CRUEL HARVEST

I received a copy of CRUEL HARVEST: A MEMOIR by Fran Elizabeth Grubb with Bryan Reardon, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze. This is one of the most gripping memoirs I have ever read.  Once again, this was a book that captured me from page one and left me breathless by the time I finished reading in one sitting.  It reads like a novel, very smooth, with realistic dialogue.  Many times, I had to remind myself that these horrific events had really happened to an innocent young girl.  I imagined the students I have taught in the past and I cringed to picture them, or anyone, in such situations. 

The memoir involves Fran Grubb’s childhood, a twisted nightmare she had to endure without help.  So many parts left my mouth gaping; other sections made me shudder.  Her family members fled her father, but for a long while, Fran was stuck with him.  She watched him kill her sister and sexually assault them.  I wept with Fran during many of the heart-wrenching events depicted in the chapters, and at the end, I cheered for her hopes.  To have become such a wonderful Christian woman proves what a strong person she really is.  I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a though-provoking read. 

When Hope Blossoms

I received a copy of WHEN HOPE BLOSSOMS by Kim Vogel Sawyer, from Bethany House. I had never read a book with a Mennonite protagonist before, so I was excited to learn about the religion and culture.  From chapter two onward, I was hook.  Sadly, chapter one was a little slow, so I beg you to at least read a few chapters in before making an opinion about the book.  By the time I was halfway through, I couldn’t stop, and read late into the night.   

Amy, a young Mennonite widow, moves to a new town with her three children.  Her son, Parker, suffered a head trauma that left him with a disability.  The neighbor, Tim, left the Mennonite faith because of his strict upbringing.  At first, he resents the Mennonites, but slowly becomes attached to Amy’s children (which I found a little odd.  Throughout the book, I got a sense of their strong relationship, but now how he was with Amy until the very end.  Their romance seemed sudden and unprepared, but didn’t make me like the book any less).  Little by little, he reopens his heart to the Mennonite faith. 

The story was very touching as it showed his progress.  I would have liked to see more growth from Amy and the children, but the story really focused on Tim.  His character is three-dimensional and realistic.  I learned a lot about the Mennonites and hope to find more books about them.  

MY POP-UP BIBLE STORIES

I received a copy of MY POP-UP BIBLE STORIES by Juliet David, illustrated by Daniel Haworth from Candle Books through Kregel Publications. In case you can’t tell from the title, it’s a pop-up book – of Bible stories! I’d never seen one like it before, and I by the time I finished reading it, I had mixed feelings. Originally, I was thrilled. Children and adults love pop-up books. They bring the stories to life in a 3-D sense that a mere picture book can’t do. When I was subbing and doing my student teaching in local elementary schools, children loved the pop-up books best. The school library even had a few that were always out. Since they delight children so much, it’s a great idea to make one about the Bible.

Sadly, I wasn’t as thrilled when I finished reading it. Each page was a different Bible story, such as Daniel in the Lion’s Den. While I loved all of the stories, integral to understanding the Christian faith, the single page that included only a few paragraphs didn’t do the story justice. It felt rushed and incomplete, leaving me with more questions than answers. A parent or teacher reading this to a child could then go to the Bible and continue the lesson, but since the stories are so sparse, they don’t capture the imagination or hold interest.

On a more positive note, the pictures are eye-catching and child-friendly. As a supplement to a lesson, this would be a great resource. Despite my misgivings, I did enjoy the book, and recommend it to teachers and parents.

GRANT: SAVIOR OF THE UNION

I received a copy of GRANT: SAVIOR OF THE UNION by Mitchell Yockelson, from Thomas Nelson via BookSneeze.  It is part of The Generals, a series about powerful Christian leaders.  As soon as I got it, my dad and uncle both requested to borrow it when I finished.  My mom also asked to read it, so it isn’t just a “boy” book. 

Prior to reading, I had known only a little about Ulysses S. Grant: a Civil War General who fought for the Union with great success and later became a United States President.  This biography makes him out to be so much more.  Yes, he did fight for President Abraham Lincoln, but he was also an ordinary man, who loved fishing and his family.  Spread out over sixteen chapters, the reader gets to experience Grant’s struggles with him.  I would have liked to learn more about his home life and childhood, though – these topics were rushed.  The biography focuses more on his part in the Civil War.  It is written in a simple way for anyone to enjoy, making it a fast read.  It will especially appeal to Civil War buffs and past war enthusiasts. 

