Contest

Here is an exciting contest I found through a group on YALitChat. If you are interested in writing, check it out!

http://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/two-writer-digest-contests/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+WritingAndIllustrating+%28Writing+and+Illustrating%29

Hand of Fate review

I received through Thomas Nelson a copy of Hand of Fate, which is by Lis Wiehl with April Henry. Upon completion of the novel, my first reflection involved the fact that there was very little religion in the text. Overall, though, I really enjoyed the book and had a hard time putting it down. The novel begins with the brutal murder of a radio talk show host. The story then follows three women who are investigating his death. They track down the killer, only to find themselves suddenly caught up in the aftermath with their own lives in danger. Throughout, the backdrop is set with information about the lives of the three women. One of them even knew the talk show host on a very “personal” level. Another of the women is trying to deal with the release from jail of her rapist – as he tries to meet their daughter. The third woman suffers a miscarriage, but manages to save a little girl’s life during a supposed terrorist attack. At the end, it is discovered that the killer was right there in front of them, but completely unexpected. Each chapter is filled with action and drama. For aesthetic value, the cover is intriguing. At the end, Lis Wiehl enclosed letters sent to her asking if they were the inspiration for her talk show host victim. I had never read another book by her, but this one has gotten me hooked on the author. I will definitely seek out her other books, especially those in this series.

Excellent Biography

I was excited to receive from Thomas Nelson a copy of The Revolutionary Paul Revere by Joel J. Miller. Despite my addiction to history, I was expecting the novel to be a bit dry. Biographies usually are, but this one is the exception. I read the book in two days, barely able to bring myself to put it down. The story was fast-paced and reminded me of a fiction novel due to the flowing verse. The story begins by describing the life of his father. Most of the facts in the story are ones I had never heard of before. Some of these facts were how Paul Revere became a silversmith. Paul Revere is a character that children grow up with, knowing that he warned of the British coming, but little else. This book opens up a new world and introduces a beloved character that has always been shrouded in an enigma. The book is interspersed with actual pictures that portray aspects of the story as it is being told. I loved the book up until the end. It ended abruptly with his death. Yes, the book was about him (and therefore, when he died, the material dwindled), but I wanted to know much more about the aftermath of his death. The ending left me wanting more. Overall, the book left a good aftertaste. I had left the book on the table and my mother picked it up and started looking at it. She too started reading and could not put it down. It is a well-written, sometimes witty book, that is a must read for all history lovers or anyone wanting more information on the backdrop of the Revolutionary War.