November 8, 2016
Loreena’s Gift Book Review
In Loreena’s Gift, a blind girl’s terrifying “gift” allows her to regain her eyesight but only as she ferries the recently deceased into the afterlife.
About Loreena’s Gift
Loreena Picket thinks she knows herself. A blind young woman who lives with her uncle, a reverend at a small-town church, she’s a dutiful niece and talented pianist for the congregation.
But they’re both hiding a terrible secret. Loreena can kill people with the touch of her hand.
While her uncle sees her as an angel of mercy, helping usher the terminally ill members of his flock into the afterlife, Loreena has her doubts.
Torn between doing her uncle’s bidding and the allure of the fleeting moments when her eyesight returns on the journey to the other side, Loreena cooperates with her uncle until her troubled older brother returns to town. When she reveals her power by saving him from a local drug dealer, she is drawn into a sinister and dangerous world that will test the true nature of her talent and force her to consider how far she is willing to go to survive.
My Thoughts
A very powerful and thought provoking novel. Loreena has a gift that some made not even refer to as a gift. She has to hide it every day of her life, having simple relationships is difficult for her and even trusting people with the truth is difficult for her. Who can believe this gift and if they do how can they not be terrified? That the simple touch of her hand could kill those she loves and those she does not know.
Her Uncle tries to get her to see past the outside aspect of her gift (the killing) and realize that in some ways it can be a blessing in disguise, especially for those suffering from terminally ill diseases. These people in the novel are suffering a pain that so many of us can not even begin to understand. Loreena’s touch and guidance into the afterlife is a special gift that only she can give. She is there with them as they cross over into their heaven, which for so many of them is a return to the happiest moments of their lives. These moments are actually quite beautiful in the beginning of the novel.
When the wrong people find out about her gift, she is kidnapped and forced to do something she never wanted to do – kill on demand any of their enemies. She was no longer helping the terminally ill, instead she was forced to do the will of an evil person to even more evil people. You can feel the toll this takes on her. She was already conflicted about her gift and this pushes her over the edge. The story really speeds up here as she tries to escape and an unexpected person comes to her aid. This was an exciting, suspenseful and though provoking novel.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository and Chapters.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Colleen M. Story writes imaginative fiction and is also a freelance writer, instructor, and motivational speaker specializing in creativity, productivity, and personal wellness. Her latest novel, “Loreena’s Gift,” was released with Dzanc Books April 12 2016. Her fantasy novel, “Rise of the Sidenah,” is a North American Book Awards winner, and New Apple Book Awards Official Selection (Young Adult). She is the founder of Writing and Wellness (writingandwellness.com) a motivational site for writers and other creative.
Connect with her on: Website and Twitter.
Book Trailer
The Giveaway!
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 7, 2016
CHIHULY Toronto: A Magical World of Glass and Imagination
The CHIHULY exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto is an amazing display of creativity, passion and allows you to see the world through a whole different perspective. This exhibit, which runs from June 2016 to January 8th, 2017, features the work of internationally acclaimed artist Dale Chihuly. He uses glass, light and colour to bring his art to life.
The exhibit at the ROM features several works that were designed specifically for the museum by Dale in order to fit the space, which gives it that extra special feel when you are walking through the exhibit. The exhibit features eleven installations that includes: Lime Crystal Tower, Boats, Laguna Torcello, Jerusalem Cylinders, Sapphire Neon Tumbleweeds, Red Reeds on Logs, Persian Ceiling, Persian Trellis, Fire Orange Baskets, Icicle Chandeliers and Towers and the Northwest Room.
My personal favourite work was the Red Reeds on Logs. You find logs laid out as they would be in nature with brilliant, bold glass red reeds reaching to the ceiling bursting forward from the logs. You can almost see this exhibit as it would look like in nature and the contrast between the logs, red reeds and the dark backdrop is breath taking, I just fell in love at first sight. My sons also loved this one too but mainly because they thought that the reeds were actually spears (our youngest is still convinced they are spears not reeds). This piece of work was first created in 1995 and I was so impressed by the fact that in order to create the almost three metre long reeds, the glassblowers pulled hot molten glass downwards from a mechanical lift!
The exhibit is in dim lighting (I wasn’t expecting this) which really helps to bring his work in focus and to the fore front (it really would not be the same with full lighting). The bright glass just pops in contrast to the dark background and really puts the focus on his work and not allowing for any distractions. You can stroll from one room to the next room at your own pace, go back to a piece and even at one point lay down on the couches on the floor and look up (trust me you have to do this!). There is also a great video presentation at the end of the exhibit that I highly recommend you take a couple minutes out of your day and view it, you will be thoroughly impressed.
We all fell in love with the abundance of baskets that are located throughout the exhibit. They are stunning in their design, shape and colour. It brought back great memories for me when I visited Venice and watched glass blowing in action. The amount of skill and patience needed to create these works of art is incredible. The design makes you just want to reach out and trace the edges and feel his work.
ROM CHIHULY Quick Facts
This exhibit is open Monday to Thursday 10:00am- 5:30pm, Fridays 10:0am to 8:30pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am to 5:30pm. Admission is free for Museum members, $29.00 for adults, $21.00 for children and free for children under three years of age. Tickets can be purchased online, in person or by phone.
