvGSkPEXCa8b53F2yeXqHfvR4FvddCHcrUylsG-iEFhzEcYWfU36xsP3LI0/s1600/IMG_20170608_074023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhqAiYOdFP1yMHqi8AtpacUODn8nY_r2qamN48f2Tvk9jUADO2cdV4B2ls_0dNz7YxRZswCzjwuLU2TcdAvGSkPEXCa8b53F2yeXqHfvR4FvddCHcrUylsG-iEFhzEcYWfU36xsP3LI0/s320/IMG_20170608_074023.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
Yeah.<br />
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So, hubby and I have not exactly been "trying" but we were okay with an "accident". That is, we were okay with an accident when I had a full-time job and we had a regular income.<br />
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Here's the thing about accidents: Apparently, you don't get to choose the circumstances of the event. Hence it being an accident.<br />
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Who knew?<br />
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I had been two weeks late, which didn't necessarily scare me because I had been irregular lately. But I wanted to be sure, especially in light of recent events. I took the test, expecting the one little line to confirm that I was not pregnant.<br />
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I did a double take when there were two lines, and took a second test to confirm that my eyes were not playing tricks on me. Then, I looked up at the ceiling and went, "Really, God?! NOW?!"<br />
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In all my daydreams of getting pregnant, accidentally or otherwise, none of them included this scenario where both of us were unemployed. I was not excited, and that frustrated me because something like this was supposed to be a joyous occasion! All I could think about was the fact that we were both unemployed, my support system was disintegrating, and I had no idea how to make plans.<br />
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*The following week, I went to serve as a senior counselor at Camp Lu-Jo KISMIF with one of my best friends, and former Principal Julie. I'm not going to lie, it was the last place I wanted to be and I tried to think of lots of excuses for backing out. Fortunately, hubby wouldn't let me.<br />
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That week was rough, but I ended up being so glad that I went. For starters, the theme was Unstoppable Faith. Every single day there was a message that I specifically needed to hear. Sometimes, quite unintentionally, it was through my own lessons as I talked to my 7th-grade girls about faith. It was like God was shouting at me, "You're going to be okay! I've got you!"<br />
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*The week after that Julie and I took a trip to Washington DC and New York City for some MUCH needed vacation time. We had been planning this trip since October when we found out that Anastasia was going to be on Broadway! We had a blast nerding out at the Smithsonian in DC and all the awesomeness of New York. One of the best things was that her cousin got us backstage passes and we got to see the set up close and personal! We even got to meet a couple of the actors, though sadly, I missed out on getting Anastasia's autograph. I was very thankful for this trip. It was a good time for processing and enjoying life before going back to the real world.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJDo190F-8tR9p3T6GtjvGc-UABDEkY3sdZ_6rgb5XiM0ly13ARplw1ec7GYCvI-HLTduNPzdHmTE248kSJj_5jMY81vk1vDtAMouAlH49ukai_if1kfej5o3qP31EJhMBlXK-PA__6c/s1600/IMG_20170622_180752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJDo190F-8tR9p3T6GtjvGc-UABDEkY3sdZ_6rgb5XiM0ly13ARplw1ec7GYCvI-HLTduNPzdHmTE248kSJj_5jMY81vk1vDtAMouAlH49ukai_if1kfej5o3qP31EJhMBlXK-PA__6c/s320/IMG_20170622_180752.jpg" width="320" /></a>*Before we left on our trip to New York, I had been offered a position teaching at another small private school about 40 minutes from where I live and I had almost accepted it but decided to wait. While I was in DC I got another offer for an interview and decided to delay my decision even longer. I went to the interview, really liked the job, the people, and the environment, but unfortunately, they chose to go with someone else. While I was disappointed, I am thankful that I chose to go to that interview because it highlighted for me several things that were missing from the other offer. Consequently, I decided to turn it down. This felt, and still feels, like it was the right move, but unfortunately, it put me back to square one on the job hunt.<br />
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<b>JULY</b><br />
*The first week of July things started to change fast. I was frantically filling out applications to every school district in the area and applying for every opening listed on their website. Julie started the process of moving to her new job in another city. Matthew and I got our first sonogram and the whole pregnancy thing started becoming real to me. As I smiled for the first time about my pregnancy, my train of thought went something like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmVYi4fQuZWG4rVXKjK_6pEN7BaSLaef2GJzcUMe8mcTINOvZkQ2aRFJF9lCzH8jOcAWIeO3_z2rlhyphenhyphenM5J_OY_L9IOwCMRzdDUiUeObrZfXElZZj5YcHyFS6Jelj3XVGBIvJyu668pjA/s1600/IMG_20170705_124043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmVYi4fQuZWG4rVXKjK_6pEN7BaSLaef2GJzcUMe8mcTINOvZkQ2aRFJF9lCzH8jOcAWIeO3_z2rlhyphenhyphenM5J_OY_L9IOwCMRzdDUiUeObrZfXElZZj5YcHyFS6Jelj3XVGBIvJyu668pjA/s320/IMG_20170705_124043.jpg" width="240" /></a><i>Yes, I am definitely pregnant. There is a baby inside me. Isn't that little peanut cute?! Awww its little heart is beating! It's going to come out eventually and want to be fed. Then I have to keep it alive for eighteen years. Not to mention the nine months before it shows its adorable little head. I still don't have a job....</i></div>
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I had been playing phone tag with the unemployment office all summer long and trying to get on Medicaid for pregnant women and kept running into confusion and bureaucrats. I applied for part-time positions, thinking I would stack jobs if I had to. I applied for minimum wage jobs at tutoring centers. Those were the only places that called me back wanting to set up interviews. It wasn't ideal but it would work. Matthew had a part-time position lined up at a University Model school teaching Computer Applications that would at least cover the rent so all I needed was a full-time job or two part-time jobs that paid SOMETHING. </div>
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One Saturday evening, after I had a meltdown freaking out over where we were, or rather where we weren't, Matthew casually suggested I expand my search to San Antonio, where his parents live. We would have a support system. We already love the church there. There were family members who could help us get jobs. We had friends in the area. So I started applying because I was out of options, not really loving the idea because at that point the idea was Matthew would stay to fulfill his commitment to his job while getting the house ready to sell and I would be in San Antonio by myself.<br />
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The following Monday, Matthew's school called and said that, due to enrollment, they were cutting his classes, and therefore his salary, to half of what he had originally signed up for.<br />
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We took that as a sign from God and San Antonio went from being a possible backup plan to our only consideration. The more we thought about it the more right it felt. Matthew started working on fixing up the house that week and we began making plans to move to San Antonio by the end of August.<br />
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While selling our house and furniture, putting our stuff in storage, and moving in with parents may not seem ideal, this is a huge blessing to us for a lot of reasons:<br />
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1. We will be able to pay off the rest of our student debt which means we can focus on saving for our own house.<br />
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2. Matthew's parents are allowing us to stay at their house rent free<br />
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3. Family connections can help us find jobs and give us support when the baby comes<br />
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The tentative plan was that, after fixing up the house to sell, Matthew would come down and continue to go to school and get his Computer Programming certificate. I would substitute teach for the year. I had pretty much resigned myself to this plan and felt good about it. It would give me time to build a relationship with the school districts, and I would have the flexibility I needed for when the baby came.<br />
