"valley of decision" by lynne gentry

Lynne Gentry's exciting time travel series concludes with Valley of Decision.

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Every choice has a consequence in the explosive conclusion to the Carthage Chronicles as Lisbeth returns to third-century Carthage for a thrilling final adventure.

Thirteen years ago, Lisbeth made an impossible decision---leave third-century Carthage and her husband Cyprian behind for good. She knew it was to protect her daughter Maggie, so Lisbeth gathered the strength to move on with her life.

All these years, Lisbeth has thrown herself into her work and raising her headstrong daughter, all to live up to the promise she made to Cyprian. But Maggie is sick of being protected. In an act of teenage rebellion Maggie decides to do what her mother can't---secretly returning to the third century on a quest to bring her father back, leaving Lisbeth no choice but to follow.

With Maggie's surprise arrival in Carthage, chaos ensues. She finds her grandmother on trial for murder and attempts to save her, but instead the diversion sparks a riot that nearly destroys the plagued city. Only one thing will appease the wrath of the new proconsul of Carthage: the death of the instigator.

Will Lisbeth arrive in time to save her daughter from the clutches of Rome? How can God possibly redeem such a slew of unwise decisions and deep regrets? Filled with heart-wrenching twists and riveting action, Valley of Decision brings the romantic adventure epic, The Carthage Chronicles, to an electrifying conclusion.

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I have greatly enjoyed Lynne Gentry's Carthage Chronicles—and I'm sorry the series has come to a close! Before I get into my review, a caution: If you have not yet read the first two novels in the series, you'd be better off reading those reviews, rather than this one, as I can't help but mention some of the things that happened in those books. (Healer of Carthage, Return to Exile)

Valley of Decision picks up 13 years following the events of Return to Exile ... at least that's how long Lisbeth and her daughter Maggie have been back in our time. In Carthage, mere hours have passed, which leads to a lot of confusion when a grown up Maggie appears.

Maggie, having Googled her father Cyprian, knows his fate, and she's determined to save him. Lisbeth and her father follow Maggie to Carthage, determined to bring Maggie and Lisbeth's mother Magdalena home for good. The question is, is it possible to change history? Can Cyprian be saved from certain death?

It's difficult to review this novel without including spoilers, so I'll just say that Valley of Decision features a sweet, budding romance, heart-tugging family moments, and  look at what it really means to stand up for your faith. (Now I'll include some info that could be considered spoilerish if you don't know anything about the real-life Cyprian.)

SPOILERS BELOW (if you're not familiar with 3rd Century Carthage)
Because Cyprian was a real person who really was martyred for his faith, I didn't doubt where the story would end (though I did kind of hope Gentry would find a way around it). But I did not expect how emotionally connected to Cyprian's story I would become. Gentry wrote Cyprian's final scenes in a way that made me want to simultaneously cheer and sob ... and I did a little of both!
END SPOILERS

I began reading The Carthage Chronicles because I love time travel romances, but what really kept me engaged was reading about Christians in the third century. These novels have vividly brought third-century Carthage to life, and it's definitely a time travel journey worth taking. 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Healer of Carthage (4-1/2 stars) and Return to Exile (4-1/2 stars).

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Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications. She is a professional acting coach, theater director, and playwright. Lynne is an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer who loves spending time with her family and medical therapy dog.

Find Lynne online: website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

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."

"return to exile" by lynne gentry

Lynne Gentry's fabulous Carthage Chronicles continues with Return to Exile. But do yourself a favor—if you haven't already read Healer of Carthage, stop reading now and go get yourself a copy. (Not sure if you'll like it? Then check out my review.)

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How far would you go to save the ones you love?

Six years ago, impossible circumstances forced Dr. Lisbeth Hastings to leave behind the love of her life, not just in another country, but in another time. Her work as a top-notch epidemiologist and parenting her little girl helps alleviate the pain, but at night when her exhausted head hits the pillow, images of her beloved Cyprian haunt her sleep.

Cyprian Thascius returns from political exile a broken man. He's lost his faith, the love of his life, and his purpose. He attempts to move on, to face the danger that is looming over Carthage, but when Cyprian's true love suddenly reappears, his heart becomes as imperiled as the fledgling church he seeks to save.

Have the years that kept Lisbeth and Cyprian apart created too wide a chasm to bridge? In the midst of a new epidemic and rising oppression, will their love be the most costly fatality? Filled with gripping action and raw emotion, this spell-binding adventure of star-crossed lovers captivates with every turn of the page in this electric continuation of The Carthage Chronicles.

