tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27196286518977923912024-03-13T11:11:21.088-07:00Reviews By JaneAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.comBlogger208125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-22788099778801127902014-05-12T15:17:00.001-07:002014-05-12T15:17:39.072-07:00Volum'Express The Rocket Mascara by Maybelline <a href="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/04/15/54/28/0004155428837_500X500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/04/15/54/28/0004155428837_500X500.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a>I am not an excessive eye makeup user. I like some eye liner, a light eye shadow, and mascara. Keep it simple so I can be ready in under 5 minutes. That being said, I am still pretty picky when it comes to makeup. I've tried many mascaras that either didn't last, smeared with even the slightest bit of water(not acceptable when living in Florida with 90% humidity), or bugged my eyes. Many mascaras I've tried have caused irritation to my eyes, either itching, stinking, or even some flaking and getting stuck in my eye. I thought I was going to have to settle with a less than comfortable mascara. I<br />
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Then I found Maybelline's The Rocket.<br />
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Let me just say I <b>adore</b> this product. The rubber-like applier helps the mascara go on smoothly without clumping, it is extremely waterproof, it is easily my favorite of Maybelline's mascaras. I've tried several in their different line of mascaras and there have been a few I liked, but this one by far is my favorite. I never buy a different mascara.<br />
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If you are looking for an easy to afford, easy to apply, and all around excellent mascara, I highly recommend this one! I get mine at Walmart, Walgreens, Target -- wherever I am shopping at the time. :)<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-71420164978419964262014-02-08T13:15:00.002-08:002014-02-08T13:15:43.202-08:00The Monuments Men<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When offered the chance to see the pre-screening of The Monuments Men, I jumped on it. Not only do I absolutely love WWII era movies, but the fact that it is a true story caught my interest, and I am a huge fan of some of the main actors. Putting Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bill Murray, John Goodman, and the talented Cate Blanchett in the same movie is a recipe for a fantastic film.<br />
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The overall movie was good.Great acting, good dialogue, with enough wit to keep you chuckling yet still touching your emotions with the somber tale of war.<br />
The only problem I had with the film was the overall idea that was repeatedly pushed -- saving art is worth the life of a human. I understand the sentiment, but I disagree. The only thing worth sacrificing a human life for is another human life. That is all. No piece of art is worth a child's father, a wife's husband, a brother's brother, and mother's son.<br />
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Aside from that, I enjoyed the movie. A favorite aspect of mine was how clean the movie was. With only the S-word said several times, "Hell" scarcely used, and one man's thought "Screw the Germans", the language was very clean for a war-themed movie.<br />
As far as sexuality, it was also very clean. Though several slightly suggestive remarks are made by a woman about "Anything can happen at night in Paris" and telling a man he could stay the night if he wanted, cheers erupted within me when the man walked out shortly after her saying that without so much as a kiss. While it was evident to adults in the film, I imagine her slightly suggestive remarks would fly over children's heads.<br />
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<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/30/89/d2/3089d2981821d035693e8d742f46a465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/30/89/d2/3089d2981821d035693e8d742f46a465.jpg" height="214" width="320" /></a><br />
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Violence was fairly low for a war movie. I was happy to see little blood and gore, with only one scene having it in abundance, and even then it was nothing compared to most war movies. Simply a hospital room of injured soldiers. Lots of blood but nothing graphic.<br />
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Overall, it was an enjoyable movie that I found entertaining and at the same time educational on ancient art. It is the perfect educational film for families interested in art and WWII. But while enjoyable, I wouldn't rush to the theater and pay to see it again, and recommend waiting until this one is on DVD before watching.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-47779234706860695472013-08-07T09:57:00.000-07:002013-08-22T09:12:28.907-07:00Maybelline Great Lash Mascara and Baby Lips Lib Balm<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" src="http://img.bzzagent.com/image/maybelline.jpg?Type=activity&Activity=3846144142&Campaign=5260130600&Uid=1245403&token=9941b925f94dbbcba2794da4235de41f" /></div>
I was excited to receive a package in the mail full of mascara and lib balm from Maybelline to try and then share my experience with my readers. I'll be brief, but I couldn't help but share these products, as I found them to be wonderful.<br />
First off, the mascara.<br />
I can honestly say that both my mother and I found this to be our favorite mascara and if we ever were to buy mascara, we would look for Great Lash. It is an awesome product that is easy to apply, lasts the day, and volumizes your lashes. I highly recommend this product to everyone who wears mascara -- I absoltuely loved it. <br />
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As for the Baby Lips, I also really liked this product. It instantly softens chapped lips and over the weeks will give your lips a perfect, smooth surface. Of the colored variety, I found myself to like the Peach, but really dislike the Pink Punch's hue. I use the Peach often, but the Pink Punch clumped in a bright pink that I didn't like, and didn't spread the color very well. But overall, I liked this product and will definitely be using it. <br />
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To conclude, I recommend both of these products to makeup-wearers. You will not be disappointed with Maybelline's new products.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-18408632947704648562013-08-02T11:17:00.000-07:002013-08-22T09:13:24.588-07:00Gladiator CostumeHaving six younger brothers, I've seen my fair share of costumes and gettups. I've beheld Julian Smith, Batman, Indiana Jones, Pilot, Link, Superman, Obi Wan, "Mr. Muscles", and more -- most of them being made out of random objects around the house, and usually involving a broomstick, a blanket in place of a cape, or/and a belt(I seriously don't think my brothers know what a belt is really for :P). Since we don't celebrate Halloween, we have few costumes. But the costumes we do have -- Batman and Pilot -- are almost always in constant use, which is why many of my brothers were excited to add another costume to their small collection. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCZbzAnlAAGwtwnue4D33DMMrNQSxE7hsDE0Laifg55nufz3Yq4h6lUFesU4JWUHjKvBL4MNIsQHu4Q-e_pPWBK39hemOHPhjUirr9vDEnun1z4F_inodaiYG5Lqx7BY3F9vByq15MQ4/s1600/closeup.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/AVvXsEiZCZbzAnlAAGwtwnue4D33DMMrNQSxE7hsDE0Laifg55nufz3Yq4h6lUFesU4JWUHjKvBL4MNIsQHu4Q-e_pPWBK39hemOHPhjUirr9vDEnun1z4F_inodaiYG5Lqx7BY3F9vByq15MQ4/s320/closeup.jpg" width="220" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtE6WJ89slVYRXWUf-r1mjmqVJLyBZg_eMLdzHj7H0ctgAHeCPjsueYhUZH8XrC16ZXKXpLVRWvExCtAp013zAC0w8tHVbdBs590fzTTeKIMp5CkdVSuyFCSBrycXBQKvq3MC5p_K8cA/s1600/bwcool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtE6WJ89slVYRXWUf-r1mjmqVJLyBZg_eMLdzHj7H0ctgAHeCPjsueYhUZH8XrC16ZXKXpLVRWvExCtAp013zAC0w8tHVbdBs590fzTTeKIMp5CkdVSuyFCSBrycXBQKvq3MC5p_K8cA/s400/bwcool.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><b>The Review:</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><b>My Ranking: 8 out of 10</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><b>Ages: 7-9</b></span></span><br />
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From <a href="http://www.costumediscounters.com/">Costume Discounters</a>' <a href="http://www.costumediscounters.com/popular-themes/greek-roman.html">Greek selection</a> comes a fun and cute costume that several of my brothers were escatitc to receive -- <a href="http://www.costumediscounters.com/boys-costumes/greek-roman/hercules-gladiator-child-costume-CC00225.html">The Gladiator</a> costume! <br />
Above I have my 10 year old brother, Gabe, in the costume. While he won't be one of the boys who where it for fun, I thought it would be wise to have pictures of him in it because it's size, Medium, is designed for ages 8-10. </div>
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I wouldn't say that this costume had a higher quality than the normal costume, but it was nice and looked really neat. The outer "leather" I worry will rip easily because of how thin it is, but after putting it on and taking it off of three kids it was still intact and had no signs of wear. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabe - 10</td></tr>
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One think that was bothersome was the arm bands which were entirely too large for even my ten year old brother. Both of the sets were too big and the ones for the wrists were falling off on each age.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwyMCG5IymBKrLQg69XNyKWpzk5MLv8q1Wu80fTg-lNc8mXVr0uIV_QhzOm_0kKPJ4RCX-H2c7BCsxS29ia3HKKjLJ0ivTgQE2MtaUlLKhyh7Zy1cWaXjjiICEFgKzT1v842_vZpyDlQ/s1600/armband.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwyMCG5IymBKrLQg69XNyKWpzk5MLv8q1Wu80fTg-lNc8mXVr0uIV_QhzOm_0kKPJ4RCX-H2c7BCsxS29ia3HKKjLJ0ivTgQE2MtaUlLKhyh7Zy1cWaXjjiICEFgKzT1v842_vZpyDlQ/s200/armband.jpg" width="132" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew - 8</td></tr>
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The (foam-like)leg guards were also a bit big but fit well enough to where I could make them stay on -- especially on Gabe(10).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl-koKjkOFkg1sQ5P2YkE2_q2NvyWfjw5reAMEFnOW2XbKinA3GmRWs5LWI0sRu10b1qwgM7kqFRuj56GtPkluuB_JQPdsZZbHH4djlq1SnS8tyFtjqHMLc3bsIBFrfDN9a2ThiCAK-Q/s1600/10bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSl-koKjkOFkg1sQ5P2YkE2_q2NvyWfjw5reAMEFnOW2XbKinA3GmRWs5LWI0sRu10b1qwgM7kqFRuj56GtPkluuB_JQPdsZZbHH4djlq1SnS8tyFtjqHMLc3bsIBFrfDN9a2ThiCAK-Q/s320/10bottom.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabe(10)</td></tr>
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The under tunic, "armor", and cape were all cute and fit each of the ages I tried it on - 6, 8, and 10 -- but best fit Matthew(8). The length was much too short for averagely sized Gabe(10) but fit quite well on the younger two.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjp4dzQQFN9Lf4e8mg5qCa0lUG4jB3YAgCeioMnV-Kr8t332NpP-r2u0DvEGykL7WLEMPm1ndFj24sWzl2NqKv86zb3SWd5uVgkxAONcfwS5AOzlAl0yHuYbOyKH8XB5dt0jbokT5VDS0/s1600/8bottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjp4dzQQFN9Lf4e8mg5qCa0lUG4jB3YAgCeioMnV-Kr8t332NpP-r2u0DvEGykL7WLEMPm1ndFj24sWzl2NqKv86zb3SWd5uVgkxAONcfwS5AOzlAl0yHuYbOyKH8XB5dt0jbokT5VDS0/s200/8bottom.jpg" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthew(8)</td></tr>
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All in all, I know for sure that this costume will be used until it falls apart. And then they'll use whatever is salvageable for their next made up costume. While at the price of $28.99, I, personally, would not spend the money for it, it does make for an adorable costume that just about any boy out there would love. Perfect for halloween or just plain fun, this costume is bound to please children across the country. Also, Costume Discounter will match the price of any costume they have that you found cheaper elsewhere online. So if you are looking for a costume this season, make sure to check out <a href="http://www.costumediscounters.com/">this site!</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, "times New Roman", helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this free product in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.</span></em></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-24928613216124836202013-06-01T19:35:00.000-07:002013-06-03T19:36:48.928-07:00Author Interview -- Deanna NowadnickHey guys, long time, no post. But today I bring you an interview with author Deanna Nowadick and her inspiring book <a href="http://www.deannanowadnick.com/" target="_blank">Fruit of my Spirit</a>. It was a short yet meaningful book that is sure to be an inspiration to any of it's readers.<br />
Enjoy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgURqcPB9zNm8Oh6PczuLTVA4EqS3jQTYaBv-qeZDon_PoTvEx9UrBvCG3ZKmpR91SoXdKcr_2k-0fB5rHKXfiHQfIdJF580bi7MLpaj6LSb3bnNqb8qBsMtvDylWSEFgKLlgbpMjYy8/s1600/Deanna+Nowadnick+Fruit+of+My+Spirit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZgURqcPB9zNm8Oh6PczuLTVA4EqS3jQTYaBv-qeZDon_PoTvEx9UrBvCG3ZKmpR91SoXdKcr_2k-0fB5rHKXfiHQfIdJF580bi7MLpaj6LSb3bnNqb8qBsMtvDylWSEFgKLlgbpMjYy8/s320/Deanna+Nowadnick+Fruit+of+My+Spirit.jpg" width="320" /></a><strong>Hey Deanna! Thanks for joining us. <br />To start off, when did you first discover writing as one of your passions?</strong><br />
Great first question! I graduated from college with a major in English, but never really enjoyed writing. I think it had more to do with being told what to write, rather than the writing itself. Working on my first book, I finally admitted my love for writing. I recognized the gift I’d been given and the wonderful opportunity God was giving me to share my stories.<br />
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<strong>That's cool. Why do you write the type of books that you do?</strong>
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Both my featured book(Fruit of my Spirit) and second book are memoirs of short stories. I am privileged to share messages of hope and inspiration. I have been blessed as a child of God, someone who has known great joy and the frustration of life’s challenges, major and minor. The books are a joyful celebration of mercy and grace.
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<strong>What was your greatest obstacle in writing and how did you overcome it?</strong>
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More a challenge than an obstacle was my awareness that my books are about God and His love and faithfulness, not Deanna and her mastery over the elements. It’s easy to think that life is all about me, but we all know differently. Trusting God to give me the stories and the words is a walk of faith, especially for someone who prides herself on her ability to micromanage any- and everything!
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<strong>It's difficult for each of us to remember who is truly in charge in our lives sometimes.</strong><br />
<strong>Has writing changed your life in any way?</strong>
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Ten years ago (or two years ago, for that matter), if you had told me I would one day be responding to an Author Interview, I would have rolled my eyes and then laughed you out of the room. May I just affirm the saying, “God’s not finished with me yet.” He never is, is he?
