by Crystal Caudill | Dec 11, 2018 | Book Reviews
12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep
I cannot believe I have been so remiss in posting my review of one of my favorite Christmas stories! And since I am planning my semi-annual Christmas tea theme around the Once Upon a Dicken’s Christmas series, it is time to correct this error.
Michelle Griep has never written something I did not thoroughly enjoy, and this series is no exception. So sit down, snuggle in, and prepare to have your appetite whet, because this book and next week books are not to be missed!
Genre: Historical Romance, London 1850
Overview of Plot:
When Clara receives an invitation to stay twelve days at Bleakly Manor, it comes with a handsome reward, enough money to support herself and her aunt. The catch is, she must stay the entire twelve days. What could be so bad about staying at a country manor?
But when she arrives, a handful of odd guests have been invited, including the man who left her standing at the altar and ran off with her family’s fortune.
Benjamin Lane was falsely accused of embezzlement and rushed through a trial that couldn’t be called just. Just before he is to be shipped off to Australia, he is given a shot at freedom, but he must stay twelve days at Bleakly Manor and never set foot off the grounds under the threat of death. Desirous to have the chance for justice he arrives, only to find Clara, the woman who betrayed him.
Not everything is as it seems. As Clara and Benjamin begin to make sense of what happened to them, dangerous accidents begin to occur. Can they survive Bleakly Manor long enough to have a second chance at life and love?
Favorite Character and Why:
This one is so hard, but as much as I adore Clara and Benjamin as the main characters, Miss Scurry is my absolute favorite secondary character. She is quirky and wise, yet a vulnerable soul. I’ve had a Miss Scurry type figure in my life, and all I can do is smile in remembrance every time I read her character.
What I liked:
What don’t I like? Michelle Griep is one of my absolute favorite authors. She has an incredible ability to pull you into the story and draw you so deep you become the character. But it is not that gift alone. Her stories always have an intensity about them that draws me in. The danger, the real characters, and even the quirky ones. This story, in particular, was filled with great surprises and nods to Charles Dickens himself, and I absolutely loved the mystery behind it all. *sigh* A Christmas story at its very best. Oh, yes, and I can’t forget all those wonderful historical details. *swoon*
Who would like this:
Anyone who loves stories of redemption and second chances or stories with mystery, danger, and love set to a Christmas theme. I think almost anyone would love this story, but you’ll have to read it to find out.
Amazon blurb:
A mysterious invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home may bring danger…and love?
England, 1851: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of five hundred pounds.
But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane.
Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters.
What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.
Links for purchase:
Amazon.com Barnes and Noble Christianbook.com
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 20, 2018 | Book Reviews
The Tory’s Daughter
by Angela K. Couch
If you love a marriage of convenience stories set in the background of war, you will love the emotional tension of this story. I’m a huge American Revolution fan purely for the complexities that come from families and neighbors whose loyalties are divided. Angela does a great job delving into all the facets of living through these complexities and finding love during hardship and personal struggles.
Genre:
Historical Romance – American Revolution, Mohawk Valley
Overview
of Plot:
Six
years after her father’s Tory leanings resulted in their home being burned to
the ground, Hannah—part Mohawk, part Englishwoman—is determined to find her
brothers who were conscripted into the Continental Army. Striking out on her
own has unintended consequences which result in her marriage to one of the men
who participated in the attack on her family.
After
the loss of his wife, Joseph just wants to protect his home and his children
from the constant raids on their valley from the Native people. When he catches
one of them trying to steal his horse and escape a skirmish, it is a woman—not
a warrior—he finds.
When things grow out of control and they are forced to marry, will promises made last a lifetime?
Favorite Character and Why:
The
hero Joseph really captured my attention. I loved watching the internal
struggles develop, grow, and then change him into a better man. He struggled to
be the father his children needed, the husband he was supposed to be to a wife
he initially didn’t want, and to be the faithful man God called him to be.
What I liked:
Although this story was a
marriage of convenience story, it felt different than most I have read. It held
a depth I love to see as characters struggle to grow and love each other. I
also love/hate how good Angela Couch is at putting her characters through one
struggle after another. Just when you think they are going to get a break, more
happens.
Who would like this:
Those who love wartime stories
where loyalties are tested, love struggles and then blooms under adversity, and
the struggles are the characters are relatable and applicable to contemporary
times.
*Iwas provided a copy of this book by the author/publisher. The above opinion ismy own and by no means was influenced.*
Amazon blurb:
Burying his wife is the hardest thing Joseph Garnet has ever done—until he’s called to leave his young son and baby daughter to fight Iroquois raiders. When one of the marauders tries to steal his horse, the last thing he expects is to end up tussling with a female. The girl is wounded, leaving Joseph little choice but to haul her home to heal—an act that seems all too familiar.