I recommend this to history fans, as well as Christian readers who are looking for a role model.  Despite his faults, Ulysses S. Grant is someone to look up to; this biography proves why.  

FOREVER

I have another blog, which I share with my friend Stephanie.  One of my critique partners read a post about a book I ranted about on there, and suggested I share it here.  Normally, I review books given to me by a publisher for the purpose of writing about them on my blog.  I try to be professional then, pointing out the good and bad aspects.   For this book, however, I ranted, so I apologize if it offends anyone:

 Years ago, my family moved into a new house. It belongs to my grandmother and is attached to her farm. We rented the house while building our new one. I found a box of “destroyed” books (covers ripped off) in the attic. These books included novels from the OZ series and FOREVER by Judy Blume. I read them, and was deeply disgusted by FOREVER. It’s fine as an adult novel, but young adult? No. I ended up giving it to my adult cousin, after she saw me reading it.

Jump forward to college. I had to read the book again for my Children’s Literature class. All of us, including the teacher, were disturbed by the novel. Now, here it is in my grasp again, and…well, let me start with the first paragraph. “Sybil Davidson has a genius I. Q. and has been laid by at least six different guys.” Yup, and the book sticks with that same theme throughout.

Quite a few random moments made me blink. The babysitter smells Dad’s things because she has a thing for him. Grandma is described as being busy with Planned Parenthood. Erica, the friend, wants to get laid before college. She also wants to do it with every guy in school, including the teachers. The parents have loud sex, and Katherine listens. Erica’s love interest fears he might be gay – but instead, he’s just impotent. Katherine discusses her period with Michael (then, even though she has her period, he still tries to touch her, and she’s only upset because his sister is nearby). Michael’s sister and her husband offer them a joint. Michael names his penis Ralph. He teaches Katherine how to make him come using her hand. Mom only wants her to apply to 3 schools…she does it through her high school and needs parental permission. Mom makes her read an article about how every relationship ends – very depressing idea.

Michael is the male love interest. He wears glasses, which is mentioned a lot. He calls Katherine quite a bit, which is nice, and something that happens in healthy relationships. Oh, and this one time toward the start of their “affair,” they make-out on the couch and he asks her if she’s a virgin. Maybe that’s part of being in a healthy relationship, too, but if a guy asked me that, I’d think he only wanted one thing – which, oh yeah, he does. He slept with a girl twice before, and got “VD” from her.

Katherine is the main character. She can’t decide if she’s ready or not. I had trouble really understanding her character, because the book seemed to be happening around her, not with her. She reacted, without really acting.

So, to their first time, which is the point of the book – they go to his sister’s apartment. Katherine worries about bleeding, so he gets a towel. He doesn’t want to use a condom since she just had her period, but they do anyway. He comes almost instantaneously.

JACKSON: THE IRON WILLED COMMANDER

I received a copy of JACKSON: THE IRON-WILLED COMMANDER by Paul S. Vickey, PhD, from Thomas Nelson, via BookSneeze.  It is from The Generals, a series edited by Stephen Mansfield.  I have been interested in President Andrew Jackson since my student teaching assignment in a fifth grade classroom.  The students were learning about him and needed to write a poem, so I knew some tidbits, but this book took him into a new light.   From school, I had developed a dislike for him.  The fifth-grade textbook portrayed him as a man who drove the Native Americans off their land.  This biography made him out to be much more than that. 

The biography reads easily, like a novel, and spans his birth through his death.  I was disappointed in how few pictures were included, but otherwise discovered delight in the chapters.  President Jackson became a breathing man for me, rather than a distant figure in history.  Dr. Vickey shows both his good and bad sides, well-rounding him to the reader.  I enjoyed the usage of quotes and descriptions, as well as citations, reminding me of how it is fact and not fiction.  I highly recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about Andrew Jackson’s life, as well as to any history buff. 

MOONLIGHT MAYHEM - Blog Book Tour and Book Giveaway

This giveaway is open internationally! So let’s tell the blogging world!

*SPELLBOUND SERIES TRIVIA QUIZ*

Hi everybody, I’m author, Sherry Soule—waving from the SF Bay Area, where it can get pretty foggy. And I can’t believe that summer’s finally here, and even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m cranking the air conditioner and chatting on Twitter about my love of reading.