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<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71OkbmEesZL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71OkbmEesZL._SL1500_.jpg" width="226" /></a><strong>Nope, He sure isn't!</strong><br />
<strong>Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.</strong>
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I have been most inspired by others who have said, “I have a story to tell, too.” I’ve had both older and younger readers come to me with their own stories. If my antics can encourage others to write, I will be both humbled and delighted.
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What Bible scripture has impacted your life the most?</strong>
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Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.” Notice I use the King James Version. I love the beauty of the words and their message. Oh, to have a heart like David!
Is there a book you’ve read that has been truly spectacular?
There are many books that have been truly spectacular for different reasons. Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird gave me the courage to write and to keep writing. Jane Austen warms my heart. Beth Moore feeds my soul and nurtures my faith. Steig Larsson wow’s me. And honorable mention has to go to Carolyn Keene who gave a young girl her first real love of reading. In third grade I really just wanted to grow up and be Nancy Drew.
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<strong>What a great choice! </strong><br />
<strong>Please tell us about the featured book.</strong><br />
Fruit of My Spirit is part Bible study, part memoir, part confessional. What started as one story for my sons about how I met their father quickly became a much larger story about God’s love and faithfulness. As you’ll read, God has encircled me during joyous, sad, cringe-worthy, heartwarming, forgettable, memorable moments in life. The book is for anyone who’s ever questioned God’s ability to love and forgive, who’s ever wondered about their place in God’s family or God’s place in theirs.
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<strong>Sounds great! Can you please give us the first page?</strong>
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I’m a mess. The highlights in my hair hide a pre-gray drab. One hip and one knee have been replaced and another knee should be. I’m overweight and under the illusion that I’m going to wake up one morning to a younger, skinnier self. On good days I whine and complain. On bad days I whine and complain more. I’m impatient whenever life has the audacity to thwart my plans. I get frustrated whenever life presents a detour or a hurdle. At one point I planned to live to 125. When I remembered that the Bible says Moses only lived to 120, I decided on 119. I can’t imagine God needing me around longer than Moses!
Life has its challenges. Life is a challenge. I know my existence is about more than this body. I know it’s not about gray hair, failing body parts and excess pounds. I know the important stuff’s on the inside, but honestly, I’m not so sure that the inside stuff’s any prettier. Perhaps I’ve been expecting God to act as my own fairy godmother, ready to pop into the scene any moment now. With a twinkle in His eye and a wand in His hand, I’ve been waiting to be tapped ever so gently on the forehead and magically transformed into a loving, joyous, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, self-controlled delight in His life, adorned in a nice white ensemble, cute shoes, and fresh nail polish. In thinking that, I’ve not only trivialized God’s love and forgiveness, but I’ve missed the magnitude of His mercy that’s been shared with me over and over again. I’ve overlooked the fruit of His Holy Spirit that’s already a part of my own spirit in all that I do and all that I am.
So now what? Filled with His Holy Spirit, do I step back from life as I’ve known it? Do I need to tiptoe around the messiness of each day, avoiding the dirt and grime of my daily existence? If not wearing a white ensemble, something off-white? With His fruit, will I have this new aura about me that parts the seas and calms the storm within?
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<strong>Where can readers learn more information about you?</strong>
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I love connecting with readers!<br />
• Website:<a href="http://www.deannanowadnick.com/" target="_blank"> www.deannanowadnick.com</a><br />
• Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FruitofMySpirit%C2%A0" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/FruitofMySpirit </a><br />
• Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/deannanowadnick%C2%A0" target="_blank">@deannanowadnick </a><br />
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<b>Thanks Deanna!</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-47676471667120991192012-10-03T10:40:00.001-07:002012-10-03T10:42:05.989-07:00Hanover Falls series by Deborah Raney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Author Deborah Raney:</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzpHaiw-LkdTwPShIPeXjzbVbAtQwzx3TBtEjIDFNO8T1gcgNEozIhSX0GAsi7-p1KVgxVU6VJjWELXCbIDmlO1bE6HTB6wmIFKXSOXacJ3LBow1jMcHfFsVYdHmCNDLlQdrxaLbRI9w/s1600/P1110076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzpHaiw-LkdTwPShIPeXjzbVbAtQwzx3TBtEjIDFNO8T1gcgNEozIhSX0GAsi7-p1KVgxVU6VJjWELXCbIDmlO1bE6HTB6wmIFKXSOXacJ3LBow1jMcHfFsVYdHmCNDLlQdrxaLbRI9w/s1600/P1110076.jpg" /></a><br />
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Deborah Raney's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Her books have since won the RITA Award, ACFW Carol Award, HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award, Silver Angel, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. After All, the newest book in her Hanover Falls Novels series releases in May from Howard/Simon & Schuster. Deb and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy small-town life in Kansas. They have four children and four grandchildren, all of whom live much too far away.<br />
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Learn more about the author <a href="http://www.deborahraney.com/" target="_blank">here!</a><br />
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<b>About Almost Forever:</b></div>
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<i>Unearthing a lost memory may cause her to lose everything she holds dear… but could it also set her free?
</i>Bryn Hennesey, a volunteer at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter, was there the night the shelter burned to the ground and five heroic firefighters died at the scene. Among them was her husband, Adam. Like the rest of the surviving spouses, Bryn must find a way to begin again. But Bryn must do so living with a horrible secret...<br />
Garrett Edmonds’s wife, Molly, was the only female firefighter to perish in the blaze. As her husband, it was his job to protect the woman he loved.… How can he go on in the face of such unbearable loss and guilt?<br />
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And what started the fire that destroyed the dreams and futures of so many? Investigators are stumped. But someone knows the answer….
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Not only are these books name ingeniously clever, but the stories within are equally unique and attention grabbing. I've always thought that firefighters must have the most interesting of lives, and I enjoyed getting to dive into the lives of these characters. These books reminded me of Dee Henderson's O'Malley series, so if you enjoyed those you are likely to find these entertaining as well!</div>
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<b>Purchase the first book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Forever-Hanover-Falls-1/dp/B005SN5BMQ" target="_blank">HERE</a> for only $6!</b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-26383326668891109172012-08-07T20:19:00.002-07:002012-08-07T20:19:30.616-07:00Melanie Dobson's "Mackinac Island' Kindle Fire Giveaway!Melanie Dobson brings out the best of overlooked Mackinac Island, Michigan in this charming tale about an adventurous woman trapped within the expectations of her family and a man who's in the same situation, both longing to escape the pressures of society and be themselves. This book was a good, easy read for the historical romance readers out there. Other Love Finds You lovers will be sure to enjoy this book!<br />
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<b>Celebrate with Melanie by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway!</b><br />
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<a href="http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/13517085/melaniedobson" target="_blank">Find out what the reviewers are saying here!</a><br />
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<a href="http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/4f/ContentImage-20-62447-LFYdobs300.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/cdn_images/resize_1024x1365/4f/
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<span style="background-color: white;"><b>One grand prize winner will receive:</b></
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<ul><span style="background-color: white;">
<li>A brand new Kindle Fire</li>
<li>Signed copies of Melanie’s Love Find You books: <i>Love Finds you in Nazareth,
Pennsylvania, Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa, Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa,
and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana.</i></li>
</span></ul>
<span style="background-color: white;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>But hurry, the giveaway ends on
8/4/12. The winner will be announced on 8/6/12 at</b> <b><a href="http://melaniedobson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Melanie's blog</a></b></span><span style="background-color: white;">!</span><br />
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<b>Just click one of the icons below to enter!</b> Tell your friends about
Melanie's giveaway on <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/259699/invites/new%20" target="_blank"><b>FACEBOOK</b>; or </a><a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/259699" target="_blank"><b>TWITTER</b></a> and increase your chances of winning.<br />
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<a href="http://wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/259699" target="_blank"><img alt="Enter via E-mail" height="48" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uZ-
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via Facebook" width="48" /></a><a href="http://wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/259699/entries/new" target="_blank"><img alt="Enter via Twitter" height="48" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-m-99VSwns4U/TXqYmf0klHI/
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</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-79581843198203949352012-06-28T12:28:00.000-07:002012-06-29T12:38:18.184-07:00Litfuse Blog Tour -- Creston Mapes<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></strong><br />
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>About the author</u></span></strong></strong></div>
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.titletrakk.com/Images/authors/creston-mapes-400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="http://www.titletrakk.com/Images/authors/creston-mapes-400.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div>
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">A proud native of northeast Ohio, Creston has been writing professionally for almost 30 years.</span><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">He earned his degree in Magazine Journalism from Bowling Green State University in 1983. </span><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">After working as a reporter and photographer for newspapers in Florida and Ohio, Creston became a corporate copywriter, then a creative director, before starting his own freelance writing business 20 years ago.</span><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Since then, he has written marketing and magazine copy for fine organizations such as Chick-fil-A, Coca-Cola, The Weather Channel, ABC-TV, Oracle Corporation, TNT Sports, BellSouth, Focus on the Family, Hockey News, and Random House.</span><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;">Creston has edited and ghost-written a growing list of non-fiction books, and has penned three contemporary suspense novels for Waterbrook-Multnomah, a divison of Random House. All three of Creston's novels are available in e-Book format and have been printed in Dutch. He has finished a fourth novel and is working on a fifth. Visit </span><a href="http://www.crestonmapes.com/" style="color: #00b0d8; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.crestonmapes.com</a><span style="font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal;"> for more.</span>
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="background-color: white; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Dark Star</u></span></strong></strong></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320524804l/367683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320524804l/367683.jpg" width="201" /></a>Can Fame, Wealth, and Power Buy Happiness? <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Everett Lester and his band, DeathStroke, ride the crest of a wave to superstardom. But the deeper they become immersed in fame, wealth, and power, the more likely they are to be swallowed alive by the drugs, alcohol, and discontentment that have become their only friends. Everett is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return when he's charged with the murder of his personal psychic. The only hope he can cling to comes from Topeka, Kansas , and the letters written by a prayerful young lady who lives there. Consistent and persistent, the notes cut straight to Everett 's empty heart, offering a fulfillment he's never grasped before. But what if he's found guilty of murder? Will he recognize the spiritual battle that's raging for his soul? <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Endora Crystal was my rock... </em><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As I staggered through the chaos of rock 'n' roll fame-the drugs and alcohol, the selfishness and turmoil-Endora was the gentle voice in my ear telling me I was special. Telling me I was adored. She was my personal psychic, and she said I had a unique purpose, a calling to give my fans happiness. To be their god. </em><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">My band, DeathStroke, dominated the world of rock. Yet strife ruled our inner circle. My family didn't know me. I loved no one but myself. </em><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And yet Karen Bayliss was praying for me, that I would come to know the love of God and the lordship of Jesus Christ. She was not a fan. Didn't care for my music. Karen just wanted me to know peace. </em><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><em style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Now Endora is dead, and I've been charged with first-degree murder.</em> <br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /><br style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" />Everett Lester is headed down a perilous road of no apparent return. Will he recognize the spiritual battle that's raging for his soul?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Buy the book: <a href="http://ow.ly/bzhHu%20" style="color: #00b0d8; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://ow.ly/bzhHu </a></span></div>
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<strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Full Tilt</u></span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320554473l/163923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320554473l/163923.jpg" width="200" /></a><strong style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">I ONCE SOWED DESTRUCTION.</strong><br />
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Now those I love are reaping pain.</div>
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The media hype is fading and my life is no longer that of a glamorous celebrity. I'm Everett Lester, former lead singer of DeathStroke, acquitted last year of first-degree murder, now married, a Christian, and ready to take my story to the masses through music. Problem is, the turmoil of my past didn't end when the reporters left.</div>
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My wife Karen and I have received news that has rocked our world. My brother Eddie's gambling is so far out of control that the mob practically owns him. And Eddie's son, Wesley--who blames me for his brother's death--is mixed up with meth, a psychotic named Tony Badino, and a satanic voice that's urging him to take me out.</div>
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Will my Living Water tour ever hit the road? Will former fans stop hissing long enough to hear about the transforming power of Christ's love? Satan once used me for evil--only through God's power can I be used for good. The question is: will my loved ones and I be able to survive the aftermath of a rock star's life?</div>
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Everett Lester faces enemies both human and supernatural. Satan won't give up his hold on Everett, his family, or his fans without a vicious fight. God's victory is certain in the supernatural realm, but will Everett survive the earthly battle that's threatening to obliterate him?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Nobody</u></span></b></div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">American Christian Fiction Writers: "Book of the Month"</strong></div>
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They said, "He's a nobody."</div>
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They were dead wrong.</div>
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When reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning call on his police scanner about an injured person at a bus stop on Las Vegas Boulevard, he rushes to the scene to get the scoop.</div>
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His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation--and perhaps a chunk of the money--into his own hands?</div>
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With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious man in the black Converse high-tops, but about the lost soul lurking within himself.</div>
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Buy the book: <a href="http://ow.ly/bzhU1" style="color: #00b0d8; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://ow.ly/bzhU1</a> </div>
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<b>My Review: </b></div>
<b style="background-color: white;">My Rating: 4 out of 10 stars</b><br />
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I never actually finished any of these books. It wasn't that they were bad or anything, it was just not my type of book. I had a hard time getting into them to begin with, and found myself getting bored after just a chapter or two. Character development hardly existed and after being a little ways into the first book, I still didn't feel like I knew the main character at all. But this was just something that I personally would find annoying, as a lot of what I base my interest in a book on is the character's personalities and lives.</div>
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I think a lot of people would love these books a whole lot -- I even think my brothers would enjoy them, but for me they just didn't make the cut. </div>
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But, if you like curious, sometimes suspenseful, modern books than these are right for you!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-65715413978385517692012-06-25T14:19:00.002-07:002012-06-25T14:22:52.344-07:00Team Novel Teen Blog Tour -- Swipe<br />
<a href="http://www.jillwilliamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/swipe-195x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.jillwilliamson.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/swipe-195x300.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Everyone gets the Mark. It gives all the benefits of citizenship. Yet if getting the Mark is such a good thing, then why does it feel so wrong? Set in a future North America that is struggling to recover after famine and global war, Swipe follows the lives of three kids caught in the middle of a conflict they didn’t even know existed. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">United under a charismatic leader, every citizen of the American Union is required to get the Mark on their 13th birthday in order to gain the benefits of citizenship. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">The Mark is a tattoo that must be swiped by special scanners for everything from employment to transportation to shopping. It’s almost Logan Langly’s 13th birthday and he knows he should be excited about getting the Mark, but he hasn’t been able to shake the feeling he’s being watched. Not since his sister went to get her Mark five years ago . . . and never came back. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">When Logan and his friends discover the truth behind the Mark, will they ever be able to go back to being normal teenagers? Find out in the first book of this exciting series that is Left Behind meets Matched for middle-grade readers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
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<b><br /></b><br />
<b>The Review:</b><br />
<b>My Ranking: 9 out of 10<br />Ages 10 & up</b><br />
<br />
After reading the synopsis, I was eager to dive into Swipe. While it took me a couple of chapters to get hooked, it wasn't long before I couldn't put it down.<br />
Well written and engaging, I immediately fell in love with the characters -- especially the main character, Logan, who I found to have a lot of the same characteristics as myself! Curiosity and puzzledness were at their peak as I followed Logan through his adventure, eager to see what twist was around the next corner.<br />
<br />
The book was very clean, with only a few mentions of crushes or jealousy about possible "dates". This annoyed me a bit being that the kids in the book are barely 13. Also, the parent's lack of involvement in their own children's lives was somewhat irritating, but overall, it did little to hinder me from enjoying the book.<br />
<br />
All in all, I cannot wait for the next book to release this fall!<br />
<br />
Make sure to check out<a href="http://www.evanangler.com/" target="_blank"> Evan Angler's website</a> to learn more about this awesome series, or head over to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/140031836X/ref=as_li_ss_til?tag=wwwteenageaut-20&camp=0&creative=0&linkCode=as4&creativeASIN=140031836X&adid=1WX9XXAX58BJN68MK9FX" target="_blank">Amazon </a>to purchase the first book NOW!<br />
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Also, check out the other reviews part of this tour to see what they have to say!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://addlibrarian.wordpress.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">ADD Librarian</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://www.bloomingwithbooks.webs.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Blooming with Books</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://www.thebookfae.wordpress.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Book Fae</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://booknook4you.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Book Nook 4 You</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://bookwormreading.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Bookworm Reading</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://noahsreads.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Books I Recommend</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://christianbookreviewblog.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Christian Book Review Blog</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://www.ctfdevourer.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">CTF Devourer</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://www.fictionfire.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Fiction Fire</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://www.jillwilliamson.com/?p=8246" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Jill Williamson</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://labornotinvain.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Labor Not in Vain</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://themaniacalbookworm.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Maniacal Bookworm</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://mystoryshelf.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">My Story Shelf</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://www.daughteroftheking89.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Oh, Restless Bird</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://theravenquill.blogspot.com/2012/01/replication-by-jill-williamson-review.html" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">The Pen and Parchment</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://www.reviewsbyjane.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Reviews by Jane</a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> • </span><a href="http://shadowwriterworld.blogspot.com/" style="color: #a8366a; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-decoration: none;">Shadow Writer World</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-23634795612245709492012-06-07T11:00:00.000-07:002012-06-07T11:00:56.354-07:00Book Showcasing -- Dancing in HeavenHey readers! Today I am happy to bring you a book showcasing and author interview! First let's hear about the book.<br />
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<a href="http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/cover-ebook-150.jpg?w=150&h=225" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/cover-ebook-150.jpg?w=150&h=225" /></a></div>
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<i>Dancing in Heaven is an inspirational story about my sister Annie's life, death, and her significance in the lives of those of us who loved her and others who were touched by her. Born with severe brain damage, Annie never outgrew the needs of an infant. She didn't walk or talk. Our parents fed her, changed her clothes, and lifted her from her bed to her wheelchair and back for her entire life of 51 years. This memoir provides a window into my family' s life with a severely disabled member. But more importantly, Dancing in Heaven is a testimony to the basic intrinsic value of human life.