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Then came<b> August....</b><br />
*Remember the part where I get a whole year to adjust to my new circumstances? HA! That was a good one.<br />
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*So, as I am fighting pregnancy fatigue and trying to pack up our earthly belongings, and reconcile myself to my new life, I get a call from a school called Living Rock Academy in Bulverde, Texas about a Math and Science position for Middle School. This is a week and a half before school starts.<br />
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I actually debated with myself.<br />
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<i>Math and Science. Taught Math before. Not Science. More of a Language Arts/History person. On the other hand, it's a small private school which is what I want. But Math and Science! But regular paycheck....</i><br />
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After more "discussions" with God, I called them back. I had a phone interview with a board member. I scheduled an interview for the following Monday. I went to the interview the following Monday, was offered the job and accepted it on Tuesday, and began in-service on Wednesday.<br />
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Since then I feel as if I haven't stopped.<br />
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Since then, I have set up my classroom, begun learning new content and curriculum, navigated new waters with my new school and location, bought a new(er) car, carpooled for school trips twice, found out we're having a boy, and seen my husband four almost-consecutive weekends in a row.<br />
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Matthew is still in Dallas renovating our house to sell and probably will be for at least another couple of weeks. Most of my stuff is in storage, and I haven't had a whole lot of time to go through the stuff that is not in storage. There are many things about our situation that are not ideal, and many times I cry out to God, "WHY did you have to mess up my perfect life!"<br />
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Have you ever tried to argue with the Creator of the Universe? He's much better at it than we are. Something about being omniscient or something. After I am finished telling him what should have happened and how much better things would have been if they had, He reminds me of where I am and how good I actually have it.<br />
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The people I work with are great, and I am so thankful to be in a small private school with a regular income, rather than having to depend on a call from the school district for a one-time job. The Principal has been very flexible in allowing me to leave early for prenatal appointments, and he didn't even bat an eye when I told him in the interview that I was pregnant.<br />
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There are still adjustments to be made, and things that take some getting used to, such as learning how to teach different subjects than I am used to. But I feel as if this next school year is about growth for me. I definitely feel the growing pains.<br />
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I have found a place to have the baby that is run by midwives who work with the hospital, and they accept Medicaid! So far, I have had a great experience with the two women I have met with, and look forward to continuing to build a relationship with these women who will deliver my baby.<br />
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I am closer to my sister and my best friend, Kayla and could see both of them in a day trip.<br />
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I am living rent free with my in-laws while we work out the details of selling our home, paying off debt, and figuring out this next phase of our life. Many people in Texas have lost their homes and their possessions and do not have this luxury.<br />
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I don't understand why my school had to close and everything had to change. But looking back over the past several months I see God's faithfulness and His patience with me. A patience and a faithfulness my impatient and faithless heart does not deserve. When I throw spiritual tantrums, He responds with gentleness like a parent who knows their child is just scared.<br />
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There are many things I still do not know about our future. I can't even guess where we will be a year from now. I will probably continue to have days when I mourn the loss of my old life before I can move on.<br />
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But as I was writing about this whole mess in my personal journal, telling God how much more comfortable I would feel if there was a plan, He reminded me that there is a plan. He's got it all worked out, and I need to trust Him.<br />
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There is a purpose. God will not waste this time. He is working something out that I can't even imagine. I will look forward to the day when I get to know what that is. I will continue to wait. I will trust in Him.<br />
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Matthew says I rely too heavily on knowing all the details. He might be right. My plans did not involve the school closing and my co-workers, friends, and students scattering. But so far, everyone who has gotten a job has ended up exactly where they need to be in a situation that makes sense for them. God has been present throughout this whole yucky mess and reminded me through His people that He loves me and I'm going to be okay.<br />
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<b>Here are some of my moments from this summer:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitleEJDN9rcqS8OPSeSbizD55Noaw2wEVrZWmF8L2F9qI1IYkOECWgVi0dfZXvuM36H6ybJiL1rk4ChuyCF9gp9uqspkciv6q2l6SLUsGd_QtZhSVnMz7ecHynyPZVaCeBApjdOEn7k-Y/s1600/IMG_20170629_145559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitleEJDN9rcqS8OPSeSbizD55Noaw2wEVrZWmF8L2F9qI1IYkOECWgVi0dfZXvuM36H6ybJiL1rk4ChuyCF9gp9uqspkciv6q2l6SLUsGd_QtZhSVnMz7ecHynyPZVaCeBApjdOEn7k-Y/s200/IMG_20170629_145559.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
A month before school let out I had ordered a t-shirt for Julie that said, "Faith Over Fear". It arrived the DAY they told us the news about the school closing.<br />
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A few weeks ago, I received this postcard and keychain from the staff at Camp Lu-Jo, reminding me to have Faith.<br />
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Julie found out while we were at camp that she had gotten a job as a Principal in a city two hours away from where we lived. When I was simultaneously trying to be happy for my friend and trying not to cry, someone from her home group noticed me struggling and made a point to give me a hug and encourage me.<br />
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As soon as they heard the news, my sister, best friend since childhood, and my part-time sister all reached out to me with specific gifts and notes of encouragement letting me know they were there for me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyh5ln0U2gupYlQmtN5WS9WDkeFiOO17iJDYjDAlCmbU4qmOOVF2reEFK6ASmwddi6dyQqeFr_4DFJN4O7YDRCpLMBz9exuEOKjER_IN-7syqoiMJ8j-eKde5ZGy-SdmQoQ9M-Upij-0/s1600/IMG_20170609_182324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmyh5ln0U2gupYlQmtN5WS9WDkeFiOO17iJDYjDAlCmbU4qmOOVF2reEFK6ASmwddi6dyQqeFr_4DFJN4O7YDRCpLMBz9exuEOKjER_IN-7syqoiMJ8j-eKde5ZGy-SdmQoQ9M-Upij-0/s200/IMG_20170609_182324.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
A Principal starting a new school came to buy furniture and school supplies from NTCA. While she was there, she prayed over us.</div>
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Parents advocated for jobs for me while they looked for a new school for their students.</div>
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One post on Facebook gathered a group of people from the school together in one spot to spend time together because we love each other.</div>
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A friend from church reached out to Matthew and gave him a contract job setting up the internet in his new office.</div>
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And finally there's this:</div>
