dumping cable

Right before I moved into my new house, I wrote about dumping Netflix. Six months later, I'm dumping cable.

I knew going in that cable would probably be a temporary pleasure. But I was getting a great deal through the cable company, so I decided to go for it. Plus, they offered a great deal on a DVR, and I'd wanted one ever since I heard about them. (The DVR didn't disappoint—in fact, it was probably my favorite aspect of having cable TV!)

Today, I got my bill for February—the first bill after the end of the six-month introductory pricing. And I about fell over dead. My bill (which included cable, internet, and DVR) jumped from $67 to $117! No way could I justify paying that much, especially since the cable was only expanded basic—no "fancy" channels. So I called the cable company to try to negotiate a better rate. (When I signed up, the lady told me they were constantly running "retention specials" to keep customers.) No such luck. The best I could do would be to sign a 1-year contract and lock in an $83 rate for my current cable channels and 30 meg internet. Who on earth needs 30 meg? Not me! (I currently have 15 meg, and I've had both 7 and 5 before with no streaming issues.)

So, I decided to keep the internet and dump the rest ... thus saving me roughly $80 per month. As soon as I got off the phone, I went to Hulu Plus and reactivated my subscription. $8 vs. $80 ... It was a no brainer. Most of the shows I currently watch are on Hulu Plus, and I rarely watch shows as they air, anyway.

So what will I miss the most (besides the DVR)? Hallmark movies and Friends*, neither of which are on Hulu Plus. (Amazon Prime & Netflix do have some of the older Hallmark movies, but I'm interested in the new ones.) The solution for Hallmark was simple: take my VCR back to my parents' house and record the Hallmark movies there, which is what I was doing pre-cable. But Friends was trickier ... until I got an email from WBshop.com this afternoon. This isn't what it said, but it might as well have:

Dear Becky,

Congratulations on saving $80 a month by dumping cable! In celebration, please use all but $2 of that savings to purchase all 10 seasons of Friends. Thank you for your business.

WBshop.com

That's right: I just bought all 10 seasons of Friends for what I'm saving by dumping cable. Think of the things I could buy with that $80 each month! (Just kidding. I'm going to save it! Most of the time ...)

I am a bit sad to see cable (and my beloved DVR) go. I now have 36 hours to watch the most important things that I've DVR'd and not watched yet. (I'm thinking Sherlock needs to move to the top of that list.) But I'm confident I'm making the right choice. There's just too much of my father in me to be OK with paying more than $120 per month for cable and internet!

Goodbye, precious DVR!

*I have a storied history with Friends. It premiered when I was in junior high, and my brother and I would sneak into our basement to watch it (and other NBC sitcoms). When my mom found out, she banned Friends. Being a (fairly) good child, I stuck to the letter of the law and didn't watch Friends anymore. However, as Mom didn't ban anything else, we continued to surreptitiously watch a myriad of other shows she wouldn't have approved of. In college, I started catching Friends episodes here and there, and that sporadic viewing continued until I got cable. Then I realized that Friends is on TV constantly, and I've recently been watching an episode or two after work each night. Even though it's a 20-year-old show (crazy!), it doesn't feel like it. And it's certainly tame compared to what's on TV today!

"shadowed by grace" giveaway information

Next week, I'll be posting my review of Shadowed by Grace by Cara Putman. There's a great giveaway going along with this blog tour, and I wanted to make sure you had the information to enter as soon as possible. Enjoy!

Cara Putman is celebrating her latest historical suspense novel, Shadowed by Grace with a fun "Past & Present" giveaway! 

One winner will receive:

• A Polaroid Instant Camera
• A beautiful antique AFGRA camera (learn more here)
• Movie passes to see The Monuments Men movie (with George Clooney and Matt Damon)
• Shadowed By Grace by Cara Putman

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. Winner will be announced February 10th on Cara's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Cara's blog on the 10th to see if you won.

"a promise kept" kindle fire hdx giveaway information

I'll be posting my review of Robin Lee Hatcher's A Promise Kept next week. (Spoiler alert: I loved it!) In the meantime, I wanted to be sure you had the info for the great giveaway that's going along with this blog tour. Enter today!

Don't miss Robin Lee Hatcher's stunning new novel, A Promise Kept. Robin is celebrating with a fun giveaway and an encouraging Facebook Author Chat Party.