</i><br />
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You will be touched by this inspirational story about Annie and her family's ups and downs in their abnormal life. This endearing tribute to the author's sister is sure to leave you feeling encouraged and blessed. Purchase it at <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Heaven-sisters-Christine-Grote/dp/0983819807/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320684208&sr=1-1" target="_blank">Amazon</a>, read the <a href="http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/2011/10/11/dancing-in-heaven-%E2%80%94-chapter-one/" target="_blank">first chapter here</a>, or learn more about it <a href="http://randomthoughtsfrommidlife.wordpress.com/dancing-in-heaven/" target="_blank">here!</a><br />
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<hr />
<br />
Now, to learn more about the author and get a snippet of her WIP in the interview below!<br />
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<b>How long have you been writing?</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
I've made up stories in my head for as long as I can remember, although I did it with a lot greater frequency when I was young. I never wrote any of them down, and don't consider myself to be a fiction writer at this point. Although I think I would like to be.
I started to seriously pursue a career in writing in 1999 when I returned to college part time for an English degree with a minor in Written Communications. I wrote features for the school paper and had two feature stories published in the national magazine St. Anthony Messenger in 2008.
Dancing in Heaven is the first book I've written.<br />
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<b>What inspired you to write a memoir about your sister?</b><br />
<br />
I always knew I would write about my sister Annie. I believed her story had a lot to offer other people in many different ways. Mostly I felt there was something inside of me that needed to be spoken. I had written a short story about Annie while I was still in college, but set it aside. When Annie died in the summer of 2009, I became inspired, even compelled, to write her story.<br />
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<b> Do you have any plans to write anything else?</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
I am currently working on a non-fiction story about my father who grew up during the depression, and now has Alzheimer's. Obviously there is a lot of story in between, and one of the biggest challenges will be how to tell his story in the most meaningful way possible.<br />
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<b> If you could enter any book and live it out as the main character, what book would you choose, and why? </b><br />
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Without a doubt, Pride and Prejudice. Who wouldn't want to spend the rest of their life at Pemberley with Darcy?<br />
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<b>If you could have a lifetime supply of anything you wanted, what would it be?</b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Books.<br />
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<b> What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?</b><br />
<br />
Raising four children who are generous, loving, talented, caring, and responsible adults.<br />
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<i><b>Thanks Christine for visiting Reviews by Jane!</b></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-10810980860428296642012-05-02T08:30:00.000-07:002012-05-02T08:30:00.423-07:00Forbidden Mind by Kimberly Kinrade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Sam thinks she's months away from freedom. After spending her life in a secret school, rented out to the rich and powerful as a paranormal spy, she is ready to head to college like any normal eighteen-year-old.
Only Sam isn't normal. </i><br />
<i>She reads minds. </i><br />
<i>And just before her big going-away party, she links to the mind of a young man who changes everything. </i><br />
<i>Drake wasn't raised as a 'Rent-A-Kid.' He was kidnapped and taken there by force. But his exceptional physical strength and powers of mind control make him very dangerous, especially to Sam. </i><br />
<i>When they meet, Sam is forced to face the truth of her situation, and to acknowledge that not all is as it seems in her picture-perfect world. For what awaits her on her eighteenth birthday isn't a trip to college, but an unexpected nightmare from which she may not be able to escape. </i><br />
<i> To survive, they must work together.
But will their powers be enough to save them before it's too late?</i><br />
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<br />
<b>The Review:</b><br />
<b>My Ranking: 9 out of 10</b><br />
<b>Ages 16 & up</b><br />
<br />
I had never read a book by Kimberly Kinrade, but I have always loved paranormal books and after reading the synopsis of Forbidden Mind I knew I had to get a hold of her novel. I eagerly picked it up and was sucked into the engaging and fast-paced story. I loved absolutely every moment spent in Forbidden Mind! It was very well written and easy to get sucked into. I quite literally picked it up and didn't put it down until the last page. It was incredibly gripping.<br />
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I instantly liked Sam's character. She was sharp and quick, yet had a compassionate side to her and a deep loyalty to those she loved. I liked learning about her twin friends, Lucy and Luke, and was dying to have them return to the story by the end.<br />
Drake was also easy to like. He was instantly loyal to Sam, and I found his bravado charming, even if it was all mental support.<br />
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There is some content to beware of, and some of the stuff I mention below may be considered <b>spoilers</b> so read at your own risk. ;)<br />
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<span style="color: red;">- Some mild language. Several mentions of the B-word, S-word, and D-word. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- Sam can read minds and overhears a man thinking crude thoughts toward a 10-year old girl, thinking about how fresh and untouched she'll be. Sam finds these thoughts horrible and does everything she can to put a stop to the man. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- While not directly said, it is obvious that they take the sperm from Drake and purposefully make Sam pregnant using it. This is not put in a good light at all and the author was the least crude she could be about it, having Sam think things like "I've never had sex!" or Drake, once hearing about it, believes it saying, hesitantly and carefully choosing his wording, that they were "harvesting me for reproductive purposes." and that he could tell things were done to "parts of him.".</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- Sam, angry with Rent-a-Kid, realizes she's being used and in the midst of her anger realizes she's only worth keeping if she "ovulates properly."</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- Sam recalls a time she was reading someones mind and he was mentally undressing her and she was disgusted.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- Mild kissing. Before they meet, Sam is longing to be able to touch and smell Drake because she is so connected to him.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- Drake, explaining to a pastor how Sam is pregnant, says he "never knew her in a Biblical sense", and the pastor laughs and says Drake is allowed to say the word "sex".</span><br />
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Overall, if the content isn't too much for you, this is an amazing book that I highly recommend. It was full of adventure and excitement -- I loved every moment of it and can't wait to finish the next one!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-15451222848947068142012-05-02T07:48:00.002-07:002012-05-02T07:48:52.184-07:00Tips for Helping Your Daughter Choose a Great Book<place>Reading</place> is one of those skills that can be applied to achieve positive outcomes in many aspects of life. As a parent, it is important that you encourage your children to cultivate a reading culture. This may seem like a huge task to you. However, getting kids to read has a lot to do with selecting the right books. If you have a daughter and aren’t sure how to pick some good reads for her, here are a few tips to help you along.<br />
<h3>
Consult with Your Librarian</h3>
Most librarians will give you excellent suggestions on what your daughter will enjoy reading. Let your librarian know about your daughter’s interests and indicate some of the books she’s enjoyed reading. Since librarians are knowledgeable about reading material across all ages, you’ll be surprised at the many the titles suggested for your daughter to read.<br />
<h3>
Let Her Interests Guide You</h3>
As a parent, it is easy to pick books that you think your daughter should read and overlook her personal interests in the process. While it is true that you can apply your wisdom positively in selecting books for her, it is important that you accommodate her interests. Be sure that you have a clear understanding of her interests. This will ensure that you help her to choose books that she’ll be excited to read rather than get bored by books selected.<br />
<h3>
Study Materials</h3>
<city>
<place>Reading</place></city> can be for leisure as well as for educational purposes. Perhaps your daughter is <a href="http://www.ged-online.net/" target="_self" title="GED-ONLINE.NET">enrolled in a ged online program</a>. You can help her draw up a good study plan that includes some great publications. Her success in taking the GED is largely dependent upon having good books to help her prepare thoroughly for the exam. Most online preparation courses outline the study materials required for the program. It is a good idea to check out study materials being offered by a course before you assist your daughter in selection. To obtain good GED study materials, you may want to check out the American Council on Education, which facilitates the exam.<br />
<h3>
Subject Matter</h3>
It is important that you take an interest in the subject matter of books your daughter is reading. Your parental role involves guiding her in selecting books that contain appropriate content. Encourage her to pick books that add value to her life because of the principles or concepts contained in the book. Given your daughter’s age, you should be able to determine if it is okay for her to read books on subjects such as family conflict, sexuality and other similar delicate topics.<br />
<h3>
What are Your Interests?</h3>
They say the longer you live, the more you learn. You may want to share some of your reading interests with your daughter. While the capacity to grasp language varies according to age, certain concepts may be appreciated across all ages. If you enjoy reading faith-based books or are enrolled in a Christian program, you must have come across several good reads. In most cases, <a href="http://www.online-christian-colleges.org/" target="_self" title="Strengthen Your Faith, Get Your Degree From an Online Christian College">online Christian colleges</a> provide students with diverse reading lists, to teach Christian principles and foster the faith. If your daughter is below 12 years, you could introduce her to children’s bible stories, by way of encouraging the development of a spiritual foundation. If she’s older, you may want to introduce her to books that focus on overcoming faith.<br />
<h3>
Sources</h3>
<a href="http://distancelearn.about.com/od/virtualhighschools/p/GED_Online.htm" target="_self" title="Basics of Preparing for the GED Online">Basics of Preparing for the GED Online.</a> (2012) About.com<br />
<a href="http://explore.westervillelibrary.org/books4kids" target="_self" title="How to Choose Books for Kids">How to Choose Books for Kids</a>. (2012)
<place><city>Westerville</city></place> Public Library.<br />
<a href="http://blog.reading-rewards.com/2011/07/how-to-pick-the-best-books-for-your-kids-1-top-tips/" target="_self" title="How to Pick the Best Books for Your Kids">How to Pick the Best Books for Your Kids.</a> (2011) Reading-Rewards.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-86850941842644210472012-04-24T11:40:00.000-07:002012-04-24T11:40:33.685-07:00Warring Spirits by April Garner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5j69pQLsOxGYRDFks_CJGDpKjBgkFTKPpRfli5axnjaEnsWdvLR-NaeCGx8m7UkCViOU2OKm674TSCzABz6sUGGr5lqdnNef79J-tv6VIvR_S5r4Q_cQvLN9DT0XIiSJkHnq81hlhyW0/s320/warring+spirits+500+X+750+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5j69pQLsOxGYRDFks_CJGDpKjBgkFTKPpRfli5axnjaEnsWdvLR-NaeCGx8m7UkCViOU2OKm674TSCzABz6sUGGr5lqdnNef79J-tv6VIvR_S5r4Q_cQvLN9DT0XIiSJkHnq81hlhyW0/s320/warring+spirits+500+X+750+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><i>Where blood is spilt,
unexpected love may bloom.</i></b><br />
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<i> In 1816 Georgia, escaped slaves control the land just beyond the American border in Las Floridas. Lost somewhere between white and black worlds, Milly follows hope to the only place that can offer her refuge—the place Georgians are calling Negro Fort. The first, sweet taste of freedom convinces Milly that surrender is not an option. Death would be more welcome. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>Major Phillip Bailey has orders to subdue the uprising and return the runaways to their masters. Forced to fight alongside Creek warriors—the same who etched the scars into his mind and flesh—Phillip primes himself for battle. But inside, a war already rages—return for the woman he thought lost to him or concede her to the enemy she loves; follow orders or follow his heart.</i>
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<b><br /></b><br />
<b>The Review:</b><br />
<b>My Ranking: 9 out of 10<br />Ages 16 & up</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Having read Wounded Spirits, I knew I was in for a treat when I picked up it's sequel, Warring Spirits. April Gardner had already impressed me and gained my favor with her smooth writing style, deep characters, and intense storyline. The wait between Wounded Spirits and Warring Spirits was a hard one to wait out, but after what seemed like forever, Warring Spirits was released and I eagerly snatched it up.<br />
<br />
Once again, I was immediately drawn into the beautiful story that April wove deep in the heart of Georgia. Both Milly and Phillip's characters were well fleshed out and easy to like. We learned a bit about Phillip in Wounded Spirits, and it was nice to continue his story and see from his point of view in Warring Spirit. I also enjoyed learning about True Seeker. I must admit, he was my favorite character and I'm holding out that the next book in the series is about him! He intrigued me greatly!<br />
<br />
Some content to point out:<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;">- A girl wakes up to a man sleeping next to her, but nothing happened in the night.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- A crude man, obviously a "bad guy", suggests that he wants to sleep with a girl and that it was too bad she was laid up because he always likes his women to have a little fight in them.<br />- Several mentions of a woman stirring up passion in the men. Not purposefully, they're just lonesome soldiers and a girl is around. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- A military leader informs his men to keep their hands off the slaves and their trousers buttoned or they'd pay for their pleasure with a lashing. </span><br />
<span style="color: red;">- A man attempts to rape a woman(scene not written, but afterwards is very obvious) but is stopped but not before tearing her blouse(it says you can see the swell of her breast), as the rescuer notices later.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span>
Overall, even though I preferred the first book I really enjoyed Warring Spirits and can't wait for the next book to release!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-92011230231368181262012-04-15T18:54:00.001-07:002012-04-15T18:54:18.788-07:00My Favorite Christian Book<h1 style="text-align: left;">
My Favorite Christian Book</h1>
Besides being one of the most significant works of religious literature, John Bunyan's Christian allegory, <em>The Pilgrim's Progress</em> is one of the most outstanding pieces of English literature, period. The full title is more illustrative of the purpose of the book: <i>The Pilgrim's Progress from This World to That Which Is to Come.</i> The book is so well loved that it has been translated into over 200 languages and has not been out of print since the first publication in 1677.<br />
<strong>Why it's a favorite.</strong> First and foremost, John Bunyan clearly struggled with all of the things that Christians so often struggle with: e.g., the temptation to seek pleasure over that which is moral, and the apathy that springs from knowing that you are and always will be a sinner. Because the author has given so much thought to these issues, the substance of the book will be poignant for any Christian of any culture and time. It is also a major source of <a href="http://www.onlinecollegeclasses.org/" target="_blank">academic study</a>.<br />
Second, the writing style is very interesting--almost mythological in its scope and grandeur. The allegorical character names and destinations are otherworldly, yet entirely relevant to our own lives. To give you an idea, the plot of the story is that of a man, named Christian (formerly Graceless) who is journeying to the Celestial City. Along the way, he meets Mr. Worldly Wise Man, Goodwill, Help, and Hypocrisy. <br />
<b>Reasons to read it. </b>If you are a Christian and have not read this book, you really should just read it. It will substitute for any devotional, and is a great read besides. It is truly one of those books that, when read over and over again, will still elicit new concepts and interpretations. In this way, <em>The Pilgrim's Progress</em> is an almost-biblical parable that will enrich any Christian's walk with God. <br />