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After I read the last page of Healer of Carthage, I couldn't wait to tear into Return to Exile. And once I finally did, it did not disappoint.

Though six years have passed since Lisbeth returned to the 21st Century, only a year or so has passed in the 3rd century. Lisbeth plans to reunite with Cyprian and save him from the fate she has read about in the history books, but when she returns to Carthage, nothing goes as she planned. I don't want to be more specific than that because this is a plot twist best discovered on your own!

One thing I really loved about this book is that Lisbeth was able to spend more time with her family, and the scenes with Lisbeth's daughter Maggie and brother Laurentius were precious. It was also nice to see Lisbeth's mother "free" and working with Lisbeth to fight the measles and typhoid epidemics.

While I did think that part of the conflict separating Lisbeth and Cyprian resolved too conveniently (thought it was heartbreaking), and I wanted to force the truth about the slimy slave trader out of Lisbeth's mouth, I greatly enjoyed Return to Exile. This novel ends with an even bigger cliffhanger than the last, and I wish I didn't have to wait to read Valley of Decision! 4-1/2 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Gentry's Healer of Carthage.

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Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications. She is a professional acting coach, theater director, and playwright. Lynne is an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer. She loves spending time with her family and working with her medical therapy dog.

Find Lynne online: website,Facebook, Twitter


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."

"waiting for dusk" by nancy pennick

Welcome to my stop on the Waiting For Dusk blog tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule!

About the book (from Goodreads): 

Read a book.
Fall asleep.
Meet a boy.
Is it real or just a dream?

Katie’s everyday life suddenly turns exciting when she travels back in time and meets the boy of her dreams. Thinking of nothing else, willing to leave the real world behind, she’s determined to find out if it’s all a dream or not. Returning again and again, Katie almost has her answers until one day her precious book goes missing.

My take: Anyone who knows me well knows that I'm a sucker for everything time related—time travel, time loops, etc. So the idea of a book centered around a girl who travels back and forth between the present and the 1920's was incredibly appealing.

While I loved the concept of this book, in execution it wasn't as fantastic. Katie's time in the past was fascinating, and I loved figuring out how the people in the past were connected to those in the present. But Katie in the present? She was kind of annoying. I understood her desire to get back to the past, but that didn't mean she needed to be so self-centered in the present. Plus, the whole stalker subplot didn't seem to fit—and it didn't really get resolved at all. Seriously, the kid should have been in jail ... but in the end, he was still in school with Katie.

As I said before, the concept is something that is completely in my wheelhouse. However, the writing style isn't one that I connected with. The author often over explained simple things (we were told multiple times that Katie was glad her dad had her take riding lessons as a child) but didn't give enough details at other times to allow the reader to form mental picture. Also, while we were told that Katie and Drew loved one another, I didn't really feel it. There were also some jarring tense changes (Katie would be thinking, so there would be first person pronouns, but in the next sentence, third person pronouns would be used), and sometimes the dialogue didn't really ring true.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, and it was a clean read (no profanity or sex), but I doubt I'll be coming back for the sequel.

My rating: 3 stars

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book: Goodreads│Amazon│B&N│Book Depository

About the author: Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Nancy currently resides in Mentor, Ohio with her husband and their college-age son, plus a delightfully entertaining lovebird. She secretly wrote short stories as a child, typed them up and put them in a drawer. She’d give anything to see those stories one more time. Her writing is influenced by all the years of working with young people as a teacher and raising her own son. When not writing, Nancy loves to travel with her husband and enjoys a good cup of tea.

Author Links:

Website

Twitter

Goodreads

Facebook

About the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this ebook free for review via YA Bound Book Tours.  I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

"time and again" trilogy giveaway: guest post by deborah heal

Here and now are the perfect place and time to get your copy of Unclaimed Legacy.