Thanks for letting me visit today as part of my epic Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour. It’s an honor to be a guest and meet all of these awesome booklovers—like me!

Thus far, my tour has been a blast for me and the readers that participated. It is nice seeing familiar names in the comments at each stop. For those of you who haven’t heard of my super fun blog tour it’s not too late to join!

To celebrate the release of author, Sherry Soule’s new paranormal novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, take this super fun quiz to see how savvy you are about the first two books in this unforgettable YA series, and score a Kindle or Nook version of the first book in the series, BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN! (Hint: you can most of these answers on the Spellbound Universe blog and Sherry’s blog.)

Now, let’s see how well you think you know this series (even if you’ve never read the books, you can find all the answers online) and be sure to check the bottom of the post for the details regarding this random giveaway.

1.     In the Moonlight Mayhem book trailer what is Shiloh’s epic problem?

a.      Ferocious wolves

b.      Deadly necromancers

c.      Shambling zombies

d.      Fear of the dark

2.    Where did Shiloh and Trent first see each other?

a.      At school

b.      In the gym

c.      Luna Pizza

d.      At church

3.    What remote coastal town is the series located?

a.      Castro Valley

b.      Larkspur

c.      Madrone Woodlands

d.      Whispering Pines

4.    Which paranormal(s) tormented Shiloh in the first book?

a.      Wraith

b.      Shades

c.      Shadow People (demon)

d.      a, b, and c

5.    What is Shiloh’s freakishness?

a.      She has a severe limp

b.      She is missing an ear

c.      She has six toes on her right foot

d.      She has a jagged scar on her wrist

6.   Which fictional demon hunter(s) does Shiloh must admire?

a.     Sam Winchester

b.     Salvatore brothers

c.      Buffy

d.     Charmed Ones

7.    What is Shiloh’s heritage?

a.      Heritage Witch

b.      Half Asian and Half Caucasian

c.      Hispanic

d.      Half American Indian and half French

8.    What type of magick does Shiloh’s mother, Jillian practice?

a.      White Magick

b.      Voodoo

c.      Wiccan

d.      Dark Arts

9.   What is a Sheol ? (*Hint: Google Sheol for the answer)

a.      A ride at Disneyland

b.      A town in Marin County

c.      A contagious rash

d.      A gateway to the Underworld

10. What are Shiloh’s supernatural pet(s)?

a.      Phoenix (exotic bird)

b.      Siamese cat (familiar)

c.      Fairies

d.      Shades

11.  What type of paranormal is Mrs. Baylock?

a.     Vampire

b.     Necromancer

c.     Witch

d.     Ghost

12.  Who was the first owner of Ravenhurst Manor? (*Hint: Google Owner of Ravenhurst for the answer)

a.      Michele Broussard

b.      Wealthy unknown family

c.      Maxwell Donavon

d.      Rowan Broussard

13.  What significance does the number “13” have in the series?

a.      Nothing it’s just a stupid number

b.      It’s the number of rooms in Ravenhurst Manor

c.      It’s the number of times that Shiloh sees a ghost

d.      It is part of an ancient prophecy foretelling of a girl who will break a curse

If you answered...

Mostly a's: You need to reread BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN and MOONLIGHT MAYHEM

Mostly b's: You should become a follower of the Spellbound Universe blog

Mostly c's: You need to recheck your facts, and then retake this quiz

Mostly d's: Congrats! You’re an impressive expert on all things Spellbound!

MOONLIGHT MAYHEM Synopsis:

Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast!

It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.

But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

Moonlight Mayhem is the second novel in the unforgettably epic Spellbound series

By Sherry Soule

Twitter hashtag #MMBlogTour

Places you can cyberstalk Sherry Soule:

Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com

Official Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry

Awesome Book Trailers/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs

  and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvA

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4925996.Sherry_Soule

A random US winner will be picked on August 4, 2012 and be posted at the top of this quiz, please check back on that day to find out if you’re the lucky winner.

Giveaway details for an eBook of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN:

1.) You must comment with your quiz results

2.) Be a follower of the Spellbound Series Universe Blog

3.) Be a follower of this blog

4.) Follow on Twitter @WriterSherry

Good luck!