Though Joseph doesn’t appear to remember her, Hannah Cunningham could never forget him. He rode with the mob that forced her two brothers into the Continental Army and drove her family from their home—all because of her father’s loyalties to The Crown. After five years with her mother’s tribe, the rebels and starvation have left her nothing but the driving need to find her brothers.
Compelled by a secret he’s held for far too long, Joseph agrees to help Hannah find what remains of her family. Though she begins to steal into his aching heart, he knows the truth will forever stand between them. Some things cannot be forgiven.
– Amazon.com
Links for Purchase:
Amazon.com Barnes and Noble Christianbook.com
by Crystal Caudill | Nov 13, 2018 | Book Reviews
A Perfect Weakness
By Jennifer A. Davids
Sometimes while in the throes of a terrible family crisis, you just have to escape into the pages of a good book to survive. A Perfect Weakness was the escape I needed during such a time and so much more. It was not only a pleasure to read, but helped me to process what my own family was enduring. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who are scarred by the consequences of their past failures or mistakes. (And if you’re breathing, then that is more likely than not, you.)
Genre: Historical Romance, Victorian England, 1868
Overview of Plot: Penelope Howard has been caring for the tenants of her uncle’s estate for years, but after his passing a new Lord must take his place and could remove her from her position, especially if he, or anyone else, discovers her secret. When she learns the heir is an American doctor, she hopes and prays he will care for the people as much as she and help tend the country hospital.Dr. John Turner served in the War Between the States as a surgeon, but the horrifying memories drove him to the bottle. Continuing to practice medicine while drunk had dire consequences, so when the chance to flee to England arrives, he takes it, vowing to never practice medicine again. But everyone knows he is a doctor and the beautiful and heart-filled sister of his estate agent seems to keep pushing him to help the community with his skills and not just his monetary support. When he is needed most, can he once again take up healing the sick and broken Or will their secrets and weaknesses destroy them and all those around them?
Favorite Character and Why: Penelope is such a strong woman, who had risen above her past mistake and clung to God through it all. I could really connect with her passion for the tenants and helping women who faced similar mistakes and consequences. I also loved how she pushed John Turner to become a better man. What I liked: History… always the history. I love all the details that connected the American Civil War to Victorian England. I also loved the story-line itself. The characters were rich and deep, the problems relatable and real.
Who would like this: Those who love historical fiction, Victorian romance, and stories of redemption, overcoming past mistakes, and love that goes beyond the pain of the past.
*Warning: Penelope’s backstory deals with the difficult loss of a child. It is integral to the development of the story, but I don’t feel it is enough to keep one from reading it. But if you are especially sensitive, you may want to skim through the book first.*
Amazon blurb:
The Civil War left its mark on Dr. John Turner. He turns his back on medicine and sees his unexpected inheritance in England as an opportunity to start over. But he never imagines how God intends to use his new role as lord of Ashford Hall — or the beautiful woman he finds there — to ease his troubled soul.
A tragic loss led Penelope Howard to bury her heart and dreams in her work for the Hall and the village of Woodley. But the arrival of the new heir stirs not only her discarded longings but her compassion as well. What burden does he carry that he can’t accept that grace covers the darkest of sins?
A deadly epidemic sweeps through Woodley revealing secrets which threaten everything. The doctor faces a choice: leave or dare to believe what the Lord whispers through the woman John has come to love.
No one is beyond redemption.
Links for Purchase:
Amazon.com Barnes & Noble
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 25, 2018 | Writer's Life
Life is a little crazy right now, so for kicks, I just thought I’d share some of my favorite writing memes. Enjoy and have a peek into a writer’s life!
And as a bonus, my favorite of all time. I seriously just want to make this into a poster and hang it on my wall.
by Crystal Caudill | Sep 18, 2018 | Writing Craft
I am so incredibly blessed to have Erica Vetsch as a guest today to whet your appetite for a wonderful writing resource written by her and nine other award-winning authors. You won’t want to miss Writing from the Trenches or Erica’s answer to the question, Am I done yet?
And since I haven’t done a giveaway in a couple months (sorry, moving has interrupted life), check out the Rafflecopter Giveaway at the end.
Am I Done Yet?
Guest post by Erica Vetsch
In a recent edition of Writer’s Digest, I read an article about Writer’s Block, and what causes it. The author posed the theory that there are three basic causes of Writer’s Block, and they are all related to fear.
Fear of Failure.
Fear of Success.
Perfectionism. (Fear of not getting it perfect.)
Most writer’s have faced these fears on more than one occasion, but today, I’d like to address the third fear, perfectionism.