  Now? Because it's only 99 cents for Kindle (for the month of September only). Here? Because buying it enters you in my giveaway of the complete Time and Again trilogy (personally signed by yours truly) AND a pretty mug for your morning coffee. Hint: You might want to keep the mug and Kindle book for yourself and give the signed copies of the trilogy as a gift. The Rafflecopter giveaway entry form is below, but first let me tell you about Unclaimed Legacy.   Those who have read Time and Again know that Abby Thomas is a college student on a summer service project with 11-year-old Merri. And they know that the summer is not going the way Abby had expected—but in a good way. For one thing, she meets a very nice guy named John Roberts. And for another, she discovers a strange computer program called Beautiful House that lets her fast-forward and rewind life. Not her own, of course, but those of the people who lived in Merri’s old house. And now Beautiful House comes in handy when Abby, John, and Merri agree to help the "Old Dears" next door with their family tree. Except Abby and John learn more about one of the ladies’ ancestors than they ever wanted to know. Convicted in 1871 of murder and arson, Reuben Buchanan is a blight on the family’s reputation. But was he really guilty? Abby and John must get inside the mind of a murderer to find out. And while they’re rummaging around in the Old Dears’ family history, they also find Nathan Buchanan, a heroic relative connected to the Lewis and Clark Expedition—and a legacy waiting to be reclaimed. But the most important discovery they make is that God’s promise to bless a thousand generations is true.

"In this sequel to Time and Again Deborah Heal has taken pieces of real life history and woven them [into] a fantastic story geared to keep the reader entertained and on the edge of their seat… I adored every single bit of this. It has the perfect blend of history and action-packed suspense to keep young adults glued to the pages… I think she has mastered a home run here. This one easily rates a 5 out of 5 stars for me…and I hope it will work its way to the top of the best seller lists for young adults.”

-- Pirate2240 "Kat" Amazon Reviewer

The Clue of the Unclaimed Legacy

The blurb above doesn’t say a lot about it, but Unclaimed Legacy features my heroes Lewis and Clark. I’ve always been fascinated by them, partly because I knew the explorers spent the winter of 1803 at Hartford, Illinois, near where I grew up in Woodburn. They chose that site for the camp they called Camp River Dubois, because it was near the mouth of the Missouri River, which they would ascend the next spring. The captains spent the winter laying in supplies and training their men. I decided it would be fun to let Abby “time-surf” back to see Camp River Dubois. . .

Continue reading HERE to get my clues about Unclaimed Legacy.

As the blurb says, sometimes when Abby and John are “time-surfing” they learn more than they want to know about people from the past--like Bertram White, a violent husband. (Read my companion article about him HERE. Read a free chapter of Unclaimed Legacy HERE.)
 
Now, enter the contest to get your Kindle copy of Unclaimed Legacy for 99 cents and a chance to win the complete trilogy in paperback, personally signed by me. Oh, and a mug.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

"every hill and mountain" by deborah heal + giveaway

   
About the book (provided by the author): Visiting another century…not the summer vacation Abby had planned. Those who have read Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy, the first two books in the young adult time-travel trilogy, know that Abby Thomas is a college student on a summer service project with 11-year-old Merri. And you know that the summer is not going the way Abby had expected—but in a good way. For one thing, she meets a very nice guy named John Roberts. And for another, she discovers a strange computer program called Beautiful House that lets her fast-forward and rewind life. Not her own, of course, but those of the people who lived in Merri’s old house. And the Old Dears’ old house, and…well, any old house. And now their computer program is starting to attract attention.

Since the program worked so well for the Old Dears’ family tree project, Abby’s college roommate Kate hopes it will help her find out more about her ancestor Ned Greenfield. And Kate’s fiancé Ryan thinks the program has lucrative commercial potential. Abby and John reluctantly agree to help Kate, but only on the condition that she and Ryan promise to keep the program a secret, because if it fell into the wrong hands…well, no one wants Big Brother invading their privacy.

The two couples take a trip to the tiny town of Equality, set in the hills of southern Illinois and the breath-taking Shawnee National Forest. According to Kate’s research, Ned Greenfield was born there at a place called Hickory Hill. The mayor, police chief, and townspeople are hospitable and helpful—until the topic of Hickory Hill comes up. They seem determined to keep them away, telling them, “There’s nothing there for you to see.”

Eventually they find Hickory Hill on their own—both the mansion and the lonely hill it sits upon. Built in 1834, Hickory Hill stands sentinel over Half Moon Salt Mine where the original owner John Granger accumulated his blood-tainted fortune. Abby and her friends meet Miss Granger, Hickory Hill’s current eccentric owner, and they eventually get the chance to time-surf there. Their shocking discovery on the third floor concerning Kate’s ancestor Ned Greenfield is almost too much to bear. What they learn sends them racing to the opposite end of the state to find the missing link in Kate’s family tree. And there they are reminded that God is in the business of redemption—that one day he’ll make all things new.