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As I was going through the initial stages of going through my stuff and deciding what to sell, throw away, or pack, I came across this bag from last year's Texas Christian Schools Conference. I hope you notice the theme:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxaGoulMtsr01wYO8qNSf28Gi7ZkflqLj8tScCc7hhJjlK4pC2z3XYU-oUFm1P8EUd3nC9-VhvPnpqOLnqq2Cxz1xfWwqIo4O-f6mYliH2-vK3m7OW4WuD5gAq2XOEhNazIL1xNpVLHs/s1600/IMG_20170724_123133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxaGoulMtsr01wYO8qNSf28Gi7ZkflqLj8tScCc7hhJjlK4pC2z3XYU-oUFm1P8EUd3nC9-VhvPnpqOLnqq2Cxz1xfWwqIo4O-f6mYliH2-vK3m7OW4WuD5gAq2XOEhNazIL1xNpVLHs/s400/IMG_20170724_123133.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's almost as if God knew and was preparing us for it.</div>
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God's timing is perfect. I don't understand it, but I trust in it. I don't always feel it. But I have been clinging to this knowledge that God has a plan and I can trust Him with my life.</div>
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I still don't know what He has in store for me, Matthew, or Little One.</div>
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As my Grandad used to say,</div>
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"I don't know what tomorrow holds, but I know Who holds tomorrow."</div>
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<b>We're going to be okay.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Ask ye what great thing I know</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>that delights and stirs me so?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>What the high reward I win?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Whose the name I glory in?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Jesus Christ, the Crucified.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> Who defeats my fiercest foes?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Who consoles my saddest woes?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Who revives my waiting heart,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>healing all its hidden smart?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Jesus Christ, the Crucified.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> Who is life in life to me?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Who the death of death will be?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Who will place me on His right</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>with the countless hosts of light?</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Jesus Christ, the Crucified.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> This is that great thing I know;</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>this delights and stirs me so:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>faith in Him who died to save,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Him who triumphed o'er the grave,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Jesus Christ, the Crucified.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Johann C. Schwedler</i></span></div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-74847966445011438892017-08-01T13:35:00.002-05:002017-08-01T13:35:41.915-05:00A Name Unknown - Litfuse Blog Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Greetings, everyone! This month I am participating in LitFuse Publicity's Blog Tour for A Name Unknown, Book 1 in the Shadows Over England series by Roseanna White. I received a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review which you will find below. Read all the way to the end to find out how you can win a free copy of this fabulous book!<br />
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Back in June, I posted a cover reveal for A Song Unsung, the second book in the series which comes out in January. I may have mentioned earlier that Roseanna is one of my new favorite authors and I have loved everything she has written so far. Naturally, I am very excited about this new series, especially after reading this first book. I hope you enjoy my thoughts below, and if you would like, you can purchase your own copy on <b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Name-Shadows-Over-England-Book-ebook/dp/B01MTFX5AL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499875104&sr=8-1&keywords=a+name+unknown">Amazon</a></b>, or get your copy signed by purchasing directly through the <b><a href="http://www.roseannamwhite.com/shop">author's website</a></b>.<br />
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Also, check out the Litfuse Landing Page for this blog tour here: <a alt="http://litfusegroup.com/author/RWhite" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f%3D0019i6nbR2y7jNSGWA7Lciw95JsDcmUoKTySGVAe7pu-7n7dbAjmuvFIx30Pn5ZDSM0iBztoEwW4BV3P9daWNPq2-OPbVck4AinLeN378f6b9Rfttu5lJ1TrO6HY73BNQT5v3C7hfPhloWeJd5KEmjni0UDnOU2bMUepJXrn-gec8nCc85ZeS-j1l2bGWH2KU1l%26c%3DSljgf8lksA4fD_SyB1KXKrqw-D97rrfJaAQ92SxzU_yCzI6-iIO7pw%3D%3D%26ch%3DYj7Toipbt7Q3BD5E7nThSmVDl3KxLyFdYm6Kz3MkfO6G1X9o_JwQdg%3D%3D&source=gmail&ust=1501697551596000&usg=AFQjCNEFIRw6Ia4rXx9B6FbbZ75QILv0pA" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0019i6nbR2y7jNSGWA7Lciw95JsDcmUoKTySGVAe7pu-7n7dbAjmuvFIx30Pn5ZDSM0iBztoEwW4BV3P9daWNPq2-OPbVck4AinLeN378f6b9Rfttu5lJ1TrO6HY73BNQT5v3C7hfPhloWeJd5KEmjni0UDnOU2bMUepJXrn-gec8nCc85ZeS-j1l2bGWH2KU1l&c=Sljgf8lksA4fD_SyB1KXKrqw-D97rrfJaAQ92SxzU_yCzI6-iIO7pw==&ch=Yj7Toipbt7Q3BD5E7nThSmVDl3KxLyFdYm6Kz3MkfO6G1X9o_JwQdg==" shape="rect" style="background-color: white; color: #6ba3a6; font-family: "Century Gothic", "ITC Avant Garde", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><b>http://litfusegroup.com/<wbr></wbr>author/RWhite</b></a><br />
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<b>A Name Unknown by Roseanna White</b><br />
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<span color="#000000" face="Times" size="3">Book info</span></div>
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<strong>About the book:</strong></div>
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<strong style="background: transparent; border: 0px; font-size: 14.4px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">She's out to steal his name. Will he steal her heart instead?</strong></div>
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Rosemary Gresham has no family beyond the band of former urchins that helped her survive as a girl in the mean streets of London. Grown now, they are no longer pickpockets-now they focus on high-value items and have learned how to blend into upper-class society. Rosemary's challenge of a lifetime comes when she's assigned to determine whether a certain wealthy gentleman is loyal to Britain or to Germany. How does one steal a family's history, their very name?</div>
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Rumors swirl around Peter Holstein. Awkward and solitary, but with access to the king, many fear his influence. But Peter can't help his German last name and wants to prove his loyalty to the crown-so he can go back to anonymously writing a series of popular adventure novels. When Rosemary arrives on his doorstep pretending to be a well- credentialed historian, Peter believes she's the right person to help him dig through his family's past.</div>
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Anger and danger continue to mount, though, and both realize they're in a race against time to discover the truth-about Peter's past and about the undeniable attraction kindling between them.</div>
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<b><br />My Review:</b></div>
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I came into this book expecting to love it and I was not disappointed. Roseanna White has developed a reputation for creating a cast of well-rounded characters, fully developing romances so that they do not feel rushed, and giving the reader a sense of authenticity as they experience the period setting of the book. She creates well-developed plots that keep your interest without giving away too much and there are always surprises the reader does not expect at the end.<br />
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<b>The Characters:</b><br />
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Rosemary is a thief. One might say she is a noble thief, not quite a Robin Hood, but not quite criminal either. She has a deep love for her adopted siblings and an inner moral compass that holds her accountable even in her thievery. For instance, she will not steal from someone who is in a situation as bad as hers, or worse. She is a tad bit rougher than Mrs. White's previous female leads, having been raised on the streets and forced to rely on herself for most of her life. Once a relationship has been established, she is fiercely loyal to her friends and will do anything for them. This shows itself in some hilarious scenes in the book when she stands up to some bullies.<br />