The book is a used as a text or discussion point in many <a href="http://www.online-christian-colleges.org/" target="_blank">Christian colleges and universities</a>. <br />
For more information on John Bunyan's, <em>The Pilgrim's Progress</em>, check out the following resources. <br />
<ul>
<li> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pilgrim's_Progress" target="_blank">wikipedia.org</a> - for a book with so much historical significance and material substance, wikipedia's synopsis and historical reporting is a great starting point for understanding the book. </li>
<li> <a href="http://www.ntslibrary.com/PDF%20Books/pilgrim%20progress.pdf" target="_blank">ntslibrary.com</a> - this is the full-text of the book, so obviously it's a great resource for those interested in the story.</li>
</ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-50377451258618972292012-04-11T11:27:00.000-07:002012-04-16T14:42:48.025-07:00Moving Across Town<strong>The Author of this post is Rolando Dickerson</strong><br />
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<br />
My daughter is finally getting a new house! I have waited for this for a long time. She is a stay at home mom and keeper of the sports and activities calendar for my three grandsons and should have a magnetic sign on the side of her car that reads Taxi Driver! She is always taking them from one place to another for school, sports, and church activities. She has needed a new kitchen almost since the day they moved into their current house. They have taken their time, or my son-in-law has, in determining that they really needed a different home. So they began the search and finally found a great home in a great area where they will still be close to their children’s school, their church, and their country club. Since they were relocating all their services, my son-in-law checked into upgrading their television channels by responding to <a href="http://www.tvbydirect.com/directv-deal/San-Jose-CALIFORNIA-CA-direct-tv.html">direct tv </a>deals and he was able to increase their options at minimal cost. I can’t wait to see the new kitchen that I will spend so much time in at Thanksgiving<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-83527334218503548872012-04-10T09:28:00.001-07:002012-04-10T09:28:57.140-07:00Litfuse Blog Tour -- By The Light of the Silvery Moon<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold;"><b>About the book:</b></span><br />
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<h2>
<b></b><br /><a href="http://creativemadnessmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ByTheLightOfTheSilveryMoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://creativemadnessmama.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/ByTheLightOfTheSilveryMoon.jpg" width="271" /></a>Amelia Gladstone's hopes are tied up in the Titanic--hopes for a reunion with her sister and an introduction to an admirer. But when she offers a spare ticket to a down-and-out young man, her fate is about to change.</h2>
Quentin Walpole is stunned when a sweet lady secures his passage to America--and even more surprised to find his wealthy father and older brother on board the ship. Suddenly Amelia finds herself caught between the attentions of two men, but who should she entrust her heart to? As the fateful night arrives, will Amelia lose everything to the icy waters?<br />
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<a href="http://www.titletrakk.com/Images/authors/tricia-goyer-1-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.titletrakk.com/Images/authors/tricia-goyer-1-300.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<b>About Tricia:</b></h2>
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Tricia Goyer is the award winning author of thirty-two books including Beside Still Waters, Remembering You, and the mommy memoir, Blue Like Play Dough. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences and is the host of Living Inspired. She and her family make their home in Little Rock, Arkansas where they are part of the ministry of FamilyLife.<br />
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<i>More info: Living Inspired (</i><a href="http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired"><i>http://toginet.com/shows/livinginspired</i></a><i>) and </i><a href="http://www.triciagoyer.com/"><i>www.triciagoyer.com</i></a><i>.</i><br />
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<b>Giveaway!</b></h2>
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<b><i>Win an Flip HD Camcorder during @TriciaGoyer's Unsinkable Titanic Giveaway
and RSVP for 4/10 Titanic Party! </i></b></h3>
<b>Celebrate the release of By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Tricia by entering her
giveaway and RSVPing to her Titanic party. </b><i><b></b></i><br />
<img src="http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/b8/FileItem-235167-
SilveryMoon300.png" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /><br />
<b>One "unsinkable" winner will receive:</b><br />
<ul>
<li><b>Flip HD video Camera</b><i> (Make your own dramatic saga!)</i></li>
<li><b>Titanic movies from the ages</b> <i>{Titanic (1953) Unsinkable Molly Brown
(1964), Titanic (1997)}</i></li>
<li><i><b>Secrets of the Titanic</b></i> <i>(Get the facts from National Geographic.)
</i></li>
<li><b>And the Band Played On</b><i> (Music Played on the Titanic.)</i></li>
<li><i>By the Light of the Silvery Moon</i> by Tricia Goyer <i>(Be swept away in this
tale of love and courage.)</i></li>
</ul>
<i>Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on
April 9th.</i><i> Winner will be announced at </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/194359150674746/" target="_blank"><i>"Silvery Moon" Titanic Facebook Party on 4/
10</i></a><i>. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook </i><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">and Live from her website) and giving away books, gift certificates and a book club
prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club). During the live
chat Tricia will have a *special guest* join her. More details coming soon!</span></i>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">So grab your copy of By the Light of the Silvery Moon and join Tricia on the
evening of the April 10th for a fun chat, trivia contest (How much do you know about the
Titanic?) and lots of giveaways. </span></i>
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The Review:<br />
My Ranking: 9 out of 10<br />
Ages 16 & up<br />
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I've read a couple of Goyer's works before, but never one as great as this! I have always enjoyed stories that take place on the Titanic(such emotion is bound to surface!), and Goyer did amazingly with this wondrous tale of family, loss, love, forgiveness, and reconciliation. I couldn't put it down!<br /><br />
Goyer's characters were well fleshed out and easy to cherish. I enjoy it when authors don't take the common route and create their characters as perfect angels who could never do a wrong, but actually make realistic, deep characters who make mistakes, same as every ACTUAL person, and learns from them. While the romance moved quick, I didn't find it to be cheesy or unrealistic -- Goyer handled it quite well!<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">
As for content, there were a few things. There are a few times where it mentions things like a woman being "all his flesh desired", having to "swallow down his desire", and there is a scene where a man is tempted by a woman(who is purposefully tempting) and it talks about him imagining the taste of her lips, smelling the alcohol in her breath, and imagining how easy it would be for him take her to his room. In the end, he realizes it would be wrong and doesn't do it. We know a man in the book has a past involving multiple quick relationships with women, all of which he regrets</span>.<br /><br />
All in all, it was an amazing book that I highly recommend! My heart both fluttered and ached as a soared through this story, enjoying both the lessons learned and history retold.</span>
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<br />
</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-19037498759549378612012-04-04T19:15:00.000-07:002012-04-04T19:15:14.982-07:00Halflings by Heather Burch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>After being inexplicably targeted by an evil intent on harming her at any cost, seventeen-year-old Nikki finds herself under the watchful guardianship of three mysterious young men who call themselves halflings. Sworn to defend her, misfits Mace, Raven, and Vine battle to keep Nikki safe while hiding their deepest secret—and the wings that come with. </i><br />
<i>A growing attraction between Nikki and two of her protectors presents a whole other danger. While she risks a broken heart, Mace and Raven could lose everything, including their souls. As the mysteries behind the boys’ powers, as well as her role in a scientist’s dark plan, unfold, Nikki is faced with choices that will affect the future of an entire race of heavenly beings, as well as the precarious equilibrium of the earthly world
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<br />
<b>The Review:</b><br />
<b>My Ranking: 4 out of 10<br />Ages 16 & up</b><br />
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I have always enjoyed paranormal stories with unique twists and intriguing characters, so when I heard about this book I was eager to give it a try. While it was well written and had a "cool" story, I was less than impressed by this tale. Let me tell you why.<br />
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Starting out, I found it to hold my attention well and it seemed interesting enough. The characters were captivating, and the story had potential. But as it continued, and the romance developed, I soon recognized the book for what it is: A Christian Twilight.<br />
Honestly, after I made this recognition it all pieced together. Almost every aspect of the romance in the book matched Twilight, which <a href="http://reviewsbyjane.blogspot.com/2011/10/twilight-destroying-contentment-around.html">I have read</a>, perfectly. The forbiddenness, the excessive "beauty" of the men(which, by the way, I just find weird and slightly creepy), and the struggle between the bad boy and the sweet guy. Of course, both are in danger of dying by loving her. The romance was very physically charged and seemed to hold little to no personality interest. It was really all about appearance and fleshy whims.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">A few things that stood out to me content wise were the continuous mentions of teenagers of both genders being referred to as "hot", obvious and eerie obsessions(very much like Twilight) between Nicki and Raven and Mace, all physically charged. There's a scene in the woods where Raven is training Nicki and it is apparent that he thinks she "wants" him. Among these, the romance was, as mentioned, heavier and in my opinion weirdly obsessive. </span><br />
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Overall, the story plot was interesting and I may read the next book should the opportunity come up, since it was quite a cliffhanger, but in general, this book was definitely not for me and not one I would recommend to any of my friends. But, like always, these are strictly my opinions and I am sure many would enjoy this novel. :)<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Verdana; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I received this free book in return for an honest review from Zondervan. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.</span></i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-58311949753992967512012-03-19T11:55:00.000-07:002012-03-19T11:55:13.153-07:00Lily by B.J. Bassett -- A General Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>California, 1900-Nestled in the foothills of the northern California coast, the town of Laurel Springs is home to high-spirited Lily Blair, the daughter of Rev. William Blair. Lily delights in being spoiled by her grandmother and father, and even though she lost her mother to childbirth, she glories in life itself and continuously pushes the bounds of propriety. Having her every whim indulged as a child leads to a tough road as an adult. Lily falls in love with James Conti and wants to marry him, but James heads off to fight in the Great War, leaving Lily alone and heartbroken. When her father wants to send her off to boarding school, Lily makes yet another rash decision and marries a man she does not love. In the ensuing years, Lily endures hardship and loss, a sharp detour from the pampered existence she once enjoyed. Yet as Lily struggles to cope with these unexpected changes, she discovers just how powerful God's love and forgiveness can be. But will it be enough to get her through the darkest days yet to come? Full of vivid historical detail, Lily is an emotional coming-of-age story that celebrates the strength of the human spirit.</i><br />
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<b><br /></b><br />
<b>The Review:</b><br />
<b>My Ranking: 2 out of 10</b><br />
<b>Ages 17 & up</b><br />
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This was my first book by B.J. Bassett, and I was eager to read her novel Lily which looked to be an interesting historical fiction. Since it was a shorter book, it didn't take me long to finish it.<br />
Sadly, I did not enjoy this book. I had a lot of personal problems with it involving the way Lily treated her husband and I disapproved of just about every single one of her actions. While in the end Lily recognized her wrongs, it wasn't specific at all about what it was she knew was sinful nor does it suggest any regret for many of her wrongdoings.<br />
There was also a lot of a suggestive sensual material. Nothing excessively explicit, but there are scenes where it is indescriptive yet obvious two individuals are consummating their relationship, both inside a marriage and outside. Lily also at one point tempts another guy by tricking him into going to an abandoned cabin and then disrobing.<br />
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Overall, I'm sorry to say that I really did not enjoy this book at all. I'm sure there are some out there who would like it, but for me, my convictions and beliefs contradicted with it in every aspect.<br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-67400585723739878732012-03-05T12:20:00.002-08:002012-03-05T12:20:22.013-08:00UpdateHello readers!<br />
<br />Well, I've tried and tried again to become regular on this blog lately but sadly it's just not happening. So I'm just going to be honest and say I won't be posting on here as much. I've been posting a lot on my <a href="http://www.kaitlynology.com/blog">main blog</a>, so you can keep up with me there. And not to worry -- I'll still be posting reviews on here, just not as often. :)<br />We've actually got a pretty busy year planned, and I already haven't had as much time to read as last year. But I'll still make sure to pop over occasionally with a review or two.<br />Make sure to head over to my <a href="http://www.kaitlynology.com/blog">personal blog</a> and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from y'all over there. :DAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-86823902002365247182012-02-16T19:16:00.002-08:002012-02-16T19:16:41.502-08:00FIRST Blog Tour -- Warring Spirits<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoW5uZCH_w22Dc2ajHZUAymntQkjxptHnbXT02I5k1kMcidO8hus-xkXp_apWPederpBDgi_eGMETDLGKIlDCkXZk-y0RKcI55_iTTEyw4CJ9t7-TYWC5ZdY9GeaKr2BT_uV-NxnIVt8/s1600/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg"></a><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480264388542368882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoW5uZCH_w22Dc2ajHZUAymntQkjxptHnbXT02I5k1kMcidO8hus-xkXp_apWPederpBDgi_eGMETDLGKIlDCkXZk-y0RKcI55_iTTEyw4CJ9t7-TYWC5ZdY9GeaKr2BT_uV-NxnIVt8/s200/FIRSTWildCardTours2.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0 10px 10px 0; width: 145px;" /></a>It is time for a <span style="color: #990000;"><strong><a href="http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/">FIRST Wild Card Tour</a></strong></span> book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! <span style="color: #990000;"><strong>Enjoy your free peek into the book!</strong></span>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><em>You never know when I might play a wild card on you!</em></span>
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<strong>Today's Wild Card author is: </strong>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.aprilgardner.com/">April W Gardner</a></span></strong>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 100%;">and the book:</span> </span></strong>
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<strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: 180%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/098341985X">Warring Spirits</a></span></strong>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Vinspire Publishing, LLC (November 30, 2011)</span>
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***Special thanks to April Gardner for sending me a review copy.***
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<strong><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span> </span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xN1hs7RX4z6r45jifyMimMDJqi4S17nNpUWqiWeIK986WkZUlSuGyERfGKAhzbMQln70AiiDyvGJ64S7yIoc3kDHQgC3zC1ZIE89cUMDd0D5I4e8WSvymw8w9pg-HTAFTS2bvMGsSvA/s1600/April's+headshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8xN1hs7RX4z6r45jifyMimMDJqi4S17nNpUWqiWeIK986WkZUlSuGyERfGKAhzbMQln70AiiDyvGJ64S7yIoc3kDHQgC3zC1ZIE89cUMDd0D5I4e8WSvymw8w9pg-HTAFTS2bvMGsSvA/s200/April's+headshot.JPG" width="133" /></a>April W Gardner has been a military brat, missionary's kid, and military spouse. After 21 years in various countries overseas, she happily resides in Georgia with her USAF husband and two sweet kiddos. In her free time, April enjoys reading, music, and DIY. In no particular order, she dreams of owning a horse, visiting all the national parks, and speaking Italian.<br />