My take: Every Hill and Mountain is a fitting conclusion to Deborah Heal's trilogy. Abby, John, and Merri, along with Abby's best friend Kate and Kate's fiance Ryan delve into the mystery of Kate's ancestors ... and along the way, they find much more than they bargained for!

Every Hill and Mountain is full of intensity and heartache. It's also a little squirm-inducing as the group learns the truth about Ned Greenfield. Seriously, my stomach churned as I read about Ned's life. I guess I've never really considered how horrific slavery could be. I mean, I knew it was horrible, but some of the things Ned was required to do were beyond my imagination.

I would say that I didn't enjoy this book quite as much as the previous two. It's still very good, but overall I enjoyed the other books—especially Unclaimed Legacy—more. The time surfing parts of Every Hill and Mountain outshine the contemporary parts, so I wish we'd been able to spend more time in the past. But because of the intensity of the historical sequences, I'd have to say that this book is appropriate for older teens and adults. 4 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the trilogy: Time and Again, Unclaimed Legacy, and Every Hill and Mountain.
See my reviews of Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy. 

About the author: Deborah Heal, the author of the Time and Again time travel mystery series, was born not far from the setting of her book Every Hill and Mountain and grew up “just down the road” from the setting of Time and Again. Today she lives with her husband in Waterloo, Illinois, where she enjoys reading, gardening, and learning about regional history. She has three grown children, three grandchildren, and two canine buddies Digger and Scout (a.k.a. Dr. Bob). She loves to interact with her readers, who may learn more about the history behind the books at her website www.deborahheal.com and her Facebook author page www.facebook.com/DeborahHeal. Her books may be purchased on Amazon.com.

About the giveaway:

Enter the Rafflecopter contest below for a chance to win a set of signed books—the whole trilogy! Open to U.S. addresses only. Winner will be announced May 16, 2013.

        a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received an advanced reader copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click the link and purchase an item, I will receive a small 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." 

"unclaimed legacy" by deborah heal + giveaway!

About the book (from Amazon): Abby’s weird computer program is working again. And it comes in handy when they agree to help the Old Dears next door with their family tree. Except Abby and John learn more about one of the ladies’ ancestors than they ever wanted to know. Convicted in 1871 of murder and arson, Reuben Buchanan is a blight on the family’s reputation. But was he really guilty? Abby and John get inside the mind of a murderer to find out. But while they’re rummaging around in the Old Dears’ family history, they discover the truth of God’s promise to bless a thousand generations … … and a legacy waiting to be reclaimed.

My take: Wow! I enjoyed Time and Again (see my review here), but Unclaimed Legacy is in a class of its own! There's no sophomore slump for author Deborah Heal—Unclaimed Legacy is an absolutely fantastic book.

Unclaimed Legacy picks up right where Time and Again leaves off, with the special computer program on Merri's computer that allows the user to see into the past not working. John's tech-savvy friend transfers the program to John's laptop, and the action picks up there and doesn't quit until the end of the book. I loved digging into the past with Merri, John, and Abby, and I'm anxious to finish the story with book three! (Also, I'd now love to visit a Lewis & Clark museum!)

Unclaimed Legacy does deal with some weighty issues, like spousal abuse, infidelity, and drug use, so I wouldn't recommend it for kids younger than 13 or 14. But for older teens and adults (especially those who are interested in history or who live in Illinois), I highly recommend Unclaimed Legacy. 5 stars.

Read an excerpt: Merri leaned forward and studied the monitor and then, laughing, said, “It’s them.”

Frowning, John looked closely at the monitor. “That’s crazy. This is just a computer program. It can’t be them.”

“See the resemblance? Just project forward fifty to sixty years,” Abby said. “That’s definitely Beulah and Eulah.”

“Boo and Yoo,” Merri said. “Get it?”

“That’s insane! No one could make a program that could—”

“We don’t know what this is or where it came from. All I know is that it’s awesome,” Abby said. “And we really are seeing Beulah and Eulah back in the forties—you got the bit about food rationing, didn’t you? And if you think that’s wild, just wait until you see what happens when we lock onto one of them and go virtual mode.”

“Virtual mode? Show me.”

Abby smiled smugly and turned back to the controls. “Okay, John. Hold onto to your hat.”

First, there was a confusing blur of color and whirring sounds and then…

About the author: Deborah Heal is the author of the young adult novels Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy. She lives in Waterloo, Illinois, where she enjoys reading, gardening, and learning about southern Illinois history. She is married and has three grown children, three grandchildren, and a canine buddy named Scout (a.k.a. Dr. Bob). Currently, she is working on book three in the Time and Again trilogy. You may learn more about the author by visiting her website: www.deborahheal.com, her Facebook Fan Page, and Goodreads. Her books may be purchased on Amazon.com.