 One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• A Promise Kept by Robin Lee Hatcher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 6th. Winner will be announced at the "A Promise Kept" Facebook Author Chat Party on the 6th. Connect with Robin and friends for an evening of encouraging book chat, prizes, and an exclusive look at Robin's next book!

So grab your copy of A Promise Kept and join Robin on the evening of February 6th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by clicking JOIN at the event page. Spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway and party via FACEBOOK or TWITTER. Hope to see you on 2/6!

"the calling" by suzanne woods fisher

About the book (from Litfuse): Book Two in the Inn at Eagle Hill series.

Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher delivers her trademark twists, turns, and tender romance in this delightful and exciting visit to the deceptively quiet community of Stoney Ridge.

Twenty-year-old Bethany Schrock is restless. Her love life has derailed, her faith hangs by a thread, and she is spending the incredibly hot summer days wading through a lifetime's accumulation of junk at the home of five ancient Amish sisters. About the only thing that holds her interest is the spirited and dangerously handsome Jimmy Fisher—and he seems bent on irritating her to no end.

When the sly old sisters and a guest at the Inn get Bethany involved in running the local soup kitchen and starting a community garden, she suddenly finds herself wondering, Shootfire! How did that happen? Despite her newfound purposefulness, a gnawing emptiness about a childhood mystery continues to plague her. Encouraged by Jimmy Fisher, she will seek out the answers she craves—and uncover a shocking secret that will break her heart, heal it, and point her to love.

My take: The Calling is a wonderful continuation of Suzanne Woods Fisher's "The Inn at Eagle Hill" series. The first book (The Letters) focused on Rose Schrock, a widow who turns her home into an inn to support her family. The Calling is about Rose's grown step-daughter Bethany, who is reeling from the discovery that her ex-boyfriend is far from the man she thought he was.

When I read The Letters, I basically skimmed through anything concerning Bethany. I thought she was a self-centered brat who seriously lacked judgement ... and she was. But in The Calling, Bethany grows up, and I greatly enjoyed watching her transform from that reckless girl into a faith-filled, responsible woman.

The other characters were just as fun to read about: Bethany's younger sister Mim, who masquerades as the columnist "Mrs. Miracle"; Geena, the youth pastor who retreats to the inn only to find her true calling; Jimmy Fisher, a favorite character from Fisher's previous Stoney Ridge series who has finally (finally!) grown up; and, of course, UNCLE HANK, the sweet, near-deaf man who is hopelessly in love with Jimmy's mother.

One thing I love about Fisher's writing is the connections she makes between characters—connections that I never anticipate but that seem to make perfect sense. I also enjoy getting to read about Englisch characters, as they are the ones who stay at the inn.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is my favorite Amish fiction writer because of the humor, twists, and "realness" she inserts into each novel. While I only liked The Letters, I completely fell in love with The Calling, and now I can't wait to read The Revealing, which releases in July.

My rating: 5 stars

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Buy the book.
Read an excerpt.
Read my reviews of Fisher's The Letters, The Haven and The Lesson (Stoney Ridge Seasons #2 & 3), and A Lancaster County Christmas.

About the author: Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of the Inn at Eagle Hill series, Lancaster County Secrets series, and the Stoney Ridge Seasons series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. She is also the coauthor of a new Amish children's series, The Adventures of Lily Lapp. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Suzanne is a Carol Award winner and a Christy Award finalist. She is a columnist for Christian Post and Cooking & Such magazines. She lives in California.

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Learn more about Suzanne at http://suzannewoodsfisher.com

About the giveaway: Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher is celebrating her newest book, The Calling, by giving away TWO iPads, TWO Kindles, and TWO Nooks!
 

Two grand prize winners will receive:

• An iPad
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Four second place winners will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX or a Nook HD—winner's choice!
• The Letters and The Calling by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. All winners will be announced February 10th at Suzanne's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit Suzanne's blog on the 10th to see if you won one of the great prizes! (Or better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox!)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the headmistress of rosemere" by sarah e. ladd

About the book (from the back cover): At twenty-five, Patience Creighton is already a spinster. The busy headmistress of Rosemere always expected a dashing man to sweep her off her feet and take her away ... but that man never came. And since her father's death, keeping the school running and her mother happy has been plenty to keep her occupied.

