Category: book review

April 17, 2016

The Reflections of Queen Snow White

In The Reflections of Queen Snow White, what happens when happily ever after comes and goes?

About The Reflections of Queen Snow White

On the eve of her only daughter, Princess Raven’s wedding, an aging Snow White finds it impossible to share in the joyous spirit of the occasion. The ceremony itself promises to be the most glamorous social event of the decade. Snow White’s castle has been meticulously scrubbed, polished and opulently decorated for the celebration. It is already nearly bursting with jubilant guests and merry well-wishers. Prince Edel, Raven’s fiancé, is a fine man from a neighboring kingdom and Snow White’s own domain is prosperous and at peace. Things could not be better, in fact, except for one thing: the King is dead.

The queen has been in a moribund state of hopeless depression for over a year with no end in sight. It is only when, in a fit of bitter despair, she seeks solitude in the vastness of her own sprawling castle and climbs a long disused and forgotten tower stair that she comes face to face with herself in the very same magic mirror used by her stepmother of old.

It promises her respite in its shimmering depths, but can Snow White trust a device that was so precious to a woman who sought to cause her such irreparable harm? Can she confront the demons of her own difficult past to discover a better future for herself and her family? And finally, can she release her soul-crushing grief and suffocating loneliness to once again discover what “happily ever after” really means?

My Thoughts

Snow White was one of my favourite tales as a child and teen. I loved the innocence and underlying strength of Snow White. This story with Snow White begins many years after the childhood tale ends, with Queen Snow White facing the after effects of her husband’s death and her daughter Raven’s wedding.

Queen Snow White feels lost and alone. She finds no happiness in anything that used to bring her joy, not even with her own daughter’s wedding. She is struggling with her pain and instead of reaching out to others, she caves into her herself and suffers in silence. My heart broke for Queen Snow White just knowing the amount of pain she is going through. Her husband was her sole confident, the one person she could truly be herself with and her best friend. I think of my own husband and how close he is to me and I can’t even begin to imagine life without him. Your heart bleeds for her and you just want her to find the peace and strength we know is inside her and to heal the bond between her and her daughter, Raven.

It is in a state of loneliness and trying to hide from the guests that have in a way invaded her home, Queen Snow White finds herself climbing the stairs to her stepmother’s long forgotten rooms. Here she must face her past in her stepmother’s favourite object, a mirror. I loved how the mirror forced her to confront her pain and to look inside of herself, constantly reminding her that the mirror can only show her the truth not the way she remembers each memory. The story of Snow White makes her seems frail and dependent on her husband, when we see her through the eyes of the mirror we see a whole new picture. We see a strong young woman who has overcome pain and adversity and still sees the beauty in others. She suffered at the hands of her stepmother but instead of causing her to become a person who in turn does this to others, it makes her gentle, forgiving and righteous. I loved how we were guided through her life and those precious and terrifying moments in time, in order to watch her grow and understand her own strength and courage. Queen Snow White learns many valuable lessons throughout the novel, many of these lessons are ones that we all can easily forget in our own pain and even in our happiness. While my heart ached at times for Queen Snow White, I love how she slowly peels back the painful and happy memories in order to emerge a different woman throughout the novel. The story is beautifully written and is one I cherished from start to finish.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author

David Meredith is a writer and educator originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. He received both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from East Tennessee State University, in Johnson City, Tennessee as well as a Tennessee State Teaching license. On and off, he spent nearly a decade, from 1999-2010 teaching English in Northern Japan, but currently lives with his wife and three children in the Nashville Area where he continues to write, teach English, and is pursuing his doctoral degree in educational leadership.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 15, 2016

Sit, Stay, Love Book Review

In Sit, Stay, Love we take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you’re ready for a lesson in love . . . Tippy style!

About Sit, Stay, Love

Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother’s elderly dog, Tippy, he’s quick to call on a pet-sitting service.

Gina isn’t thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can’t abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy.

As Gina travels through Cal’s world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too.