About the giveaway: Win a copy of Time and Again, the first book in the trilogy! ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­To enter, simply leave a comment telling me where you'd virtually time travel to if you had a computer program like Abby and Merri. One commenter will be chosen at random to win a copy of the book on Wednesday, October 24. For additional chances to win, see Deborah Heal’s official website and LIKE her Facebook Fan Page.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

"time and again" by deborah heal

About the book (from Amazon): When Abby chose tutoring an "economically disadvantaged adolescent" as her college service project, she didn't realize how difficult her summer would be. Merrideth, her 11-year-old student, has been sullen and depressed ever since her parents' divorce, especially since she was forced to move to the dilapidated old house her mother inherited.

When Merrideth's dad sends her a top-of-the-line computer to make up for his absence in her life, she and Abby discover a weird program on it that invites them to "Take a Virtual Tour" of various houses around the world, including, amazingly, Merrideth's own house. And then they discover the program is more than a simple visual experience. Much more. Abby and Merrideth find they can "time-surf" to any date, including 1858 when the house was new and young Charlotte Miles lived there. By locking onto Charlotte, they can get into her head—know her thoughts and feelings—and experience her world, even when she gets on the train to attend the Lincoln/Douglas Debate. Watching from a distance as Charlotte faces the challenges in her life, including the hardships of the Civil War, gives Abby and Merrideth new perspective on their own problems.

Time and Again is a story told in the past and in the present. A story of self-discovery and faith.

My take: Time and Again is a great story that mixes history, time travel, pre-teen angst, and romance. Though I did struggle to get into the novel at first, once Abby and Merrideth discovered the computer program's capabilities (approximately 1/3 of the way through the book), I couldn't put it down.

I especially enjoyed the relationship between Abby and Merrideth. At first, Merrideth came across as a spoiled brat who didn't want to do anything but watch TV, play with her cats, and eat candy. But as Abby got to know her, Merrideth became a much more sympathetic character, as the reasons behind her attitude came to light. That seems to be a theme of Time and Again: there's more to every story than meets the eye.

As I finished the book, I couldn't wait to begin the sequel—Time and Again ends rather abruptly, and I'm anxious to learn the rest of the story! 4 stars.

Excerpt: “No…There’s no way that would work. I mean no one could invent a software program that could do that. No way.”

“What are you talking about?” Merrideth said, staring at her.

Abby didn’t answer, but taking the mouse from Merrideth, she placed the cursor on the View icon on the menu bar and clicked. “This is so similar to my brother’s architecture program,” she began, “that maybe we’ll be able to …”

When she clicked on Flip, both girls simultaneously gasped. “…do this,” Abby said with satisfaction.

The screen view had rotated on its vertical axis and now they were seeing the back side of Colonel Miles’ house. White sheets on a clothesline snapped in the wind. A young woman in a long blue dress and bonnet was stooping to pull a wet sheet from the wicker basket at her feet. A gray cat came out of the barn and, stepping delicately through the wet grass, cautiously bypassed the flapping sheets to lay in the sun on the back step.

After a moment of stunned silence, Merrideth said, “It’s her! It’s Charlotte.”

About the author: Deborah Heal is the author of the young adult novels Time and Again and Unclaimed Legacy. She lives in Waterloo, Illinois, where she enjoys reading, gardening, and learning about southern Illinois history. She is married and has three grown children, three grandchildren, and a canine buddy named Scout (a.k.a. Dr. Bob). Currently, she is working on book three in the Time and Again trilogy. You may learn more about the author by visiting her website: www.deborahheal.com, her Facebook Fan Page, and Goodreads. Her books may be purchased on Amazon.com.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. 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."

"dreamspell" by tamara leigh

This is one of my rare "I didn't have to write this review" reviews. When I saw a review of Dreamspell on another book blog, I knew I needed to check it out. And, as Dreamspell is one of the books Amazon Prime members can read for free, I didn't even have to pay for it!

About the book (from Amazon): A time to live. A time to die. A time to dream.