William Sterling dallied his way into financial trouble and mortal danger. When he is assaulted by his creditors' henchmen on the road home from a tavern, he guides his horse to the doorstep of his tenant, the Rosemere School for Young Ladies. After being tended to by Patience, the wounded William rides off into the dawn—but makes a point to learn more about the lovely headmistress.

As he spends more time at Rosemere, something delicate begins to develop between William and Patience. But that will not deter William's creditors. With little money to repay his debts, and less for the upkeep of his estate, it becomes clear that sacrificing Rosemere may be the only way to preserve his legacy. But it may also cost him his happiness.

My take: Last year, I read Sarah E. Ladd's The Heiress of Winterwood. It was a very good novel that made many bloggers' Top 10 lists for 2013. But The Headmistress of Rosemere? It's in a class of its own.

I loved every single thing about this book. Ladd's story swept me in immediately, and I flew through the pages, waiting to see what would happen to Patience and William. Along the way, I encountered many unexpected twists that kept me guessing as to where the story would ultimately lead.

Patience is a strong character with real flaws, and William—a character I despised in The Heiress of Winterwood—definitely comes into his own as a leading man. The romance is very chaste (even by inspirational market standards), but it's so sweet, and it fits the time period well. Ladd's writing has received comparisons to Jane Austen's, and I'd say those comparisons are well deserved. Regency romance lovers will greatly enjoy this novel!

My rating: 5 stars

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Read my review of Ladd's The Heiress of Winterwood.

About the author: Sarah E. Ladd has more than ten years of marketing experience. She is a graduate of Ball State University and holds degrees in public relations and marketing. The Heiress of Winterwood was the recipient of the 2011 Genesis Award for historical romance. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.

Learn more about Sarah at http://sarahladd.com.

About the giveaway: Don't miss Sarah Ladd's latest Regency novel, The Headmistress of Rosemere. She is celebrating the release of book two in her Whispers on the Moors series with a fun "School" Your Desk Kindle Fire Giveaway and an Author Chat Facebook Party!

Between January 17–28, visit Sarah Ladd's Facebook Page to enter to win a new giveaway each day and be entered to win a Kindle Fire grand prize. Winners will be announced at the Facebook Author Chat party on January 28th! (Don't have a Facebook account? Enter here.)

RSVP today for Sarah's The Headmistress of Rosemere Author Chat Party on Facebook. During the party Sarah will be hosting a book chat, testing your Regency trivia skills, announcing the winner of the "School" Your Desk Giveaway, and giving away books, gift certificates, and more. Oh, and she'll also be giving partygoers an exclusive look at the next book in the Whispers on the Moors series!

So grab your copy of The Headmistress of Rosemere and hope to see you on the evening of January 28th! (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE FUN; RSVP TODAY. HOPE TO SEE YOU ON THE 28th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"red sky at morning" by steve wilson

About the book (from Amazon): When Marine Lieutenant Michael Neill is ordered to the former Soviet Union, his assignment is to verify nuclear disarmament. But before his mission begins, an American reconnaissance plane is attacked by a Russian fighter, and a Navy pilot is killed. After the incident, Neill’s mission changes.

Willis Avery, the President’s National Security Advisor, wants Lieutenant Neill to investigate Russian stealth technology, in addition to his original assignment. Photographic evidence—and the lack of radar images of the attacking aircraft—lead the American intelligence community to conclude that something new has been developed in the skies over Russia. Avery believes that Neill’s friendship with a high-ranking officer in the Ukrainian Air Force is the key to establishing Red Sky at Morning—the existence of new aviation technology that could upset the balance of power between East and West.

However, ultra-nationalist forces are at work. After arriving in Eastern Europe, Neill quickly uncovers a conspiracy of terrorism secretly instigated by the Kremlin. Government leaders in Moscow will stop at nothing to rebuild the Soviet Union as they try to force the breakaway republics back into the fold.

Neill discovers that the terrorism has extended to the weapons facility he is charged with inspecting. Communist agents have gone far beyond their original orders, and it’s a race against time as the Marine—with the help of a beautiful Ukrainian journalist—tries to stop them—and come up with a plan to bring down the corrupt govenment officials in Moscow.

My take: I love military movies, but I very rarely read military fiction. So it was with a little trepidation that I agreed to review Steve Wilson's Red Sky at Morning. I needn't have worried, as this book immediately grabbed my attention, and I soon found myself flying through the pages to see what would happen next.