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Then there is Peter, who I found fascinating as a character. His main obstacle in the book is that, because of his German last name, his English citizenship is in question. Which is a problem because England and Germany are not in a good place right now and there have been rumors of impending war. His closest friends know he is loyal to England, however, those friends are few and far between. Due to the fact that Peter has struggled with a speech impediment since childhood, friendships and interactions with others have never come easily to him. He is somewhat of a recluse in his hometown, causing the townsfolk to be suspicious of him. He finds it easier to communicate through the written word than the spoken word and will often write letters to his friends and members of the staff whenever he has something important to communicate.<br />
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<b>Other tidbits:</b><br />
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Something new in this book that I enjoyed was the abstract character of the library. Peter hires Rosemary to organize his family library and help him find documents that would be pertinent to his citizenship. It turns out, however, that Peter's family had a bit of a book-hoarding problem and the library is in dire straits when she gets to it. Having personal experience, both as a library book-shelver, and with "collectors of treasures", I could well imagine the terrifying, overwhelming situation in which Rosemary walks into. It was fun watching these two characters develop along with the organizing of the library.<br />
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I love the title of the book and the way it connects to the story and the two challenges Rosemary is issued at the very beginning of the book.<br />
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I learned a little bit more about World War 1. I did not know that German residents who could not prove their citizenship were sent to internment camps. This is the fate that Peter is trying to avoid by finding documents proving his loyalty to England.<br />
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As always, Roseanna White created a wonderful cast of supporting characters which made me want to know more about them. Surprisingly, some of my favorites were the more hostile characters, probably because I enjoyed watching them clash with Rosemary. It made for some pretty entertaining scenes!<br />
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Also noteworthy are the fabulous setting descriptions that made me feel as if I were actually there walking the floors of Kensey or eating in the pub with the villagers.<br />
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<b>Takeaways:</b><br />
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We may call ourselves and others by different names: "thief", "nothing", "street-rat", "German", "English", and "idiot" are some of the names attributed to the characters in this book. We may throw around words like, "liberal", "conservative", "basket case", "needy", "or what have you. These names do not come from God, they come from the world and they do not tell your story. The message of this book comes out clear: you are not defined by what you have done or who others say you are. You are defined by what God thinks of you, and He loves you.<br />
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<i>"My father once told me that all a man has is his name. I've been thinking about that a lot, as you can well imagine. And I've realized...I've realized there is only one name that matters. And it's Christian. Christ-follower. If I am that, then I am all I need to be. And if I'm not...then all the respect of all the men in all the world will avail me nothing." -- A Name Unknown</i></div>
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Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of over a dozen historical novels and novellas, ranging from biblical fiction to American-set romances to her British series. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to make their way into her novels . . . to offset her real life, which is blessedly boring. She passes said boring life with her husband and kids in the beautiful mountains of eastern West Virginia.</div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-38764650565814839432017-07-12T13:08:00.003-05:002017-07-12T13:08:49.702-05:00Reflections on FaithGood morning!<div>
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Forgive the wandering nature of this post. It's rather a stream of consciousness, but hopefully you find something beneficial in it.</div>
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I am currently reading through the Gospel of Luke, and today I came across the story of Jesus healing the blind beggar:</div>
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<i>"As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, 'Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.' And he cried out, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!' And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, 'Son of David, have mercy on me!' And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' He said, 'Lord, let me recover my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God."</i></div>
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<i>Luke 18:36-43</i></div>
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I have read this story, or had it read to me, several times in the past, but for some reason today I find myself particularly intrigued by the blind man. </div>
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Who is this man? </div>
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He asks Jesus to let him recover his sight, implying that he has not always been blind. At one point he had his sight. I wonder how he lost it? Illness? Injury? Age? Is he old, middle aged, or young? The Bible doesn't say in this particular story. Why is he begging? Does he not have a family to take care of him? Is this how he provides for his family?</div>
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He has obviously heard of Jesus before. He has heard enough to know he has the power to heal, and as soon as he knows who it is he calls out to him. </div>
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He is not going to be discouraged either. The crowd tells him to be quiet, but he persists, not content to merely accept his lot when he is so close to his salvation. What makes him cry out, I wonder? What makes him desperate to see? What makes him believe that he can be healed and that Jesus is the healer? Does he know someone who has been healed?</div>
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Yet he does. He knows Jesus is the answer and he believes Jesus will heal him. </div>
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Jesus honors that faith and his sight is restored.</div>
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But then, rather than go on his merry way, he follows Jesus. He glorifies God. He is now a living testimony to God's power. Other people see him and praise God.</div>
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What must it have been like for him? To lose his sight, live in darkness, and then, beyond all possibility, receive his sight back? How did that affect him for the rest of his life? Did he see other things more clearly because he was able to look closely? </div>
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I am in awe of his faith. Many probably would consider his situation to be his lot in life. "Well, it's really sad that he lost his sight, but there's nothing to be done but to accept it and move on." </div>
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How often do I resign myself to less-than-ideal circumstances and deny God's power to bring about change?</div>
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On the other hand, we are also given the example of Paul who was content in all circumstances:</div>
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<i>"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me."</i></div>
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<i>Philippians 4:11-13</i></div>
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So how is that different?</div>
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The common thread in Paul's contentment and the blind beggar's lack of contentment in this particular situation, is that they both trust in God's power to bring them through their trial. The blind man believes in God's power to deliver him from his situation, and Paul believes in God's power to sustain him while he lives with his situation. Both require faith in something beyond what we can see and touch and feel. Beyond what we "know" to be true. Beyond what the world tells us is realistic. Both require that we ignore those voices and trust that He knows better.</div>
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It is a simple answer, but not so simple in practice.</div>