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Librarian, reviewer, and avid reader, April adores anything books. She writes a regular column for the joint blog, Reflections in Hindsight, and is the founder and senior editor of the literary website, Clash of the Titles. She is the author of the historical romance series, <i>Creek Country Saga</i> and the children's adventure series, the <i>Channel Islands Resistance</i>.<br />
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Visit the author's <a href="http://www.aprilgardner.com/">website</a>.
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<strong><span style="color: #333399; font-size: 130%;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:</span> </span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyWXeQo8sOSI-kjjKCn_IoXguLo_lZCYY-SCg2VYgW_YLxWiJZwBPF-IFtqAWICWL_vVeygjBetfGmcLZFcNhrcEvpP4DCc0b61aX_fXhtBm0NdEaZeMknFdTWeu0O8RSBf4syKr7S4g/s1600/warring+spirits+500+X+750+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyWXeQo8sOSI-kjjKCn_IoXguLo_lZCYY-SCg2VYgW_YLxWiJZwBPF-IFtqAWICWL_vVeygjBetfGmcLZFcNhrcEvpP4DCc0b61aX_fXhtBm0NdEaZeMknFdTWeu0O8RSBf4syKr7S4g/s200/warring+spirits+500+X+750+(1).jpg" width="133" /></a>In 1816 Georgia, escaped slaves control the land just beyond the American border in Las Floridas. Lost somewhere between white and black worlds, Milly follows hope to the only place that can offer her refuge—the place Georgians are calling Negro Fort. The first, sweet taste of freedom convinces Milly that surrender is not an option. Death would be more welcome.<br />
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Major Phillip Bailey has orders to subdue the uprising and return the runaways to their masters. Forced to fight alongside Creek warriors—the same who etched the scars into his mind and flesh—Phillip primes himself for battle. But inside, a war already rages—return for the woman he thought lost to him or concede her to the enemy she loves; follow orders or follow his heart.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="233" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GbN7YgmwjNY" width="400"></iframe>
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Product Details:<br />
List Price: $10.99<br />
Paperback: 286 pages<br />
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing, LLC (November 30, 2011)<br />
Language: English<br />
ISBN-10: 098341985X<br />
ISBN-13: 978-0983419853<br />
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<strong style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: large;">AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><i>Warring Spirits</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: x-large;">April Gardner</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Vinspire Inspirations</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A Division of Vinspire Publishing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><i>Warring Spirits</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Copyright ©2011 April Gardner</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Cover illustration copyright © 2011 Elaina Lee/For the Muse Designs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Printed and bound in the United States of America. All rights</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">All characters in this work are purely fictional and have no existence</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">outside the imagination of the author and have no relation</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">author, and all incidents are pure invention.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">ISBN: 978-0-9834198-5-3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">PUBLISHED BY VINSPIRE INSPIRATIONS, A DIVISION OF</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">VINSPIRE PUBLISHING, LLC</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Chapter 1</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip knew it was a dream. He told himself again, though it did little good. The children’s shrieks grew louder. The flaming pickets roared with new life, as though fueled by his denial of their existence.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">His legs churned, but he couldn’t free his mind of the constant nightmare. At least this time, he reasoned, he wasn’t awake. Small blessings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">And then, he saw her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Adela.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Arms dangling at her sides and skirt undulating in the waves of heat, she stood across the compound. Her lips were motionless, but her voice echoed through his mind. “Phillip.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He rushed toward the vision, and she reached for him. “Phillip, love, you must wake up.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">With a cry, he bolted upright.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The silhouette of a woman hovered over him. He stared at her, unblinking, afraid to move and frighten her away.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Sweat poured down his chest—sweat as real as the shadow seemed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“That’s better,” she whispered. “You’ll be alright.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He disagreed, but if he spoke, he might shatter her. He’d done it before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Her loose hair swayed as she moved so near, he should feel her heat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Taking in the comfort of her presence, he held his breath until his lungs burned with need. Refusing to be contained any longer, air exploded from his mouth. The sound ripped through the cabin, and in one blink, Adela vanished.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A moan built in Phillip’s throat, and he buried his head in his trembling palms. When his fingers collided with the jagged flesh on his face, he recalled again why Adela was no more to him than a mocking shadow, a figment of his deluded, half-crazed mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She had turned him down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Familiar nausea haunted his gut. With a growl, he threw his damp pillow across the room. The sound of splintering glass sent him scrambling for the musket by his bed. He had the unsteady barrel aimed toward the source before he realized he’d been the cause of the commotion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He dropped the weapon and backed away from it as though it were a copperhead. Blood pounded in his throat. He swallowed hard, terrified of his own mind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">It had been nearly two years. One more night of this and he would prove the gossip correct. He would go mad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">There had to be a better way.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Help me.” His voice shivered, and for once, he was thankful to be alone. “Sweet Jesus, show me a better way.”</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">***</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Sitting as poised as possible in the bouncing buckboard, Milly rearranged her skirt then tugged her bonnet over her ears. Another rut in the road sent her stomach flying.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“You look fine, Miss Milly.” Isum transferred the reins to one hand then wiped a palm against his dingy, knee-length trousers. A sideways glance topped his crooked smile. “As fine as any white lady in stole clothes.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly squirmed inside her stuffy petticoats. “<i>Borrowed</i> clothes, and don’t call me that. Milly will do.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“No, miss. It won’t. Best make a habit of it now, before we’re needin’ it.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“I hate admitting when you’re right.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Isum chuckled, but Milly pressed her lips and snatched a peek over her shoulder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“We’ll hear somebody comin’ before we see ‘em.” Isum’s voice remained steady, his demeanor casual, and his shoulders relaxed. His death-grip on the reigns told another story.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Three years ago, he had been as short and wiry as a plucked cotton bush. Now, his muscular, mahogany frame left little room to spare on the wagon seat. According to plantation gossip, the field girls took to nervous giggles whenever he came around. The master had perked up as well and taken to accepting bids.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">There was only one thing Master Landcastle needed more than strong field workers. Cash.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The moment whispers in the big house revealed that Isum had been sold and would leave by dawn, Milly took action. There was no way she would let them take the only true friend she had, so ignoring the consequences, she loaded the buggy with vegetables. And one lady’s day gown.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">As was their weekly custom, she and Isum set off toward town. Only this time, instead of stopping at the market, they went straight through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Six miles of red, Georgia clay stretched behind them. Seventeen more before they ran into Spanish Florida. Sixty beyond that, Negro Fort, and safety.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">It had been done many times before. It could be done again. But in broad daylight?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Escape stories ran through Milly’s twenty-four years of memory. Had there been a single one where a slave had taken to the road while the sun was at its highest? She shook her head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><i>But I have an advantage</i>…<i>so long as I’m not recognized</i>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The July sun beat down on her with mocking strength. She pressed a palm across the back of her stinging neck.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Isum reached to the floorboard then passed her the borrowed parasol. “You’ll be burnin’ if you don’t.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Since he first came to the plantation as a skinny tyke five years her younger, Isum had been her responsibility. She had cared for him as meticulously as she did her own flesh. About the time his gaze tilted downward in order to look her in the eye, they swapped roles, and his protectiveness had grown in proportion to his towering height.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She frowned, opened the frilly contraption, and settled it against her shoulder. Immediately, her neck cooled. It did nothing for the bile rising in her throat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Gripping the side of the bench, she failed to tamp down the regret that swelled within her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The timing was wrong. They would be caught, and he would be sold. She dare not consider her own fate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">They should turn back. It wasn’t too late.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She swiveled and squinted at the road behind them. What options did she have? Mr. Grayson’s features, twisting with his customary, terrifying rage, flashed before her mind’s eye. <i>It’s too late. We can’t turn around.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">They should be moving faster.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Isum pulled on the reins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Why are you slowing?” Milly sat forward, resisting the urge to yank the whip from its holder and spur the mare to a gallop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He swiped the floppy hat from his head and mopped his brow with his sleeve. “We ain’t alone. Best we not seem in too much of a hurry.” He indicated with his hat then settled it back in place before taking up a deliberate, relaxed posture.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A horseman topped the next slope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Oh God, help us.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“What you worried about, Miss Milly? You’s armed with the most beautiful smile this side of the Chattahoochee. Ain’t no gentleman gonna see past it to doubt your word.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">But what if he <i>wasn’t</i> a gentleman? Milly forced a wobbly smile then swept her hand under her bonnet, securing any strays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Within minutes, Isum pulled the buggy to a halt as the gentleman came alongside them. The creaking brake nearly sent Milly scrambling for the trees lining the road. Instead, she angled the parasol to shield her face, presumably, from the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Good afternoon.” The man’s unfamiliar voice released her pent-up breath.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Easing back the shade, she peered through the lace edging. Long seconds passed before Isum shifted beside her and nudged her back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly lowered the parasol and forced her gaze to the stranger’s eyes. She found them friendly and unsuspecting. “Good afternoon to you, sir.” Tucking her trembling hands into the folds of the closed parasol, she tried for that beautiful smile but feared she fell short of Isum’s expectations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The man studied her, never once glancing at Isum.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A cold sweat broke out on her upper lip. Like venom, fear coursed through her, poisoning her confidence. Her gaze slipped to the dirt where it belonged.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“You’re a might far from civilization. It’s not exactly safe out here, even with a strapping young buck such as yours.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly’s line of sight skittered to the man’s chest, then, weighted by years of training, fell back to the ground. “I plan to trade with Creek in the next village. I hear they’ll give anything for a little food.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“So they will, poor devils.” The man laughed, making Milly’s skin crawl. He sidled his horse close to the buggy, and the smell of his cologne wafted down. “I appreciate a woman with a tender heart.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“If you don’t mind, we best be moving along. I wouldn’t want to be caught out after dark.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The man’s silence lured Milly’s hesitant gaze. A smile crept up his face. “There they are, those pretty brown eyes.” He tipped his hat, bowing slightly at the waist. “It would be my pleasure to escort you, miss.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“No.” The discourteous refusal popped out of its own volition. “Thank you, but that’s not necessary. We’re accustomed to the road.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Eyes darkening, the gentleman reined his horse around, pointing its nose toward the road behind them. “As you wish. Good day.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly nodded but doubted he noticed. “Let’s move, Isum,” she whispered, anxious to leave the man’s dust behind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A brisk mile later, Milly’s gloved hand still clutched the parasol in her lap. Tears burned her eyes at the thought of what might have happened. She blinked them away to find Isum grinning from ear to ear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“We done it. We fooled that dandy.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A strangled chuckle escaped her. “Yes. I supposed we did. He never suspected a thing.” Milly laughed, full and long. It unwound the knotted cord in her gut, and suddenly, the road opened before them and filled with possibilities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Possibilities of a future. With Isum? He had offered as much, and she hadn’t exactly rejected him. Neither had she accepted. She found it difficult to move past the years of near-mothering to feel something more toward him. And yet, she couldn’t imagine another man on earth who would willingly wed her. And from all indications, he was more than willing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Taking in a deep, cleansing breath, she turned and found his steady brown eyes on her. All joviality had fled. “Isum? What is it?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“For half a minute, I thought I was gonna have to kill me a white man, the way he was lookin’ at you. Like you’s a Sunday pastry.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">It was always the same with men. Many women longed for beauty, but for Milly, it was the key to her shackles. Perhaps today would commence the end of her nightmares. Even if it did, it certainly wouldn’t erase what had already been done to her. She tucked her chin against the nagging shame.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Isum grunted and slapped the reins across the mare’s rump. “Ain’t nothin’ you can help.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">At the sound of thundering hooves, she felt the blood drain from her face. A glance behind them revealed four riders closing in fast.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She gripped Isum’s arm, words lodging in her throat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Jaw clenched, he focused on the horse as he pulled them to a stop. Running was futile. With quivering resignation, she removed her gloves and folded them neatly, just as the mistress had taught her. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Isum, to see hope shattered across his face.