The action moves quickly, and even though there are many characters, I didn't have trouble keeping them straight ... with one exception. The author often refers to characters by first name, last name, or both, sometimes all within the same scene. Once I figured this out, I was fine, but at first, I thought that Michael and Neill were different people!

While I enjoyed the entire book, the epilogue was, hands down, my favorite part. I don't want to spoil it, but it wraps up a minor character's story line in a most satisfying manner.

Red Sky at Morning is book one in Wilson's Michael Neill series, and I will definitely be continuing with book two. Those who enjoy military or espionage novels should definitely check these out.

My rating:  4 stars

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Buy the book. (If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can borrow the book free.)

About the series: Red Sky at Morning (the first in the Michael Neill series) is a novel of military/espionage, with ties to Christian fiction. It explores the dynamics of faith in uniform, which are often absent from books of the same kind. There’s action, military hardware, strong core values, and even a little romance. Neill’s adventures will hold the interest of young and old, and will encourage readers to value patriotism and embrace honor and integrity.

Michael Neill was born and raised in Ukraine, the son of American missionaries. As a Marine Corps officer, Neill works counter-intelligence. He is fluent in Russian and Ukrainian and brings his linguistic skills to bear on national security issues facing the U.S. The fact that he grew up in that part of the world also gives him an edge.

Neill’s faith guides his actions. He’s an individual who has suffered his share of personal loss, and the different layers of his background are slowly revealed as the series progresses.

About the author: Steve Wilson is a multimedia designer for a large metropolitan newspaper, and has worked in advertising for over 25 years. He is a prior service Marine, now serving as a Master Sergeant in the Air Force Reserve.

Over the course of his military career, he has received the Iraq and Afghanistan Campaign Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the Air Force Commendation Medal. In 2010 he was named the Air Transportation NCO of the Year. His ties to the armed forces—as well as short-term mission trips—have taken him to Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Europe and the Pacific, as well as the former Soviet Union. These experiences have helped to shape his story lines.

Steve is the author of Red Sky at Morning and Tempest of Fire, both military/espionage novels in the Michael Neill Adventure series. He is the father of two grown sons, and lives in Florida with his wife.

To learn more about Steve and his books, visit his website: http://stevewilsonauthor.com/ or his blog.

You can also find Steve on Facebook.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

"journey of hope" by debbie kaufman

About the book (from the publisher): Marriage Is Not Her Mission

Escaping a society wedding, Annabelle Baldwin followed her heart to Liberia to pursue her calling as a missionary. But when an attempted kidnapping lands her under the protection of Stewart Hastings, Anna's journey takes a new turn. The wounded war veteran needs a guide through the jungle. It's a job the underfunded missionary can't refuse, despite the feelings Stewart stirs in her guarded heart.


Stewart knows he won't succeed without Anna's expertise. And when danger puts her life at risk, he realizes he cannot live without Anna by his side. But what will it take for a man who has lost his faith to capture the heart of a woman who lives for hers?

My take: Journey of Hope is both incredibly predictable and totally enthralling. The romance aspect—Anna and Stewart falling in love and Stewart coming to Christ—provides no surprises whatsoever. Anyone who reads the description would be quick to surmise that Stewart's lack of faith, the only thing keeping him and Anna apart, would disappear, paving the way to a happy union. So for me, the romance aspect was just so-so ... not bad, but not great.

What made this book so enjoyable to read was the setting. Anna is a missionary in Liberia in 1920, and her adventures are fascinating! My great-aunt was a single missionary in North Africa in the early 1950's, so I was especially interested in learning about what single women faced on the mission field. While I don't know from experience, everything in this novel (save the romance) struck me as very realistic, and I greatly enjoyed this look at the mission field.

My rating: 3-1/2 stars

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Buy the book.

About the author: Debbie Kaufman writes inspirational romance for Love Inspired Historical. Along the years, Debbie has had a lot of adventures. They include running a rural airport, working as a small town journalist, teaching middle and high school, working in domestic adoption, and establishing a Chinese adoption program, just to name a few. And through those exciting times, she and her husband managed to raise four children, an assortment of dogs, a plethora of hamsters, gerbils, many ill-fated fish, and quite a few of their children’s friends, all while homeschooling for many years.

Since becoming an empty-nester, Debbie has learned some eclectic truths about herself: She should never be allowed in a book store with a credit card, hobby stores are off limits unless she is accompanied by a rational adult who holds the credit card, and the smartest thing she ever did outside of giving her life to God was to chase after and marry her husband of more than thirty-six years.