My Thoughts

Sit, Stay, Love is a light, comical romance that you never quite see coming. Gina and Cal are from opposites worlds, one rich and famous and the other just scraping by. But their lives cross when he inherits Tippy, an elderly dog that does what she wants she wants.

The story emerges through comical episodes that Tippy and Gina put Cal through, that make you smile and laugh. Tippy is exactly what Cal needs as he deals with the loss of his Mother, even though he doesn’t realize it! She reminds him what really matters in life, that love and happiness are more important than money and a career. This is a long and painful lesson for him, as he must also learn to forgive and to open his heart to love.

A beautiful, fun story of forgiveness, love and hope. It will be a great summer time read!

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Dana Mentink lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Dana is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third and fourth grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with her husband, two daughters, a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle, and a feisty parakeet.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 9, 2016

The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder

In The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder, set in 1910 Toronto, while other bachelor girls perfect their domestic skills and find husbands, two friends perfect their sleuthing skills and find a murderer.

About The Bachelor Girl’s Guide to Murder

Inspired by their fascination with all things Sherlock Holmes, best friends and flatmates Merinda and Jem launch a consulting detective business. The deaths of young Irish women lead Merinda and Jem deeper into the mire of the city’s underbelly, where the high hopes of those dreaming to make a new life in Canada are met with prejudice and squalor.

While searching for answers, donning disguises, and sneaking around where no proper ladies would ever go, they pair with Jasper Forth, a police constable, and Ray DeLuca, a reporter in whom Jem takes a more than professional interest. Merinda could well be Toronto’s premiere consulting detective, and Jem may just find a way to put her bachelor girlhood behind her forever—if they can stay alive long enough to do so.

My Thoughts

Growing up in and around Toronto, I loved reading this book looking at Toronto in the early 1900s. Life was not easy for immigrants coming to make a better life here in Canada, the language was different, the lifestyle was different and there was mistrust between both sides. On top of this, women were held to very difficult standards, when they could be out, needing an escort, etc. It is within this backdrop that this novel is set.

We have two young women who have abandoned the traditional role of a woman (children, married life) and embarked on an exciting journey in the detective world. They start of small but soon work their way up to the murder of two young women who they were roughly acquainted with.

The novel is full of suspense, adventure and just a little bit of romance. I loved how the romance that did develop, did not take away from the young woman’s independence and how he supported her in her role. These two female characters are strong, free and brave, which is something that we need to see more of in novels. A fantastic story from start to finish!

You can find more reviews on the Litfuse tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Rachel McMillan is a keen history enthusiast and a lifelong bibliophile. When not writing or reading, she can most often be found drinking tea and watching British miniseries. Rachel lives in bustling Toronto, where she works in educational publishing and pursues her passion for art, literature, music, and theater.

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 7, 2016

Uneven Exchange Book Review

In Uneven Exchange, Alexandra Callet’s life runs hot and cold. At the age of thirty-three, Alexandra owns a stunning home and a successful interior design company. But she is in love with her business partner, Jake Taylor, and he doesn’t even seem to realize she’s a woman. She decides to take a trip to Mexico where all seems to fall apart.

About Uneven Exchange

Like fire and ice, Alexandra Callet’s life runs hot and cold. At the age of thirty-three, Alexandra owns a stunning home and a successful interior design company. But she is in love with her business partner, Jake Taylor, and he doesn’t even seem to realize she’s a woman. She should be on top of the world, but instead she feels dragged down by the void in her heart. Hoping for answers, she decides a trip to Mexico might soothe her soul.

Jake Taylor only pretends to be a confirmed bachelor. Jake has been entranced by Alexandra’s determination and exotic beauty since the moment they met, but she has no idea how he feels. He considers confessing his love, but fears jeopardizing their friendship and business. He’s caught in a web of pretending he doesn’t care, and doesn’t see a way out of it. Alexandra is recruited for a dangerous mission. Following her trip to Mexico, her resemblance to a member of an assassin’s family leads Alexandra to be recruited by the DEA. Her training leaves her distracted, and her business begins to suffer. Jake notices her sudden change, and feels her slipping both personally and professionally beyond his reach.