About the Artist
Dale Chihuly is an American sculptor who has mastered the alluring, transparent qualities of ice, water, glass and neon, to create works of art that transform the viewer experience. He is globally renowned for his ambitious site specific installations in public spaces and in exhibitions presented in musuems and gardens worldwide. Major exhibitions include Chihuly Over Venice (1995-96), Chihuly in the Light of Jerusalem (1999), Garden Cycle (2001 – present), de Young Museum in San Francisco (2008), the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (2011), Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (2013) and the Chihuly Garden and Glass at Seattle Center that opened in 2012.
If you are in Toronto before the exhibit ends on January 8th, 2017, I highly recommend you take some time out of your trip and pay a visit to the CHIHULY exhibit at the ROM. It is a breath taking display of light and design that you can’t help but fall in love with.
Disclosure: I received tickets to view this exhibit. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 7, 2016
Portable North Pole Magic Pass – Unlimited Calls from Santa!
About four years ago, my Dad introduced me to the Portable North Pole (PNP) website. It gave parents the ability to send customized video messages from Santa to their child. Our kids LOVED it when they received their first message from Santa – he was talking to them, he knew their name, he knew something special about them and they could even see his elves. It was truly a special moment for them. I also have the app on my phone and not only can you create the video messages from there, there is also a special section for kids to play games. Our youngest plays the games year round.
What Exactly is Portable North Pole?
Portable North Pole (PNP) is an online platform used by Santa and his elves to send personalized video messages and calls to the people you care about most anywhere around the world. In just a few simple steps, you can help Santa gather all the information he needs about your loved one and create a tailor-made video message or phone call that is positively magical. But that isn’t all Santa and his magical elves have in store, to create truly unforgettable memories, you can even download a HD version of your video to keep for years to come. Awesome right?
Portable North Pole comes available in 3 main package types: the Free (Christmas and Birthday videos), the Video Pass (Unlimited Premium Santa videos + Reaction Recorder, as well as access to previous seasons’ videos), and the Magic Pass (Unlimited Premium Santa Videos, Reaction Recorder, HD Video downloads, access to previous seasons’ videos.
Right now you can save 20% with Promo Code: PNP6BLG20 when you redeem the code on PNP. We can’t wait to get started on our video from Santa and send his special message to our boys.
Disclosure: I was given a PNP magic pass in return for sharing this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 4, 2016
Milton’s Secret DVD Giveaway
In Milton’s Secret we confront family, love, fear, worry and hope.
About Milton’s Secret
Based on the book by #1 New York Times bestselling author Eckhart Tolle and Robert Friedman, Milton’s Secret is a movie about family and the uncertain times families live in. Milton (William Ainscough) is a 12 year-old boy growing up in an economically and socially unpredictable world. His mother and father (Mia Kirshner, David Sutcliffe) are workaholics with marital and financial problems, and he is bullied at school. When his grandfather (Donald Sutherland) visits, Milton learns rehashing the past and worrying about the future are preventing him from finding true happiness.
The Cast
The cast in Milton’s Secret includes: Donald Sutherland, Michelle Rodriguez, William Ainscough, Mia Kirshner and David Sutcliffe.
Our Thoughts
“Ready. Set. NOW.”
A truly beautiful story of the Adams family that could be any family living in our current age. Many families live in the future, worrying about money, their home, bills and getting to one place or another without ever being present in the current moment. There is always one more work thing we can do (with a lot of my work online, this is my current problem – how do I learn to just put it away and not worry about it), one more bill that we worry about how will we pay for it and the list just goes on and on. This is the Adams family in Milton’s Secret – his Mother lives in the future worrying about how they will pay bills, if they will lose their home and his Father lives in the past, wanting just a little bit more. Neither of them realize how this is affecting Milton – his health, his emotional well being and even his relationships with others.
Milton is bullied at school but neither of his parents realize the torment he is going through as they are always absorbed in their own worries. When his Grandfather arrives, it is like this beautiful breath of fresh air. He brings an air of calmness, of peace and of being present. He teaches Milton to live in the here and now. Worry just brings unnecessary bad feelings into our lives and isn’t worth it. Watching Milton grow and mature under his Grandfather leaves your heart full and your eyes wet!
Milton’s Secret is a truly special film that will not only touch your heart but make you question the importance of your daily routines, of your own worries and if you live truly in the present or instead are you absent in the past or future. This is a movie that the whole family will love and give them more than enough food for thought. This is a definite must see film.
Rating: 5/5
The Trailer
Get a quick glimpse of this new movie.
The Giveaway!
Disclosure: I received a DVD copy of this movie in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 4, 2016
Carol J. Post’s ‘Trust My Heart’ $75 Cozy Cash Giveaway
Will an unplanned detour finally guide Grant home and find love with an honest, funny, and undeniably appealing reporter named Jami? Find out in a heartwarming romance by Carol J. Post, Trust My Heart. Grant McAllister arrives in Murphy, North Carolina, with one aim: to sell his inherited property and leave as quickly as possible. After breaking up with her safe-but-smothering boyfriend, Jami is determined to ace her first big assignment. A story about the McAllister estate is too intriguing to ignore—but as the two draw closer as they share their dreams, misread signals and misunderstandings begin to test their trust.
Join Carol in celebrating the release of Trust My Heart by entering to win her $75 Cozy Cash Giveaway.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A copy of Trust My Heart
- A $75 Visa cash card
- A basket full of goodies made in North Carolina to keep you cozy in the cooler fall weather
Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on November 23. The winner will be announced November 28 on Carol’s blog.