Concerning her books, Debbie wants her readers to know that the fact that some of her books contain cannibals should be understood as an element of adventurous historical romance stories, and should never be misconstrued as the sign of a warped mind. Debbie insists she is as normal as everyone else. To decide for yourself, connect with her at one or all of these hangouts:

Website: www.debbiekaufman.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/debbie_kaufman

Facebook: www.facebook.com/debbiekaufmanfanpage

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946642.Debbie_Kaufman

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a free copy of this book to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Some of the links on this page are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase a product, I will receive a commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” I am part of the CWA Review Crew.

recipe: biscoff brownies

I have a thing for box brownies. Seriously. I have yet to find a from-scratch brownie that I enjoy as much as a brownie from a box. So when I was craving chocolate the other night, I turned to my old stand-by ... but I decided to amp it up with some cream cheese and Biscoff spread ('cause you can never have too much Biscoff spread!). And they turned out delightfully, if I do say so myself!

Biscoff Brownies

Brownies:
1 family size box brownie mix and the ingredients called for on the package

Biscoff topping:
1 (8 oz) brick cream cheese (or regular or reduced fat), softened
1 egg
1/2 cup Biscoff spread
3 T sugar
1 t vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix up brownies according to package directions. Pour into greased 9x13 pan. In medium bowl, beat together Biscoff topping ingredients until smooth. Drop by spoonfuls over the brownie batter. Using a table knife, cut through the brownies several times to swirl the topping. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until set. Remove from oven and cool 30 minutes before cutting. Store in the refrigerator.

"the dancing master" by julie klassen

About the book (from Litfuse): Finding himself the man of the family, London dancing master Alec Valcourt moves his mother and sister to remote Devonshire, hoping to start over. But he is stunned to learn the village matriarch has prohibited all dancing, for reasons buried deep in her past.

Alec finds an unlikely ally in the matriarch's daughter. Though he's initially wary of Julia Midwinter's reckless flirtation, he comes to realize her bold exterior disguises a vulnerable soul—and hidden sorrows of her own.

Julia is quickly attracted to the handsome dancing master—a man her mother would never approve of—but she cannot imagine why Mr. Valcourt would leave London, or why he evades questions about his past. With Alec's help, can Julia uncover old secrets and restore life to her somber village . . . and to her mother's tattered heart?

Filled with mystery and romance, The Dancing Master brings to life the intriguing profession of those who taught essential social graces for ladies and gentlemen hoping to make a "good match" in Regency England.

My take: Julie Klassen is a master of Regency fiction, and I always eagerly anticipate her releases, each of which surprises me in some way. The Dancing Master surprised me because I expected it to be much more of a romance than it turned out to be. Yes, there are aspects of romance, including the expected attraction between dancing master Alec and Julia Midwinter. But the book is about so much more than romance: it's about friendship, parenthood, family, prejudice, legalism, and forgiveness.

I did struggle to immerse myself in the novel at first—basically because I didn't care much for Julia at the outset—but once I was about 75 pages in, I could barely tear myself away from the pages. Klassen's other characters were so fleshed out and intriguing that it soon didn't matter that I disliked Julia.

And. Then.

Klassen took all my assumptions about Julia and turned them upside down. Suddenly, I found myself immersed in questions about Julia's ancestry. I couldn't read fast enough as I tried to unravel the carefully plotted mystery.

Suffice it to say that I enjoyed The Dancing Master far more than I anticipated. I laughed; I cried (really, I did!); I sighed in contentment. Fans of Jane Austen or the regency period will find great pleasure in this book.

My rating: 4-1/2 stars

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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of other Julie Klassen novels: The Apothecary's Daughter, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Tutor's Daughter.

About the author: Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She is a three-time Christy Award winner and a 2010 Midwest Book Award winner for Genre Fiction. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Learn more about Julie at http://julieklassen.com.

About the giveaway: Best-selling author Julie Klassen will be hosting a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a live webcast event (1/23) to celebrate the release of her latest novel, The Dancing Master. Enter and RSVP today!