Sleep disorders specialist Kennedy Plain has been diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. When her research subject dies after trying to convince her he has achieved dream-induced time travel and her study is shelved, she enlists herself as a subject to complete her research. But when she dreams herself into 14th-century England and falls into the hands of Fulke Wynland, a man history has condemned as a murderer, she must not only stay alive long enough to find a way to return to her own time, but prevent Fulke from murdering his young nephews. And yet, the more time she spends with the medieval warrior, the more difficult it is to believe he is capable of committing the heinous crime for which he has been reviled for 600 years.

Baron Fulke Wynland has been granted guardianship of his brother’s heirs despite suspicions that he seeks to steal their inheritance. When the king sends a mysterious woman to care for the boys, Fulke is surprised by the lady's hostility toward him--and more surprised to learn she is to be his wife. But when his nephews are abducted, the two must overcome their mutual dislike to discover the boys' fate. What Fulke never expects is to feel for this woman whose peculiar speech, behavior, and talk of dream travel could see her burned as a witch.

My take: Dreamspell had me at time travel. I am predisposed to loving anything dealing with time—time travel, time loops, etc. So even though medieval romances aren't usually my cup of tea, I thought I'd give it a chance. To my surprise, I loved the action in the 1300's ... and I couldn't get through the modern scenes fast enough, as I wanted to know what would happen in the "past."

I enjoyed watching Nedy try to fit into the middle ages—especially when it came to hygiene issues!—and I liked her relationship with Fulke. I also especially liked Marion, Fulke's sister ... her defense against an unwanted marriage was pretty genius!

While I preferred the scenes in the 1300's, the most touching scene was the epilogue involving Kennedy's mother in the present. It was an absolutely genius way to wrap up the story!

Tamara Leigh is known for her Christian fiction, but Dreamspell is more of a general market romance. That said, it's a clean, enjoyable read. 4 stars.

About the author: Tamara Leigh holds a Masters Degree in Speech and Language Pathology. In 1993, she signed a 4-book contract with Bantam Books. Her first medieval romance, Warrior Bride, was released in 1994, followed by Virgin Bride, Pagan Bride, and Saxon Bride. Tamara continued to write for the general market, publishing three more novels with HarperCollins and Dorchester and earning awards and spots on national bestseller lists.

In 2006, Tamara's first inspirational contemporary romance, Stealing Adda, was released. In 2008, Perfecting Kate was optioned for a movie and Splitting Harriet won an ACFW "Book of the Year" award. Both books were released as audiobooks. In 2009, Faking Grace was nominated for ACFW "Book of the Year" and RITA awards. In 2010, Leaving Carolina was featured in Target stores' "Emerging Authors: New, Notable, Red-Hot Reads" section. In 2011, Tamara wrapped up her "Southern Discomfort" series with the release of Restless in Carolina.

Tamara lives near Nashville, Tennessee with her husband and sons, a Doberman that bares its teeth not only to threaten the UPS man but to smile, and a Shih Tzu with a Napoleon complex and something of an eating disorder.

another christmas movie

You're probably getting tired of hearing me talk about Christmas movies, but I just watched ABC Family's 12 Dates of Christmas, and it was so enjoyable.

Basically, it's Groundhog Day, only the day being repeated is Christmas Eve, and the girl repeating the day (Amy Smart) isn't nearly as loathsome as Phil (Bill Murray) was at the beginning of Groundhog Day. Throw in Mark-Paul Gosselaar as the love interest and some genuinely funny moments, and you've got a great little Christmas movie!

No, it won't change your life, but it sure is a fun way to pass a couple hours! It's currently streaming on abcfamily.com—you can watch it here.

why i haven't been blogging

(except to post book reviews)

There's a one-word answer: speech.

Our competitive season starts the first week after Christmas break and ends the 4th week of March. We go to eight Saturday invitationals, seven of them in a row (thankfully, this is the eighth Saturday after Christmas break and is a day off!), plus we have Conference, District, and (hopefully) State! It's an insane three months, and I spend many evenings at school, working with team members. Thankfully, we're on the downward slope now, with only one invitational, District, and State to go!

I hate that this blog has basically turned into a book review blog (five of my eight posts in 2011 are book reviews), and I do plan to remedy that ... it's just that I'm so tired when I get home, and I'd rather read a book or watch something on Netflix than actually have to think and write!

And as much as I'd like to write now, I have mountains of papers to grade. I'm so far behind. Like, I gave a test two weeks ago that isn't graded yet (hangs her head in shame). So, I'm setting myself up with a cup of Teavana tea (that's another post waiting to happen!), some relaxing music, and a purple pen (which is so much friendlier than red!), and I'm settling in for an afternoon of grading.

Hope to see you again soon!