When I’m painting a room, I know when I start and when I’m done. When I’m mopping the floor, I know when I’ve reached the end of the chore. When I run a marathon (Okay, who am I kidding, I don’t run.) but if I did, you can be certain I would know where that finish line was so I could stop.
We can sit, staring at the blinking cursor on the blank page, too afraid to put down a word because we know in our hearts it won’t be the PERFECT word. But here’s the thing.
You can’t edit a blank page.
Give yourself permission to write a bad first line, bad first page, bad first chapter, bad first draft. Anything can be improved upon by editing, and if you’re aiming to be a professional writer, editing is a MUST. Nothing is best-written the first time around. So just write. I’ve been known to type in “WRITE THE BEST FIRST LINE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND” at the top of the first chapter, just so I can get over that hurdle and get into the story without worrying about crafting the perfect opening line before I even know my characters and story that well. Just write, not searching for perfection, but searching for your story.
Eventually, you will type the words “The End.” That’s when a different type of work begins. The editing. The polishing. The tweaking.
And because writing is a unique art form where the possibilities are endless, you can tweak and polish and edit forever in the search for perfection.
So, how can you know when enough is enough, how can you know when you’re done? Here are a few guidelines:
- When your deadline arrives. There’s nothing like a ticking clock to let you know when it’s time to hit send on that manuscript.
- When you find yourself changing the manuscript but not improving it. When you change the heroine’s off-white shoes to ecru, beige, sandstone, ivory, winter white, taupe, etc. You’re not improving the manuscript, you’re just changing words here and there, a process that you can go through forever.
- When you’ve read and reread it so many times, it all sounds like dreck and you’re sure it’s awful.
The search for perfection is an illusion when it comes to fiction. Because fiction is art, because it is a creative thing, and because perfection is in the eye of the beholder. We can obsess and fixate and drive ourselves crazy searching for an impossible measure of perfection, dampening our enthusiasm for the project and sucking the joy out of being a writer.
When your deadline arrives. Hit Send! When you’re merely swapping words around and making changes that don’t improve the manuscript, call it done! When you have read and reread to the point of numbing your mind, stop!
Perfection is impossible, but excellence is not. Write your story, edit it to the best of your ability, send it out into the world…and then get to work on the next story in your heart.
And to help you on your way with that next great American novel, I’ve teamed up with some other writers to share our years of experience. Pick up your copy of Writing From The Trenches: Tips & Techniques From Ten Award-Winning Authors. Here’s a blurb:
TEN-HUT! Gear up for your writing with tried-and-true tips from the trenches. Ten award-winning authors share invaluable tips and secrets they’ve gleaned the hard way, offering a broad range of insights and opinions on the best way to tackle subjects such as the following:
Plotting Techniques
Research
Characterization
Villains We Love to Hate
Dynamic Dialogue
Sigh-Worthy Heroes
The Right Heroine for the Job
Hooking Your Reader in the First Chapter
Scene Endings to Lead Your Readers On
Creating a Movie Set
Making your Readers Cry
Deep POV
Copyediting your Manuscript
Indie Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing
Marketing for Those Who Hate Marketing
At last … a writer’s tool that provides the experience and expertise of ten authors who’ve been on the front lines of publishing and lived to teach about it: Connie Almony, Lynnette Bonner, Hallee Bridgeman, Louise Gouge, Michelle Griep, Julie Lessman, Elizabeth Ludwig, Ane Mulligan, MaryLu Tyndall, and Erica Vetsch.
Writing from the Trenches is available for e-book purchase at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Best-selling, award-winning author Erica Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. She’s a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota, and she married her total opposite and soul mate! When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks. You can connect with her at her website, www.ericavetsch.com where you can read about her books and sign up for her newsletter, and you can find her online at https://www.facebook.com/EricaVetschAuthor/ where she spends way too much time!
Writing from the Trenches Giveaway
Now here is your chance to win an e-copy of Writing in the Trenches. For your chance to win, you must do both of the following:
1. Leave a comment with a writing craft questions or a question about the writing process. (In 2019, I am hoping to have a monthly post that will help writer’s on their journey and readers to have a glimpse into the writing world.)
2. Enter using the Rafflecopter link below.
ENTER THE GIVEAWAY HERE
Giveaway opens 9/18/2018 at 12:01AM (EST) and ends 9/24/2018 11:59PM (EST). Winner will be notified by email and on the next blog post.
*Legal Jargon: No Purchase is necessary. This contest is open to all readers in the world, 18 years and older who are legally allowed to participate in such a giveaway as allowed by their local laws. The Write Call does not exchange prizes for reviews. Reviews are appreciated, but not required.*