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Many times I may begin a journey praying in faith that God will act. Then when He doesn't, or rather, when I do not see the evidence of His actions, I give up and decide that God wants me in this situation.</div>
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Other times I look at a situation, determine immediately that it is hopeless, and, rather than ask for God's power to work in the situation, I give up and claim to be content.</div>
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Sometimes, I don't ask because I don't want to be told "no".</div>
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In all of those scenarios I deny God's power and His goodness. </div>
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I deny that He is working for my good in a less than ideal situation.</div>
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I deny that He is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine.</div>
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I deny that He wants good things for me.</div>
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Here's the thing about being content in any and every situation. It comes from knowing that good things are coming and the story doesn't end in this yucky spot. Maybe not for a while. Maybe in this life. But they are coming, and the story has a happy ending. And yes, that requires faith to see beyond our present circumstances. </div>
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<i>"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out,<b> not knowing where he was going</b>. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.<b> For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.</b>"</i></div>
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<i>Hebrews 11:8-10</i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">Having faith means that we acknowledge our own blindness and we reach out to the One who can see perfectly.</span></div>
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<i>"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, <b>but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.</b> For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland."</i></div>
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<i>Hebrews 11:13-14</i></div>
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Faith means seeing beyond what is in front of us and knowing we will take part in it one day.</div>
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<i>"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' <b>He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead,</b> from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back."</i></div>
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<i>Hebrews: 11:17-19</i></div>
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Faith means believing that even if the worst happens, God's promise holds true.</div>
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<i>"But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience."</i></div>
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<i>Romans 8:25</i></div>
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The same faith that enables us to cry out to the Savior who can heal us also enables us to be content when He says, "wait". They are not two different kinds of faith, and we do not serve two different gods. We serve One God who sees far more clearly than we will ever see, and wants to bless us beyond our imagination.</div>
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Jesus said to the blind man, "Your faith has made you well."</div>
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May we have the faith that allows us to rely on God's power to act in impossible situations, and to wait for the eyes to see it clearly. May we follow Jesus and glorify God acting as living testimonies to His power, whether we have been delivered from a physical darkness or a spiritual one.</div>
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Blessings.</div>
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-30787763623189102302017-06-07T08:17:00.003-05:002017-06-07T08:31:37.097-05:00Cover Reveal for A Song Unheard by Roseanna WhiteGreetings, everyone!<br />
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If you haven't heard, I have a new favorite author, Roseanna White (See reviews for books one and two of her Ladies of the Manor series, The Lost Heiress and The Reluctant Duchess, below. I haven't gotten around to writing a review for the third one yet, shamefully, but I will as soon as I get it back from my friend who is borrowing it.). She specializes in historical fiction with a twinge of suspense, well-developed characters, and satisfying romance.<br />
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She is currently working on a new series about a band of thieves during World War 1 called Shadows Over England. Her first book in the series, A Name Unknown, will launch July 4th of this year and I am SO excited. So excited, I went a little crazy and pre-ordered it from <b><a href="http://www.roseannamwhite.com/">Roseanna's website</a> </b>so I could get a signed copy. ;-) If you feel so inclined you can join me in my crazy fandom and pre-order your copy by clicking <b><a href="http://www.roseannamwhite.com/product/a-name-unknown">here</a>.</b> You can also add it to your list on <b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32497002-a-name-unknown?from_search=true">Goodreads</a> </b>or preorder it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Name-Shadows-Over-England-Book-ebook/dp/B01MTFX5AL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496839860&sr=8-1&keywords=A+Name+Unknown"><b>Amazon</b></a> (minus the signature).<br />
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ANYWAY, I am serving as an unofficial member of her launch team for A Name Unknown, and thus have the opportunity to be privy to some insider news such as the cover reveal for book 2 of the series, A Song Unsung. Side note: I am already LOVING these titles. They immediately want me to know the name and sing the song!<br />
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So without further ado.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZmRTsobg0ZxHsIS2fBTTk1vndHGn9DU08fuk0r2_0gwT_neP3vi8yWXZpsKFxXGDjety_wDRlRG491NX-CaqYU8WHaeFgGkqy4ZQ0izWWv41hBtxAwokDKuqmcdozaej2JC-qkd9o4c/s1600/SongUnheard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZmRTsobg0ZxHsIS2fBTTk1vndHGn9DU08fuk0r2_0gwT_neP3vi8yWXZpsKFxXGDjety_wDRlRG491NX-CaqYU8WHaeFgGkqy4ZQ0izWWv41hBtxAwokDKuqmcdozaej2JC-qkd9o4c/s400/SongUnheard.jpg" width="257" /></a> Isn't she pretty?! And look at that beautiful violin and the expression on her face. She's watching something. Or someone? And what is she thinking? I love that backdrop with the white light coming in from the windows! Okay, here's the story:<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Willa Forsythe is both a violin prodigy and top-notch thief, which makes her the perfect choice for a crucial task at the outset of World War I—to steal a cypher from a famous violinist currently in Wales. </span></i><br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-5ff04d18-82a6-05fb-d5e5-390ff78cd138"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lukas De Wilde has enjoyed the life of fame he’s won—until now when being recognized nearly gets him killed. Everyone wants the key to his father's work as a cryptologist. And Lukas fears that his mother and sister, who have vanished in the wake of the German invasion of Belgium, will pay the price. The only light he finds is meeting the intriguing Willa Forsythe.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But danger presses in from every side, and Willa knows what Lukas doesn’t—that she must betray him and find that cypher, or her own family will pay the price as surely as his has.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></i>Oooooooo! Doesn't that description give you shivers??? This book promises lots of excitement, and I trust Roseanna to deliver! I have loved everything of hers that I have read so far, and I am beyond excited about this new series.<br />
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A Song Unheard is listed on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Song-Unheard-Shadows-Over-England/dp/0764219278/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496689880&sr=8-1&keywords=a+song+unheard+roseanna+white"><b>Amazon</b></a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35069089-a-song-unheard?ac=1&from_search=true"><b>Goodreads</b></a>. Feel free to pre-order or add to your shelf. If you are new to Roseanna White, check out her personal blog <a href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/"><b>here</b></a>. Another side note, the above-listed retailers have not posted the cover picture yet, so you should feel super privileged that you get to see it first! ;-) Click on the picture below to see what Roseanna wrote!<br />