 
  One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire HDX
• The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 23rd. Winner will be announced at the "All Things Jane (from Austen to Eyre)" Live Webcast Event on January 23rd. Connect with Julie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Julie will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, Jane Austen DVDs, fun "Jane" merchandise, and gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of The Dancing Master and join Julie and friends on the evening of January 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the painted table" by suzanne field

About the book (from Litfuse): A beautiful heirloom ingrained with family memory has become a totem of a life Saffee would rather forget—a childhood disrupted by her mother's mental illness.

Saffee does not want the table. By the time she inherits the object of her mother's obsession, the surface is thick with haphazard layers of paint, and heavy with unsettling memories.

After a childhood spent watching her mother slide steadily into insanity, painting and re-painting the ancient table, Saffee has come to fear that seeds of psychosis may lie dormant within her. But as an adult with a family of her own, Saffee must confront her mother's torment if she wants to defend herself against it.

Traversing four generations over the course of a century, The Painted Table is an epic portrait of inherited memory, proclivity, and guilt. It is a sprawling narrative affirmation that a family artifact—like a family member—can bear the marks of one's entire past . . . as well as intimations of one's redemption.

My take: The Painted Table is a heart-wrenching tale of one woman's descent into mental illness and her daughter's fight for a better life for herself. The description of Saffie's mother Joann's illness is heartbreakingly realistic and is written so vividly that it was almost as if I was watching it play out onscreen. Field wisely focuses on Saffee for most of the novel, as she is much more relatable than Joann, and through her eyes, we see how deeply Joann's mental illness impacted everyone in her family.

I struggled to get through the first 50 or so pages—I think partially because it took a while to get used to the present tense format the novel is written in and partially because it took that long for Saffee to move to center stage. But I am so glad I stuck with it. While difficult to read at times, The Painted Table paints a vivid picture of the power of God to heal and restore.

My rating: 4 stars

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About the author: Suzanne Field, a graduate of the University of Minnesota, has taught English as a Second Language in China, Ukraine, and Hawaii. She has also been a magazine editor and home-school teacher. She and her husband have five children and divide their time between Kansas and Hawaii where she is a tutor and mentor.

Learn more about Suzanne at: https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneFieldThePaintedTable

About the giveaway: Suzanne Field is celebrating her novel The Painted Table with a beautiful hand-painted table giveaway!

One winner will receive:

• A beautiful hand-painted table (see it here: http://etsy.me/15L90cD)
• The Painted Table by Suzanne Field

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 18th. Winner will be announced January 20th on Thomas Nelson's Facebook Page.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by the TNZ Facebook Page on the 20th to see if you won.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"rest not in peace" by mel starr

About the book (from the publisher): Master Hugh, surgeon and bailiff, is asked to provide a sleeping potion for Sir Henry Burley, a friend and guest of Lord Gilbert at Bampton Castle. Sir Henry—with his current wife, a daughter by a first wife, two knights, two squires, and assorted servants—has outstayed his welcome at Bampton.

The next morning, Sir Henry is found dead, eyes open, in his bed. Master Hugh, despite shrill accusations from the grieving widow, is asked by Lord Gilbert to determine the cause of death . . . which had nothing to do with the potion.

The sixth tale following Hugh de Singleton, Rest Not in Peace is sure to find its place among fans of detective and medieval historical fiction.

My take: Each year, I look forward to reading the next in the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton. Each book is written as though it's Hugh's journal, containing foreshadowing, witty asides, and hopes and fears—just as a real journal would. I also love the glimpses into medieval medicine, as Hugh is both a surgeon and bailiff. (Though I must admit, sometimes the medical procedures are so graphic that they make me cringe!)

Rest Not in Peace provides the entertainment I have come to expect from author Mel Starr. The stakes aren't as high in this book, as Hugh's life isn't threatened as it is in some of the previous books, but it is no less enjoyable. I will admit that I missed the presence of Hugh's nemesis Sir Simon Trillowe, and I hope that a new antagonist will make an appearance in future novels!

My rating: 4-1/2 stars

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Buy the book.
Read my reviews of the Hugh de Singleton novels A Trail of Ink, Unhallowed Ground, and The Tainted Coin.

About the author: Mel Starr was born and grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After graduating with an MA in history from Western Michigan University in 1970, he taught history in Michigan public schools for thirty-nine years, thirty-five of those in Portage, MI, where he retired in 2003 as chairman of the social studies department of Portage Northern High School. Mel and his wife, Susan, have two daughters and seven grandchildren.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Kregel Publications.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”