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“It ain’t ova,” he mumbled, as Master Landcastle’s men surrounded them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly coughed in the horses’ dust, and probed her mind for a reasonable excuse.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“I thought you were smarter than this, Milly.” Grayson, the overseer, laid one hand across his legs, loosely aiming a pistol in their direction. “A shame what’ll become of you now.” His false sympathy grated on her ears.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Two of the others dismounted and dragged Isum from his seat. He struggled against their attempt to shackle him and was rewarded with a swift kick to the gut.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly jumped from the buggy and scrambled to the side of Grayson’s horse. Her nails dug into the leather of his riding boot. “Please, it was my fault. I didn’t tell him I planned to run.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He guffawed and kicked her hand away. “He doesn’t answer to you, girl. And he’ll pay for his own foolishness. Just as you will.” He jerked the pistol. “You’re riding with me.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The thought of being pressed against the man for seven miles of rough roads sent Milly back a step. He lunged forward, grappling for the fabric at the front of her gown, but he missed and scratched her neck instead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She barely registered the burn.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">His nostrils flared. “Get over here.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly shied away from his curses then risked a glance over her shoulder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The other three struggled against a willful Isum. “Hold him down,” one bellowed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“I’m tryin’!” Metal clinked and rattled as Isum kicked, sending the shackles skidding across the road.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">One of the men swore and went after them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Too late, Milly noticed Grayson’s hand as he swiped for her again. She swayed back and away, but he compensated, stretching farther away from his horse. Fisting her blouse, he yanked her toward himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">With a cry, Milly locked her knees, sending her lower half sliding under the horse’s belly. She clung to Grayson’s arm, her weight tugging him down with her.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Let me loose.” His breath puffed hot in her ear.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The horse skittered, its hooves striking the ground so close she felt the vibration through the dirt. It bolted away from them, sending Grayson tumbling from his perch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Just in time, Milly flipped to the side, avoiding his descending bulk.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He landed beside her with a grunt, his pistol coming to rest inches from her hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Merciful, Lord,” she whispered through dusty lips.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Grab it!” Isum screamed. Two held him belly-down, while the third locked one cuff on his ankle. His eyes bore into her, begging her to take action.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> Grayson’s gaze darted to the pistol the instant her fingers wrapped around the handle. Before he could pull himself to a sitting position, she had the barrel pointed at his head. “Make them stop.” Her voice trembled in time with her hands.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He snorted. “You wouldn’t kill me.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">No, she wouldn’t, but she could cripple him. In a way he’d never hurt another woman again. Without a word, she redirected her aim.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><i>Steady. Keep it steady. </i>She scooted back, further of his reach. “You heard me.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Grayson glared at her, his jaw working circles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">From the corner of her eye, she noted the stillness that had settled on the opposite side of the road. Isum flailed once more and managed to dislodge himself from under his captors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Unshackle him,” Milly called, her eyes never leaving Grayson’s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“I’ll find you, and you know it.” His voice was gritty with hate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Maybe. But not today.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Grayson, what do you want us to do?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Let him go.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The manacles clinked to the ground.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Isum pushed up and trotted to her side, lip bleeding and jaw swollen, but looking better than such a struggle should afford. “I got this here.” He took the weapon from her. “Think you can get the buggy into them trees?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She nodded. If required to get them out of there, she could sprout wings and fly.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The sun had barely moved by the time Isum had all four men bound, gagged, and lashed to the wagon, which Milly had taken as far into the undergrowth as she could.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">While he secured the men’s bonds, Milly changed back into her comfortable, plain brown frock then scattered all the horses but two. Leading one to Isum, she smiled. On horseback, they could cut through the forest and make better time. At least until the ground grew too swampy.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He gave her a boost then adjusted the stirrups with a swiftness that spoke of a lifetime in the master’s stables. Giving her foot a pat, he winked. “Now who’s the mastah of himself?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She fingered the bonnet’s ribbon tied beneath her chin and shook her head. “It’s a bit soon to be so confident. We have a long trail ahead of us.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Mounted, Isum directed his horse alongside hers. With a quick yank, he loosened her bonnet’s ribbons. “You don’t need that no more. From here on, we’ll be exactly like the Almighty created us to be.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">One hand pressed to the top of her bonnet, Milly leaned out of his reach.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He clucked his tongue. “Your feet can run, but your heart, it gotta stop chasin’ after lies. It’s time you be who you’s meant to be.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><i>Who I’m meant to be?</i> “And what exactly <i>am</i> I?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“A child of the King. And my girl. Nothin’ else mattuh.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Milly snorted, as he took her mare by the bridle. “We ain’t leavin’ ‘til you know it.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“I know it.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Then take it off.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She fingered the edge of her bonnet, while Grayson’s gaze gouged her back. She was more terrified to remove it than to turn the mare toward Florida. Heart running wild, she lifted the bonnet until a breeze tickled the hair on her forehead.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">With a smile born of unending patience, Isum released her horse.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She set the cap in her lap and ran a hand over the braid worked in a circle around her head, its coarse, frizzy texture accusing her of her tainted heritage.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Her line of sight traveled to Grayson. From where he sat tied to the wagon wheel, the hatred emanating from his eyes scorched Milly’s weak resolve.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“I can’t.” With a jerk to the reins, she twisted the horse’s bit out of Isum’s reach. Gripping the saddle with her thighs, she settled the bonnet back in place. A swift kick of her heel set the mare on the backwoods trail to Spanish Florida.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Isum might be doomed every day to face their reality, but Milly had been blessed with the option to hide.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">What slave in her right mind would choose otherwise?</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">***</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">For the third time in an hour, Major Phillip Bailey checked that his musket was properly primed and loaded. The Apalachicola River wound along on his right, and Creek warriors fanned out on the left. He was trapped. It had only been two years since many of these same warriors had surrendered to General Jackson at the conclusion of the Red Stick War.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The sight of them now, wild in their feathers, piercings, and tattoos, set the hairs on the back of his neck on end. For every one of the hundred and sixteen, blue-coated regulars on the march to Prospect Bluff, there were two—supposedly ally—Creek warriors who slogged across the boggy ground next to him.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The odds were far from comforting. Sweat pasted his silk neck-stock to his throat.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He scanned the surrounding pines for any sign of danger, whether from runaway slaves or friendly Creeks turned hostile. Downriver a ways and set back into the forest, the outline of a dwelling took shape. Like the many other slave-owned shacks they’d come across, the place appeared abandoned, but that didn’t mean the owners weren’t lurking in the shadows, waiting to ambush them.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Silent as ghosts, a group of warriors split off and swarmed the farmstead. Within minutes, they rejoined Phillip’s column empty-handed.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">If what was said about the runaway’s leader proved true, Chief Garcon wouldn’t allow Phillip and his men to waltz into the area without a dandy of a fight. It was no secret the Americans intended to neutralize the fort on Prospect Bluff, the stronghold they called <i>Negro Fort</i>. Its name alone struck fear in the hearts of southern Georgians.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">General Jackson had jumped at Spain’s approval of his crossing the Spanish-American border to defuse the tension and reclaim American property—the slaves. With its swamps, alligators, and prowling Seminoles, <i>Las Floridas </i>was wild country. Toss in three hundred armed and desperate runaways, and the place became hell on earth.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip had been the first to volunteer to invade that hell. Alligators and runaways, he could handle. Creek warriors were a different matter altogether. Running into them on the southerly trail had been a surprise to both parties. It just so happened that, this time, Creek and American objectives ran parallel. Or so the Indians said…</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Without warning, a regular stepped out from behind a tree blocking Phillip’s path. His rifle arm jerked. “In the name of all that’s holy, Corporal Higgins, get back in line.” Phillip spoke from between clenched teeth.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Yes, sir. Just taking care of business, sir.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip noted a smirk on the nearest warrior. He scowled back.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The natives might see him and his men as a bunch of untrained idiots, but Phillip knew better. When not attacked on the sly and when properly prepared, there was no equal to Phillip’s army anywhere in the Americas. Hadn’t they proved it two years earlier by crippling the Creek Confederacy? </span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He passed Higgins’ scrawny frame as he busily fastened his broadfalls. “Didn’t mean to scare you, sir.” A poorly contained leer plucked at the man’s freckled cheeks.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip opened his mouth to refute the charge and put the private in his place, but the gravelly voice of Sergeant Garrigus beat him to it. “Idiot. You can’t rattle the major. He’s got nerves of iron.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Is that right?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“After what he’s seen? You bet.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Garrigus’s praise sounded sincere enough, but Phillip knew the truth and prayed every day no one else would discover it. “Enough chatter back there. Keep your mouths shut and your eyes peeled.” He cast a sideways glance at longtime friend and surgeon, Captain Marcus Buck.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Marcus returned it with a faint smile that raised his flawless cheeks. Eyes, nose, mouth—each feature lined up perfectly. He might be a favorite with the ladies, if he took his nose out of medical books long enough to notice.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Involuntarily, Phillip’s jaw twitched, tugging the taut skin around his scar.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Where’s Enoch?” Marcus’s gaze skimmed the area.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Are you enjoying the quiet too?” Phillip subdued a grin and jerked his head toward the end of the loosely formed column. “I put him to work keeping Cook company.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Indians making him nervous?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Him and me both.” It wasn’t the only thing Phillip and his young slave had in common.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Moisture sucked into his boot as he stepped into another pocket of muck. Swamp water soaked his half-gaiters and spattered his dirty white breeches. He shook his foot, longing for a pair of clean, dry stockings. An arduous, two-day trek behind them, Camp Crawford might have been nothing more than tents and pickets, but right now, it seemed pretty near to heaven.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">An Indian, head shaved on the sides, loped from the front of the line toward Phillip. His black hair, collected into a long tail, flipped through the air behind him. His face was a solemn, purposeful mask, and he clutched a tomahawk, as if ready for battle.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A drumbeat sounded from nearby. Or was that the blood pounding Phillip’s eardrum?</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He strengthened his stance and gripped the musket barrel, ready at any instant to swing it into position. Sweat dripped into his eye, but he refused to blink and miss even one of this warrior’s breaths.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The Indians had caught him unawares before. Never again.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">As the man neared, the path cleared before him. Ahead, a commotion scattered the column.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">This was it. The moment Phillip had been anticipating. One swing of this warrior’s blade would be the signal for the rest to attack. By sundown, every last American scalp would dangle from a pole.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Unless Phillip did something to stop it.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The drum increased its tempo. In his mind, he was back at Fort Mims, the fires licking at his heels. The world narrowed to the warrior streaking toward him. Phillip had known better than to trust these savages, but Colonel Clinch hadn’t listened.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip should give some sort of call to battle, but his brain went numb. Breath ragged, he raised his weapon to his shoulder and pointed the muzzle at the warrior’s chest. His stiff collar dug into the base of his head and his sweaty finger trembled against the cool trigger as he waited for the red man to raise his tomahawk.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Instead, ten paces away, he came to a halt, his brown eyes boring into Phillip. The warrior lowered his weapon and slipped it into a loop on his waistband. Arms limp, his lean body visibly relaxed as he stood before Phillip.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Except for the drum in his ear, silence surrounded them,</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Why didn’t he attack? Indians never surrendered. Surely, it was a trick.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Major?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip blinked, then allowed his gaze to flick to the side.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Marcus laid a hand on Phillip’s arm, and he flinched.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Easy, now,” Marcus sounded as though he were calming a terrified child instead of addressing a superior officer. His voice rose barely above a whisper. “The men are watching. There’s no call for this. Not this time.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A massive vulture soared above them, pulling Phillip’s focus back to the man before him. As much as Phillip searched, he found not a hint of malice in the warrior’s steady gaze.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He dropped the tip of his musket and sensed two dozen warriors lowering their bows in response.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">As realization of his error took hold, heat crawled up Phillip’s neck, burning his scar. He focused on the black ostrich plume trembling in the air above Marcus’ bicorned hat as he turned to the warrior.