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<a href="http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2DZt_g_g-Xue3ifxdx90NWtPaTjy88rLHxu4nv9Q_KfB67s_pCIQFvhFHpnZwVWsxi4wS7bRIzYHh0_I3GsNON4QIApP5MlwF9OKI52jWU2kJSO-THrBBVgnSWvHqJCcRQein1arcVUU/s320/ASU+with+ANU+3D.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-39368380624125317022017-05-09T10:47:00.002-05:002017-05-09T10:47:58.274-05:00Review for The Reluctant Duchess<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24105713-the-reluctant-duchess" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Reluctant Duchess (Ladies of the Manor, #2)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1434361795m/24105713.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24105713-the-reluctant-duchess">The Reluctant Duchess</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4488054.Roseanna_M_White">Roseanna M. White</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1619410558">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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When Rowena is faced with the choice between marrying a monster or marrying a complete stranger, her decision takes her far away from the only home she has ever known and puts her right in the path of a dangerous pair of siblings who will stop at nothing to take the priceless treasure they are certain her new husband is hiding.<br />
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Having read all three books in this series, and loved every one of them, I almost feel disloyal picking a favorite. However, I cannot help but think if I did have a favorite, this would be it.<br />
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Roseanna M. White creates beautiful characters with such intricacies and depth the reader cannot help but want to follow them through their story. Characters who seem perfect in the beginning slowly reveal their flaws, as other characters who seem broken and fragile reveal their strengths.<br />
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For a long time, I have wanted to read a story where two people grew in their relationship with each other and fall in love after they were married. In the two or three books I have read where this was the setup, the romance happened too quickly and did not make sense. I appreciated the fact that, in this book, the author took the time to develop the relationship AND THE CHARACTERS so the reader could truly appreciate the romance when it finally, and fully, blossomed.<br />
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I LOVED the dynamic between Rowena and Brice. Though neither one of them sought out the relationship, once it was decided, they approached it with the perspective that they would make it work. There were several character-defining moments in the story when their commitment was tested because of Rowena's insecurities and Brice's pride. The author is very adept at revealing character flaws while at the same time showing their strength<br />
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Experiencing Rowena's transition from broken and frightened to confident and strong was a constant pull on my heartstrings. I wanted to hug her to tell her it would all be alright and I wanted to cheer her on with each step she took outside of her shell. At the beginning of the book, I already loved Brice. Having read The Lost Heiress, I knew already that he was a strong character and looked forward to the opportunity to know him more. Through his relationship with Rowena, he revealed even more of his beautiful, compassionate heart, even as he showed some of his flaws.<br />
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Both characters were interesting and quirky in their own ways. Brice's personality is charming and flirtatious, but never inappropriately so. He has a keen insight into other people and a deep faith and spiritual intuition that allows him to sense things others cannot. Some of my favorite parts in the book were the moments when he would receive urgings from God to do something, particularly if he did not want to do them. Rowena has been hurt, physically and emotionally, by people close to her. While she protects herself and is slow to trust others, she longs for genuine love and affection. She also has a curiosity about others which makes her want to understand them.<br />
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If you enjoyed The Lost Heiress, you will love The Reluctant Duchess. Readers will enjoy seeing their favorite characters from the previous book and getting to know other characters even more.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/38245929-jessica-dowell">View all my reviews</a>
Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-38394181825861683962017-04-26T10:52:00.000-05:002017-04-26T17:04:18.767-05:00Review for Deliver by Tricia Mingerink<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiidxJxgA1AF1dVmUwgx5XjqxNDjLEwZlh4fhZn9Iw-BeOrRMuUIY2NS9Y0x0TQETPaDnJHYvA05bwqD2bybNUoNIhzvRjnQokxVUCoxXIE_7b3YE-bx_XYA093caOJXBvfklDiZhIlM/s1600/Deliver+Cover+Revised+Header+041117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiidxJxgA1AF1dVmUwgx5XjqxNDjLEwZlh4fhZn9Iw-BeOrRMuUIY2NS9Y0x0TQETPaDnJHYvA05bwqD2bybNUoNIhzvRjnQokxVUCoxXIE_7b3YE-bx_XYA093caOJXBvfklDiZhIlM/s1600/Deliver+Cover+Revised+Header+041117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiidxJxgA1AF1dVmUwgx5XjqxNDjLEwZlh4fhZn9Iw-BeOrRMuUIY2NS9Y0x0TQETPaDnJHYvA05bwqD2bybNUoNIhzvRjnQokxVUCoxXIE_7b3YE-bx_XYA093caOJXBvfklDiZhIlM/s320/Deliver+Cover+Revised+Header+041117.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever wondered about your role in society? Have you ever felt doubts about your ability to fulfill that role? These are the questions plaguing our heroes in Deliver, the final installment of The Blades of Acktar Series, by Tricia Mingerink.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Martyn and Leith have been offered clemency by King Keevan and are allowed to continue living in Acktar. Leith returns to </span>Stetterly<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with Renna and Brandi, and his fellow Blade brothers, to help rebuild the town. Eventually, he hopes to marry Renna and begin a new life with her, but what does he know about life as a farmer, much less a husband? Will the people of </span>Stetterly<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> accept him once they know his past? Meanwhile, Renna, never comfortable in the spotlight, must take leadership of her town as they work together to rebuild its ruins. Martyn, still bitter and plagued with guilt, does not know how to be anything but a Blade. He accepts the job of a scout for King Keevan to protect the land from Rovers, wandering criminals without a leader, and supporters of Respen who were defeated in the war. Each of them must face the question, “What is my place?” Each of them will be tested to their limits as they discover a strength, and a peace, which comes from outside of themselves.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is, without a doubt, the best book in The Blades of Acktar series, however, it would not be so without all the characters’ journeys and growth in the previous books. From the beginning, I have related to Renna’s quiet introvertedness and her hesitancy to step into the limelight. Interestingly enough, since beginning this series a few years ago, I have increasingly found myself in situations at work in which I have been forced out of my comfort zone and into the leadership role. In this way, I feel as if Renna and I have grown together, and I have enjoyed cheering on my fellow introvert as we both learned to come out of our shells.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Leith’s growth throughout the series has been satisfying as well, and in this book, we are allowed to catch glimpses of him beginning to actually enjoy his life. Granted, he is still recovering from his injuries and keeping an eye out for enemies, but he seems to finally accept the gift he has been given: a second chance in life, and a relationship with Renna. This adds a new dynamic to his character when we watch him fight to protect his family. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Martyn’s character arc was my favorite in this book. He has serious trust issues, for valid reasons, but once he decides to commit to something he becomes fully invested, even when it does not work in his favor. At the beginning of the book, he is bitter and hurt, over what he still considers a betrayal when Leith left the Blades. He struggles with guilt over the decisions he made in Defy. Not wanting to get close to anyone, he leaves his friends to become a scout for King Keevan. In spite of this, we notice glimpses of his inner softness begin to emerge as he encounters grace, and even when he faces hypocrisy. I loved watching his shell crack throughout the story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The title of the book is Deliver, and it was named appropriately. The author’s decision to add a fourth book to the series, allows the reader to fully appreciate how the characters have been delivered from their trials and gain closure. Even so, it is bittersweet to leave these fictional people who have become my friends. There are still stories that could be told. What happens to Jamie, and Ranson, and Brandi in the following years? I want to know what happens as government and order are rebuilt. I want to see Leith and Renna grow their family. I would love to read a sequel series (just planting that seed in your mind, Tricia. ;-). There is plenty left to build on, but the ending was still satisfying. Thank you, Tricia Mingerink for a wonderful series. I have been so blessed by these books. Blessings to you in your future writing endeavors.</span></div>