Should he finally take the chance…before it’s too late? After all, he has nothing to lose. However, when Alexandra returns to Mexico for her mission, things go terribly wrong. Will she be able find the strength to fight and escape the peaceful haven that has now become her prison?

My Thoughts

Romance, suspense, action and more all in Uneven Exchange!

Alexandra is a quiet, beautiful young woman with a great career working in her own company with the man she has had a crush on for a while. She is also timid to let him know how she feels or how to even approach the topic with him. When she escapes for a mini getaway to Mexico she is spotted by the DEA, as she resembles very closely a vicious assassin’s sister. They pull her into a plot to capture this man but this proves to be more adventure then what she was counting on. She definitely rises to the occasion in this story! The timid, young woman becomes bold and fearless as she takes on this new persona. Jake can sense this change in her but is powerless to stop it. He tries to reach out to her but is left wondering if it was too little, too late.

I loved every turn of this book, by mid-way through the adventure is unbelievable and forces you to not stop reading (you can’t just leave this book at one chapter without finding out what happens next!). The ending is incredible and will you leave you craving just that little bit more of what happens next. This novel is a fantastic read for both mature young adults to adults that love adventure, suspense and action with a little twist of romance.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, S.K. Derban moved to London within the first three months, and remained in England until the age of five. Her father, an American citizen, was a decorated veteran of the second world war. Derban’s mother, born and raised in the United Kingdom, was involved with the London Royal Ballet Company, and a great fan of the arts. Even after returning to the United States, Derban’s life was filled with a love of the theatre and a passion for British murder mysteries. S.K. Derban has always remained passionate about writing, and is thrilled to finally share her work with others.

Her personal travel and missionary adventures also help to transport readers virtually across the globe. When writing, S.K. Derban relies on all aspects of her life, from her faith in the Lord, to her love and knowledge of the arts.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

April 5, 2016

In The Context of Love Book Review

In The Context of Love, hat makes us step back to examine the events and people who have shaped our lives? And what happens when what we discover leads to more questions?

About In The Context of Love

Angelica Schirrick wonders how her life could have gotten so far off-track. With two children in tow, she begins a journey of self-discovery that leads her back home to Ohio. It pains her to remember the promise her future once held and the shattering revelations that derailed her life.

Can she face the failures and secrets of her past and move forward? Somehow she must learn to accept the violence of her beginning before she can be open to life, and a second chance at love.

My Thoughts

In The Context of Love, we have a powerful story of perseverance, lost loves and forgiveness. It is written as series of something similar to journal entries. She tells her story to the love that she lost in high school, the one that made her feel loved and special. Angelica starts the story with the tale of her husband in prison and having to bring her children to see him. You can feel the pain and betrayal pouring off the pages of her story. My heart broke with her as I turned each and every page.

In The Context of Love, each page is a new step in the journey, full of tension and suspense. You never really know what is coming next. When her high school love is torn from her, you feel the immense pain she goes through. You want to console her and guide her but know that nothing can save her from the pain she is going through.

I love the way Linda writes, it is like magic as you turn each page as it is woven poetically. I literally could not put this story down, I loved it that much. You just want to keep reading to find out what happens to Joe (her lost love), Angelica, her children and if she can find forgiveness, love and acceptance.

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a published poet and fiction writer, cynical optimist, fan of corgis, tea drinker, and wine lover from Michigan. Her poetry, short stories, and art have been published in more than fifty literary journals, including Prairie Schooner, Clackamas Literary Review, Spoon River, and Permafrost.

She received a poetry chapbook award from Bottom Dog Press, and an MFA from the University of Southern Maine. Linda lives with her husband in southeast Michigan, where they spoil their grandchildren and then send them back home.

Book Trailer

In the Context of Love | Book Trailer from Linda Sienkiewicz on Vimeo.

The Giveaway!

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.