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> “It’s nothing personal, you see. Major Bailey fought at Mim’s place. Next time you’re careless enough to run up on him that way, I’ll let him have at you,” Marcus stated with a half-grin.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The Indian stared at Phillip, long and probing, until his eyes softened and mystified Phillip with their sudden depth.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“No, best stop me, Captain Buck. No sense creating more work for yourself.” Phillip’s attempt at humor fell flat. He cleared his throat and turned to the Indian. “You have a message for me?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The warrior nodded. “A white man. We found there.” He gestured toward a sandbar in the middle of the river.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip’s pulse slowed. He swallowed and willed his voice not to tremble. “One of ours?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“A seaman. Wounded here.” He tapped his shoulder.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“One of Sailing Master Loomis’ men?” Marcus asked, his voice rising with disbelief.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip resumed walking at a quick pace. “My thoughts exactly, although it was my understanding that no vessel from the naval convoy was to enter the river until we’d arrived.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“They weren’t,” Marcus confirmed.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The warrior took up a limping step beside them. “There is more,” he said, halting Phillip in his tracks. “Two dead. This side of river.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Sailors, as well?” Phillip asked, hoping the dead were runaways.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Perhaps. Their white bodies lie naked.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Marcus hissed a curse, while Corporal Higgins’ face lit with anticipation. “We gonna see action?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Never mind that,” Phillip said. “Did you hear the Indian’s report?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Yes, sir. I heard.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip pointed two fingers downriver. “Take it to Colonel Clinch, on the double.” At the sound of Higgins’ scurrying footfalls, Phillip turned to Marcus. “Surgeon, you’re with me.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A silent crowd gathered ahead—around the wounded sailor, Phillip surmised. “Clear out,” he called as he shouldered his way through the throng. “Give the man space to breathe.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Marcus followed, bumping into Phillip’s back when he stopped short. His breath caught in his lungs. Scalped and brutally stabbed, two stripped men lay in a puddle of blood, their features frozen in twists of agony.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Soldiers shifted, allowing the doctor room to press his fingers to each neck. He stood, retrieved a kerchief from his pocket, and wiped his hands, staining the cloth red. “Give me someone I can help, for heaven’s sake.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">As Marcus stepped over the bodies, a tremble began deep inside Phillip. The quiver grew, moving into his stomach with a painful shudder. “We camp here. Private Davidson, inform Major Collins. Garrigus, set up a perimeter.” He tore his eyes from the grisly scene, stepped back, and then turned to Marcus. “Captain Buck, see to the wounded sailor, wherever he is. I’ll find you shortly. I’m going to look for tracks before we lose daylight.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Night was falling fast and with it, his composure. The skirts of his coatee slapped the backs of his legs as he quick-stepped toward the shelter of the woods.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He pressed his lips tight and willed his stomach to cease its rebellion. Eyes riveted to a massive cypress twenty yards in, he forced certain images from his mind. Images of Fort Mims, of the dead and dying, of the corpses he had trampled in his fight for life.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Satisfied the cypress hid him, he rested his hands on his knees. His head swam, and the world tipped. Closing his eyes, he focused on keeping his breath even and his army rations where they belonged.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">At last, he regained a measure of control—enough to be presentable to his men.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">These memories should not hold such power over him. And yet, they did. With more ferocity each passing month.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Furious at himself, he ripped the bicorn from his head and hurled it into the shadows.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A soft cry followed, emanating from the darkness beyond.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Every muscle in Phillip’s body froze, as he strained to pierce the obscurity of dusk. He saw nothing, heard nothing—besides voices carrying from the riverbed. Had he imagined the sound? If he had, the fact wouldn’t astound him. Not anymore.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The cry had possessed a human quality. Would he go so far as to say feminine? His mind replayed the sound. Yes, he would. Had there been a female with the sailors? Phillip knew of no situation where that might be permitted.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Unwilling to believe he was hearing voices in his head, he set out in the direction his chapeau bra had landed. Musket going before him, he proceeded with carefully placed steps and peered into the ever-darkening forest beyond. This could be a trap, but it was worth the risk if it squelched the notion he was indeed mentally disordered.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Ears finely tuned, he crept toward his cap which lay before a scanty shrub.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The bush shook violently. Phillip jerked his musket up then back down as a woman sprang from concealment.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Her skirt snagged, abruptly halting her flight. As her hands battled to extricate the fabric, she lifted her bonneted head, exposing large, fearful eyes and a face which glowed pale in the waning daylight.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Unless the encroaching night was playing tricks on him, this woman was white. Not the midnight skin of a runaway or the smooth olive of a Spaniard, but white. Nearly as white as Phillip.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He settled the butt of his musket at his feet. “Ma’am? What are you doing out here?”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Her struggle grew more desperate until the sound of ripping preceded her tumble. Mostly hidden by palmettos, she scooted backward on the ground.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Still many yards distant, Phillip reached a hand to her, unable to imagine why she might be afraid of him. “I won’t hurt—”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">A black man, large as a bear, darted from behind a thick pine to Phillip’s right. His sprint carried him across Phillip’s path and directly toward the woman.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"> “No! Get away.” Her words came out a garbled croak.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Halt!” Phillip flipped the weapon back into position and aimed it at the slave’s chest.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Unfazed, he kept moving and would have intercepted the woman except for the stone she hurled. It thudded off his shoulder and stopped him dead in his tracks.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He swiveled to face Phillip, who had shortened the distance between them, his eye never leaving the musket’s sites. “One more step, and before the night's out, I’ll bury you where you stand.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The man’s shoulders rose and fell with each rapid breath, but his stony face showed no fear. “Then you bettah do it. Otherwise, it’ll be you what's buried. See, I plan to make it to that fort, and losin’ my life to do it is no mattuh to me.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Phillip’s brother, Dixon, had often said that a man who didn’t value his own life made the most dangerous of enemies. This one wouldn’t live long enough to become that. Phillip leveled his musket’s barrel at the big man’s heart.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">In response, he took a single step forward.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Don’t shoot!” The woman stumbled forward, placing herself between the runaway and the iron-tipped muzzle.</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Reflexively, he skipped to the side to maintain his aim on the man. “Step away, ma’am. Don’t want you hurt.”<i> What was she thinking?</i></span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She mirrored his movements, keeping herself between them. “<i>No one </i>needs to get hurt.”</span></div>
<div align="justify">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Move away from him, and let me handle this.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She faced Phillip, her large brown eyes pleading. “Let him go. Please.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Woman, are you crazy?” The black man voiced Phillip’s own thoughts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She was either insane or suffering from over-exposure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Weapon still trained on the runaway, Phillip took a quick step forward and flailed at her, trying to grab her by the arm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She skittered to the side, and he swiped nothing but air.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Get out of the way,” he snapped. Not one of his men would have dared defy his command, yet this woman stood her ground.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">She backed further away from him and dangerously close to the black man. “He didn’t run a hundred miles just to be shot down defenseless in the woods a day away from the only chance at freedom he’ll ever have.” Her voice shook, but her rigid back told Phillip she wouldn’t give in any time soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">With his mind concocting a way to move the woman <i>and </i>save both their necks, Phillip was only half-listening. “What are you talking about?”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Although shadows fell across her face, Phillip didn’t miss the softening of her eyes or the quiver of her lips. Her passion for this slave’s freedom furrowed Phillip’s brow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“If you were fighting for your life, wouldn’t you want a fair shot at it?” she asked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Like a Red Stick’s arrow, her soft-spoken question pierced him, immobilizing his thoughts to anything beyond one image—his brother’s doom-stricken features and the blood-thirsty warriors that swarmed him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“Yes,” he rasped.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Surprise widened her eyes and parted her lips—a lovely image to return to after his disturbing trip to the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">For one instant, Phillip would have done anything she asked. He lowered his musket and stretched a hand toward her, but before he could even shift his stance, the slave lurched forward.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">He encased the woman in his arms, lifting her and covering the lower half of her face with a massive hand. “Hush, now, or you’ll call ‘em all down on us.” Her startled cry preceded the man’s swift backward steps. He hurled a steely glare at Phillip. “You ain’t seen nothin’. Ain’t talked to nobody. You hear, soldier?” The ferocity in his voice chilled Phillip’s blood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">One quick twist of the man’s hand was all it would take to snap the woman’s neck. Berating himself, Phillip released the barrel of his weapon and let it drop to the ground with a soft thud then splayed his hands in front of him. “No need to hurt her. Let her go, and I’ll never breathe a word I saw you. You can go right—”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The slave flipped the woman’s legs into the air and caught them under his arm in the same instant that he took flight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Three seconds into Phillip's pursuit, common sense won out, and he came to a quick stop. If he were going into the wilds after an unpredictable giant, he had better have a squad backing him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Within moments, the only evidence left of the woman’s presence was the dread constricting Phillip’s chest that no one would believe she’d even been there.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">REVIEW TO COME!</span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-30446443553992252762012-02-16T19:13:00.001-08:002012-02-16T19:13:53.846-08:00Litfuse Blog Tour -- Sweeter Than Birdsong<br />
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To celebrate, Rosslyn and her publisher, Thomas Nelson, have teamed up for a fun iPod Nano giveaway (2/9-2/28) and "sweet" facebook party on February 28th. (You could walk away with a Downton Abbey Prize Package!) See below for all the details!</div>
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<a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/193587" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/d6/FileItem-206755-STB_520x100.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" /></a></div>
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The first book in the series, <em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13424909" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Fairer than Morning</a></strong></em>, gained Rosslyn much<a href="http://rosslynelliott.com/news.php" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">acclaim</a> and this release is shaping up to be even better!</div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Author Elliott (Fairer than Morning) creates a pleasing blend of fact and fiction in this second installment in the Saddler’s Legacy series. Hanby is best known for his song “Up on the Housetop,” and slave rescuer John Parker is a real figure large enough to seem legend. Readers will appreciate the well-told tale as well as its historical basis.</em> <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Publishers Weekly</strong></div>
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<em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Elliott’s second Saddler’s Legacy book contains remarkable storytelling about the abolitionist movement. The author graces the pages with imaginative accounts of people living during these precarious times. She delves deeply and intimately into the lives of the brave people who risk all for the Underground Railroad.</em> <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Romantic Times Book Reviews</strong></div>
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About the book:</h2>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles . . . but real freedom is sweeter.</em></strong></div>
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In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance—and use it to mask her flight.</div>
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Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.</div>
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A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.</div>
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<a href="http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/63/FileItem-206767-rosslynelliottsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/63/FileItem-206767-rosslynelliottsm.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" /></a><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h2 style="font-size: 21px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">About the author:</b></h2>
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Rosslyn Elliott is the award-winning author of Fairer than Morning, the first in the Saddler's Legacy series. She holds a B.A. from Yale University and a Ph.D. in English from Emory University. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue writing fiction. Elliott lives in Albuquerque, where she homeschools her daughter and works in children's ministry.</div>
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Visit <a href="http://www.rosslynelliott.com/" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.rosslynelliott.com</a> for more information.</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br /></strong></h2>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><u>Party!</u></strong></h2>
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In this second in the award-winning Saddler's Legacy series, Rosslyn Elliott has written a stirring novel of hope and faith inspired by real historical people and events. With Ben Hanby, a genius composer, Kate Winter, one of the first female college graduates in America, and John Parker, an ex-slave who risked his life time and again to help fugitive slaves, Sweeter than Birdsong is full of real heroes to inspire us. "I hope readers will find a renewed sense of strength in their own lives," says Elliott, "knowing that change is possible, and our efforts matter. I want them to remember these unique, brave people in history who left us a shining example of what it means to live out one's beliefs with passion and commitment."</div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">So to celebrate the music in all of us, Rosslyn and Thomas Nelson are hosting this "sweet giveaway".</strong></div>