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The Facebook Party for Deliver takes place this Friday from 6-9pm Central Standard Time. You can attend this party from the comfort of your own home! Click Here to RSVP to the party:<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1369211736448642/"> https://www.facebook.com/events/1369211736448642/</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="230" src="https://i0.wp.com/triciamingerink.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Facebook-Party-Graphic.jpg" width="400" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-29178398668914739412017-03-11T09:37:00.000-06:002017-03-11T09:38:29.365-06:00Review for A Time to Die by Nadine Brandes<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21795840-a-time-to-die" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="A Time to Die (Out of Time, #1)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1400097364m/21795840.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21795840-a-time-to-die">A Time to Die</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8107261.Nadine_Brandes">Nadine Brandes</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1660551056">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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The following will serve as part review, part confessional. I started this book two years ago this month. I began reading A Time to Die after reading a recommendation from a friend of mine. I began reading it, hoping for a book that would immediately hold me captive and not release me from its powers until I had finished the journey.<br />
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Well...<br />
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The book held me captive, however, it was not in the way I was expecting. I recognized much of Parvin in myself. Reading this book, written in first-person present-tense, was like experiencing a dream. Parvin was convinced her life had no meaning, that she had wasted her life. She wanted her life to mean something, but when she was presented with opportunities to create meaning, she pushed back and tried to find an easier way. I often find myself in the same situation: wanting to be brave, wanting to stand up for what is right, wanting to make a difference, act as someone with integrity, etc. However, when I realize what that will mean for me, giving up my selfish desires and choosing to work outside my comfort zone, I dig in my heals.<br />
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The reader will experience some intense moments as she reads about Parvin's journey. For someone who is very much a feeler, it was difficult to read at times. I will confess, I dug in my heels, put it down for an emotional breather, thus escaping from its captivating hold, and left it for two years.<br />
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I followed the author on Facebook and her blog during these past two years and she impressed me with her intentionality in the way she interacts with her readers and followers. Her posts are a shining light in the cynical, angry world of Facebook. One of the central themes in A Time to Die is the idea of bringing God’s “Shalom” or a peace that comes from living the way God intended. This is not simply something she wrote about for the purpose of her story. It is something she intentionally, and actively, lives out in her everyday writing.<br />
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I was blessed by this author’s shining light, and it was because of this that I eventually decided to finish the book. There were some challenging moments, as I felt my own character developing right alongside Parvin’s. This book contains some perplexing characters with very flawed thinking. I understood her frustration as she struggled to reason with them, to share the Shalom of God with them. There were also beautiful moments, as the events and interactions which pushed at Parvin's (and my own) comfort and worldview gave way to show God's incredible love for His people.<br />
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This is NOT a light read, and you will want to take some breathers. However, there were also some lighter moments, and I appreciated Parvin's inner dialogue with herself whenever she tried to problem-solve or understand a situation. She is an eighteen-year-old girl that has been, quite literally, pushed out of her world. She is experiencing everything for the first time, by herself, which leads to some amusing moments as she tries to figure out how to respond. The writing was beautiful, and the ending perfectly sets up the sequels.<br />
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As difficult as it was to read, I can only imagine how difficult it was to write. Well done, and thank you, Nadine Brandes for sharing this story with us. Forgive me for taking such a long time. I will be reading the other two books, hopefully in less than two years. ;-)<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/38245929-jessica-dowell">View all my reviews</a>
Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-71080930752326439112017-02-18T11:57:00.002-06:002017-02-18T11:57:35.067-06:00<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28637641-king-s-blood" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="King's Blood (The Kinsman Chronicles, #2)" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455110955m/28637641.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28637641-king-s-blood">King's Blood</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2869923.Jill_Williamson">Jill Williamson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1561088290">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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The Kinsman trilogy by Jill Williamson continues in King’s Blood. After leaving the Five Realms and barely escaping with their lives, Trevn and Wilek, along with what is left of their kingdom and the other realms, search for a new land to call home. They know nothing of the world beyond the Five Realms, but they must find a place for their people to settle before they run out of food. Meanwhile, Wilek struggles with his newfound faith in Arman as he counters treasonous plots on all sides to take over the throne before he can officially be crowned king. Can he learn to put his trust in Arman, even when it seems to work against the safety and welfare of his kingdom?<br />
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There is such a wealth of plot, character, and world development in this story that it will be a struggle to do justice to the book without writing a novel-length review. Recognizing that no review can do King’s Blood justice, I will attempt to tell you about my favorite aspects and characters. To begin with, Jill Williamson has once again proven she is a genius when it comes to building storyworld. When last we left our heroes in King’s Folly, they were sailing off into the unknown world, after escaping the destruction of their homeland. The majority of King’s Blood takes place on the water so the plot moves from ship to ship as it follows different characters. Each ship has a different personality because of the varying cultures on board, but they all have the same problems: how to find land before supplies ran out, and with no knowledge of where they are headed. It was interesting to see the various plots and agendas of the different nations continue to play out even though they were on ships and were limited in what they could do to further their goals. <br />
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Trevn takes it upon himself to learn everything there is to know about running a ship, from the cabin-boy’s duties to the navigator’s. These were some of my favorite parts to read, mostly because Trevn is my favorite character, but I also found the navigational lessons intriguing, especially the way they factored into the plot. When they do find land, Trevn throws himself fully into exploration. New territory, land and sea, means new geography, new creatures, and new people, all of which were fascinating to read about, especially when I could make connections to the Blood of Kings series. <br />
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Bless Wilek’s heart, I could feel the heaviness of his burden during the course of this book. As heir to the throne, he takes his responsibility to his people very seriously, but as his father is still alive, he is still limited in what he is able to do. He wants to do the right thing and he wants to steer his people toward the Armanite faith, knowing firsthand that the pagan religion of his father only leads to destruction. However, he still has to defer to his father, which becomes more and more difficult as the king’s health and mind continues to deteriorate. Making the right decision also proves difficult because trusting Arman means he makes decisions others tell him are foolish. I felt the weight on his shoulders as he walked the lines of diplomacy and faith. He faces some very difficult choices in this book, and even as I knew certain choices were wrong, I could sympathize with the temptation to make them. It reminded me of the verses in the Bible about leaders and teachers being judged more harshly than others. I loved Wilek’s character because he never shies away from his duties or takes his position lightly.<br />
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Hinck’s storyline was my favorite of the supporting characters. When I first met him in King’s Folly, he seemed like a weak character who just did what he was told. In King’s Blood, I gained a new respect for him as he took ownership of his role of a spy to actively work towards the good of the throne. Even when his role held no benefit for him, and even when it asked too much of him, he chooses self-sacrifice. There was much to admire about him in this book and I enjoyed reading his story. I look forward to what the author will do with his character in the next book!<br />
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Jill Williamson created another epic masterpiece in the continuation of her Kinsman Chronicles. I enjoyed King’s Blood even more than King’s Folly, as all the characters were already established and I could jump straight into the story. My only regret is that I had to finish the book at some point and now I must wait to see what will happen to these beloved characters next. Warning: you might want to have a stash of chocolate handy as you read this book, especially as you near the ending. However, as the author so beautifully points out, the final pages of this book are “Not The End”, and I will wait with eager anticipation for the final installment of The Kinsman Chronicles. In the meantime, I will be revisiting my favorite moments of King’s Blood and encouraging others to read this fantastic series! Enjoy!
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Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5892076003060041.post-80823430068809882622016-12-30T13:47:00.000-06:002016-12-30T13:47:01.441-06:00Review for Destroy by Tricia Mingerink<a href="http://triciamingerink.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Destroy-Cover-121216.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://triciamingerink.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Destroy-Cover-121216.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a>Have you ever been haunted by a less-than-stellar moment in your past? Have you ever been given a responsibility you knew you were not qualified to carry out? So have Keevan and Addie, the main characters of Tricia Mingerink’s novella, <u>Destroy</u>.<br />
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<u>Summary:</u><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
Prince Keevan, second son of the King of Acktar (in the days before it was taken over by a tyrant) is quite the ladies man, with handsome looks and a smooth-talking voice. He takes these gifts for granted and they get him into trouble. One day, his handsome looks and smooth voice are stolen from him when he nearly dies from a knife wound in an attack on the castle. As he lays dying from the wound, a servant girl saves his life and helps him to flee.<br />
Addie is a scullery maid who comes from a long line of scullery maids. When the castle is besieged and she finds Prince Keevan gagging in his bed from a knife wound to the throat, she does not stop to think if she is qualified for the job, but immediately tries to save his life. Prince Keevan has no choice but to put his life in her hands over the next several months as they go into hiding from the evil Blades. As the prince recovers from his physical and emotional wounds, he has to face the terrifying truth that he is the rightful king and will one day have to take back his throne for the good of his people.<br />
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<u>Review:</u><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>When I read the last book, <u>Defy</u>, and first met Prince Keevan, I was immediately dying to know his backstory, so I was ecstatic when I found out that his was the next story to be told. As usual, Tricia did a wonderful job of making me love her characters, Keevan and Addie. I appreciated the different personalities of both Keevan and Addie, and their chemistry together. Though Keevan’s past and his wounds make him a gruff and closed-off person at first, he protects a very tender heart. I loved seeing that come out. Addie is quirky, nervous, and talks to herself, especially when she is stressed out about something, which I love because I do that too. She also does not hesitate to go above and beyond the call of duty, regardless of how qualified she feels for the job. I felt for her as she faced each new situation and struggled over what to do next. I admired her as she did not let her lack of experience deter her from what needed to be done.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>I loved the parallels between Keevan’s inner turmoil and Leith’s from the other books. Keevan struggles with insecurities about himself because of his poor choices in the past, his father’s failures as a king, and the scars he bears from the attack that killed his family. Re-reading the scenes between Keevan and Leith from a new perspective made me ache all over again for different reasons. I love it when I can sympathize with both characters' plights in a conflict!<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>My only complaint is that it was a novella, which I knew. While the author did a fantastic job in telling so much in such a short amount of time, I really wish it had been a full-length novel. I wanted more time to experience certain aspects of the plot and the characters (which is really a testament to how much I loved them!). For instance, Keevan’s “former self”. When we first meet him, he immediately regrets his mistakes and vows to be a better person. Which is great, but I felt that I would have more appreciation for his struggle to be different if I had seen just a little bit more of who he was beforehand. I realize this would have been tricky business, given the audience and the nature of his former self, so it is easily forgivable. I also really, really loved the relationship between Keevan and Addie. I loved the way they supported each other and looked out for each other. However, I wanted to see more of the development of their relationship. There was enough that it was still believable, but I wanted to more interactions as they got to know each other, and experience more milestones as their forced acquaintance turned into friendship and then into something else. Such is the struggle with novellas: having to tell so much in so short a time. It is like having ONE fantastic cookie and really wanting a second so you can fully appreciate the taste.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>If you love the Blades of Acktar books and want to know more about Prince Keevan and how he escaped the attempt on his life, you will very much enjoy reading this book. You will enjoy falling in love with these new characters and experiencing your favorite characters through new eyes. For my part, reading this book made me want to go back and re-read Defy. If you have not read the other books, stop what you are doing right now and return when you have finished all three. Shame on you for reading spoilers. I loved the characters, I loved the backstory, and I loved the writing. I look forward to seeing more of Keevan and Addie in Book 4 alongside Leith and Renna.Jessica Dowellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052859426108194185noreply@blogger.com0