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<img src="http://g.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/30/FileItem-205577-STB_300x250.gif" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" /></div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">One fortunate winner will receive:</strong></div>
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<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">A Brand new iPod Nano (Winner's choice of color!)</strong></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Fairer than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott</b></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 10px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sweeter than Birdsong by Rosslyn Elliott</b></li>
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<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on February 28th.</strong> Winner will be announced at<i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sweeter than Birdsong </i><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/239530382797158/" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Author Chat Facebook Party</strong> on 2/28</a>. Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, sharing a sneak peek of the next book in the series, hosting a trivia contest, and more! <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">She'll also be giving away some GREAT prizes:</strong> gift certificates, books, Seasons 1 and 2 of Downtown Abbey and a soundtrack DVD, and a book club prize pack! (Ten copies of the book for your small group or book club AND a LIVE Author Chat for your group with Rosslyn.) </div>
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<strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">So grab your copy of <i style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Sweeter than Birdsong </i>and join Rosslyn and friends on the evening of the 28th for an evening of fun.</strong></div>
<table align="center" border="0" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><tbody style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<tr style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/193587" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://edge.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/60/FileItem-74865-email_icon.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" /></a></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/193587" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://edge.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/1a/FileItem-74866-Facebook_icon300x300.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" /></a></td><td style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/193587/entries/new" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img src="http://edge.virbcdn.com/_f/files/resize_1024x1365/07/FileItem-74867-Twitter_button.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; max-width: 500px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;" /></a></td></tr>
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Don't miss a moment of the fun. <strong style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/events/239530382797158" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">RSVP today</a></strong> and tell your friends via <a href="http://apps.facebook.com/sweepstakeshq/contests/193587/invites/new%20" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">FACEBOOK</a> or <a href="http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/twitter/233/contests/193587" style="color: #00b0d8; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">TWITTER</a> and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!</h3>
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<b>The Review:<br />My Ranking: 9 out of 10</b><br />
<b>Ages 15 & up</b><br />
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Some of you may have read my glowing review of Rosslyn's book, Fairer Than Morning, which I wrote a few months back upon it's release. In case you haven't, I must say that I absolutely loved it. You can read it <a href="http://reviewsbyjane.blogspot.com/2011/09/litfuse-tour-fairer-than-morning-by.html">over here</a>.<br />
Once again, Rosslyn's deep and intriguing characters immediately captured my attention. Kate's excessive shyness really made it excellent for Ben's pursuance -- she was hard to get, and he really had to try to get to know her at all. The fact that book was largely surrounded by music made me personally really like it because I, in case y'all didn't know, love music and am very involved in it, playing both piano and guitar and planning on taking up violin soon and loving to sing(though I won't claim to be any good at it!). Some of the ways Rosslyn described the music was amazing. Her incredible talent at evoking sensation from her readers really shone through this novel for me.<br />
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There were a few things that I have to point out briefly, the first being that I absolutely loved how Rosslyn kept the characters desiring to obey their parents. Even though they failed in some ways, they recognized this and corrected the situation. I absolutely loved this. Bravo Rosslyn! Too many authors let disobedience and disrespect pass by and become "okay" on the basis of two people being passionately in love.<br />
Another was, once again, how much history was packed into this book. I love how Rosslyn simply writes a story around real people in history and the things they did.<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><b>Sensuality:</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="color: red;">A man kisses the wrist of his fiance.</span><br />
<span style="color: red;">A girl feels the breath of her fiance on her neck and it says it causes her to anticipate her wedding day.</span><br />
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Overall, I really loved Rosslyn's second book in the Saddlers Series and am already eagerly anticipating the next one. All historical fiction lovers should definitely get their hands on this one. An amazing novel packed with history, music, a hint of adventure and peril, and a sweet love story; You won't want to miss this one!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-88211669517232239312012-02-15T16:31:00.000-08:002012-02-15T16:31:28.633-08:00Coming UpHello blogstalkers. I have some reviews coming up(honest this time!) and tours. I have two tours scheduled tomorrow and a review or two to follow. I am finally being able to get back at blogging regularly over here. I've been able to keep up pretty well over here on my <a href="http://www.kaitlynology.com/blog/">personal blog</a>. I encourage you who would like to see my real side to head over to my blog and check it out -- I'm not so "professional" over there. ;)<br />
I'll be back tomorrow. For now, goodnight!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-91695244932123292012-02-09T20:16:00.000-08:002012-02-13T10:59:45.995-08:00UpdateHello readers! I have been a horrible bloggeress and haven't posted in a while. My uncle hired me to write a business plan for him and I have been spending a lot of my time working on that, and then we (as a surprise) headed to our hometown for a 5-day visit. That was very exciting. But anyway, I do have some reviews that I need to post and will hopefully be posting next week. We are actually quite busy this month though so I may be scarce, but I'll try to pop in and update y'all as we speed through the month!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLrtty2z-BD9MYrBgP1Fkc312VsRm4xzGxe6dJq6ctHbW5PXeje5Ao4nYwEGCpqGvk3jSgvm7AuHMKMGicIaYyX__Lb_WkqLWWUgpPCjotRjW3yzmVCxyVyWVQM0iWVp67KFSm9OnquJw/s1600/her_hand_in_marriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLrtty2z-BD9MYrBgP1Fkc312VsRm4xzGxe6dJq6ctHbW5PXeje5Ao4nYwEGCpqGvk3jSgvm7AuHMKMGicIaYyX__Lb_WkqLWWUgpPCjotRjW3yzmVCxyVyWVQM0iWVp67KFSm9OnquJw/s200/her_hand_in_marriage.jpg" width="131" /></a>I read Douglas Wilson's <i>Her Hand in Marriage</i> for the third time two weeks ago. This book is amazing, if you couldn't tell my opinion merely by the number of time I have read it. I often pick it up and read a chapter here or a paragraph there, but every few months I pick it up and read it from cover to cover.<br />
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<a href="http://www.davidnormanblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/reformingmarriage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.davidnormanblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/reformingmarriage.jpg" width="127" /></a>After loving it and finding it one of the best books on courtship that I've read(and I've read quite a few!), I eagerly sought the next one, <i>Reforming Marriage</i>, which I found in our church library and brought home with me a few weeks ago. I have read and finished that one, also, and <b>loved </b>it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04dKSZ-eFDuwotOklNTo5Kn4m_LWX0VrWnWWqWemSsluIghj6DMqssh3fZI0BBO4TbbbDaKE0fNX2LYKFH3Huj2oNAuMK8r_fHTFDyOkM5Pq3vAEg5gIOGP1XZiW3t_ExpqQxWiFbXXYL/s1600/Halflings+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04dKSZ-eFDuwotOklNTo5Kn4m_LWX0VrWnWWqWemSsluIghj6DMqssh3fZI0BBO4TbbbDaKE0fNX2LYKFH3Huj2oNAuMK8r_fHTFDyOkM5Pq3vAEg5gIOGP1XZiW3t_ExpqQxWiFbXXYL/s200/Halflings+cover.jpg" width="129" /></a>I also started and finished <i>Halflings</i>, which I will be reviewing shortly. I can't say I enjoyed this book too much. Having read Twilight for <a href="http://reviewsbyjane.blogspot.com/2011/10/twilight-destroying-contentment-around.html">reviewing purposes</a>, I was able to recognize how much Burch copied a lot of Meyer's ideas. With each chapter, I realized it really was just a copy of Twilight with vampires being replaced by angel-human crossbreeds so it makes it all "okay". I'll talk about that more in my upcoming review.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8kCJqgzVhcCMiitm7PjK5gbL4E3eSdx1oZb3Tg13zV0lIRI4Yo4gpVrMBAvaz6K8YCUbOVkhjNiMy-cIKzOROzNJpXLWntERKfxwLWDIMMWmxpjV0sGA5MwC86U1SPw_F9QJJ0SkXPVM/s1600/boy-meets-girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8kCJqgzVhcCMiitm7PjK5gbL4E3eSdx1oZb3Tg13zV0lIRI4Yo4gpVrMBAvaz6K8YCUbOVkhjNiMy-cIKzOROzNJpXLWntERKfxwLWDIMMWmxpjV0sGA5MwC86U1SPw_F9QJJ0SkXPVM/s200/boy-meets-girl.jpg" width="126" /></a></div>
Yesterday I finished <i>Boy Meets Girl: Say Hello To Courtship. </i>This was another awesome book that I highly recommend to all singles out there! It was a great sequel to <i>I Kissed Dating Goodbye</i>. It is excellent and really <a href="http://www.warbyparker.com/">frames</a> what a courtship should look like. I really enjoyed it.<br />
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That's about all I have for you, for now. I have some reviews to get up and a tour next week, so I'll be back! :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-90651032201280313162012-01-18T13:45:00.000-08:002012-02-13T10:50:02.343-08:00Our Voice Is Being ThreatenedTwo bills before Congress, known as the Protect IP Act (PIPA) in the Senate and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the House, would censor the Web and impose harmful regulations. Things like posting videos on YouTube, sharing a picture on Facebook, and leaving a link on your blog could become illegal, and it opens up the ability for Congress to take over the internet completely.<br />
Anyone who works online, including YouTubers or <a href="http://www.webdesigncareers.org/">people with web design
careers</a>,
especially need to take notice of these acts.
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The Senate will begin voting on January 24th. <b>Please let them know how you feel</b>. Sign <a href="https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/"><b><i>this petition</i></b></a> urging Congress to vote NO on PIPA and SOPA before it is too late.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>End piracy; not liberty.</i></span></b><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qQ3wkJIhAA8" width="560"></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2719628651897792391.post-83971926126410131342012-01-16T13:03:00.000-08:002012-02-13T10:50:26.566-08:00This Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_95qixGi4stE/TEhMV0aFWbI/AAAAAAAABf8/BYssUXpSZLM/What%20He%20Must%20Be%20(If%20He%20Wants%20to%20Marry%20My%20Daughter)%20Voddie%20Baucham..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_95qixGi4stE/TEhMV0aFWbI/AAAAAAAABf8/BYssUXpSZLM/What%20He%20Must%20Be%20(If%20He%20Wants%20to%20Marry%20My%20Daughter)%20Voddie%20Baucham..jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0V8pTfeP_JvWwzs0MPHgiItlDYffDFoleBNlK1QZqmCCS7ukOI1BvkduNBtESt6iJtYmleThyphenhyphenQmWRspplmvbu2qm5-_i3CVR_PFSnkVx5d_3zeGvTIyfCDVXZxYxCcxkvYTYb9zhxWeg/s1600/warring+spirits+300+X+450.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/AVvXsEg0V8pTfeP_JvWwzs0MPHgiItlDYffDFoleBNlK1QZqmCCS7ukOI1BvkduNBtESt6iJtYmleThyphenhyphenQmWRspplmvbu2qm5-_i3CVR_PFSnkVx5d_3zeGvTIyfCDVXZxYxCcxkvYTYb9zhxWeg/s320/warring+spirits+300+X+450.jpg" width="213" /></a>Hey readers! Here’s a post letting y’all know what’s been going on this past week and what’s coming this week! :)<br />
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<ul>
<li>One of the books I read this past week was What He Must Be If He Wants To Marry My Daughter by Voddie Baucham. Awesome book that I started and finished in less than a 24 hour period. This would be an especially great read for
<a href="http://www.online-christian-colleges.org/">those who are
attending
online Christian colleges.</a> It was excellent, and a must have. </li>
</ul>
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<ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlKClxkCWlHsRnDgNbF9QEZJoNl5YrFwjXdFc9oBFsfP6yWeYmsqcG9yjDknMhMf2inJhhTp_B8FelieTxsPIVWVPr_i3rKKLSapFAXaj6kla7CM0K_SE0iUwbU-o3MEJLoYEdYcfeNcO/s400/deadlydiscl.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/AVvXsEgjlKClxkCWlHsRnDgNbF9QEZJoNl5YrFwjXdFc9oBFsfP6yWeYmsqcG9yjDknMhMf2inJhhTp_B8FelieTxsPIVWVPr_i3rKKLSapFAXaj6kla7CM0K_SE0iUwbU-o3MEJLoYEdYcfeNcO/s320/deadlydiscl.jpg" width="204" /></a>
<li>I have added yet another book to my small “favorites” list, which currently has about 25 of the 150 books I own that I’ve read. What book is this, you might ask? Well it’s none other than April Gardner’s Warring Spirits! I found this book to be just as good as it’s prequel, Wounded Spirits. After reading Wounded Spirits, I was super excited to see Warring Spirits released. I picked it up as soon as I got it and within 24 hours I had finished it. It was so good and I highly recommend it. A full review will be coming soon!<br />
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</li>
<li>I am currently in the middle of reading Deadly Disclosures by Julie Cave. So far, it’s pretty good! While not a fast paced, attention-grabbing mystery as of yet, it is keeping my interest well and I am eager to see how it ends. And I’ve got great news for you!<br />
For limited time, Julie Cave’s Deadly Disclosures super cheap! Meet Dinah Harris, the sarcastic and brilliant heroine of the Dinah Harris mystery trilogy for only $.99 this month! From January 15th – 31st, you can get your copy of Deadly Disclosures at a <span style="font-family: inherit;">promotional rate of $.99! This includes digital copies available for the Kindle, Nook, and iPad. What’s not to like?!</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Disclosures-Harris-Mystery-ebook/dp/B003CYLD6Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1325188099&sr=8-2" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Amazon</a> (Kindle)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.917969); color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deadly-disclosures-julie-cave/1100760460?ean=2940012467898&itm=1&usri=deadly+disclosures" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Barnes & Noble</a> (Nook)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.apple.com/ipad/built-in-apps/ibooks.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/ipad/<wbr></wbr>built-in-apps/ibooks.html</a> <wbr></wbr>iBookstore (iPad)<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.answersingenesis.org/PublicStore/product/Deadly-Disclosures-novel-eBook,7101,565.aspx" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Answers in Genesis Bookstore</a> (any of the above!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">To get your copy at this special price, you can visit any of these fine retailers:</span><br />
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Remember, this promotion will last <b>January 15th - 31st</b>, so make sure to act fast! :D<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WarK1jQc9ailZoEN97zqsqaxdtsc-O8YLI2fFEhQherW_uMtjiHtXgCX3_RNRLkgnl0pmQnki4iW4Q789dW02o13Yy8paSVQb36HpsAvwK4bU6oEvYkFdKtw4WAS3_QFGVi77485hwmK/s1600/Replication.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/AVvXsEh1WarK1jQc9ailZoEN97zqsqaxdtsc-O8YLI2fFEhQherW_uMtjiHtXgCX3_RNRLkgnl0pmQnki4iW4Q789dW02o13Yy8paSVQb36HpsAvwK4bU6oEvYkFdKtw4WAS3_QFGVi77485hwmK/s320/Replication.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<li>I received Replication in the mail the other day, which I have been excited about reading for a while now! I won it through Go Teen Writers when I was entered into a contest since I was a winner during her writing prompts last year. I am so excited to dive in! It looks sweeeet!<br />
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<li>I will soon be getting a tablet for myself. My computer is on its last legs and I am planning on getting a tablet and attachable keyboard instead of a laptop for day to day use. I’m looking to get an Acer Iconia, but I’m still searching around. Anyone have any suggestions? I’d really appreciate hearing your opinions!</li>
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<li>My youngest brother, Jesse, turned three last week, also. I can’t believe how fast he’s grown! It seems like just the other day he was brought home from the hospital...*sigh*.<br />
Next week, my third youngest brother turns 7, and I turn 17. How time flies! It’s pretty crazy.</li>
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And that's about all that's going on. I have a few reviews coming and hopefully will get them up soon. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07005597502499967399noreply@blogger.com3