Book Review: Mine is the Night

Mine is the Night     
                                                           
by Liz Curtis Higgs

Waterbrook Multnomah


It is April of 1746. Elisabeth Kerr and her mother in law, the Lady Marjory Kerr, are penniless. Both widows must flee their home in Edinburgh; Marjory hopes to find refuge in her old hometown with a distant cousin. 

This sequel to Here Burns My Candle finds Elisabeth and Marjory en route to Selkirk. The trip is a dangerous one, for unrest over recent political conflict is afoot. Dragoons patrol the roads, harassing travelers as they search for traitors to the Crown. There is no guarantee either, that they will be welcomed by Cousin Anne. The only option is to trust their Heavenly Father. Elisabeth aims to trust Him, but can Marjory?

The late Donald Kerr, Elisabeth's husband, left a less than stellar legacy for his devoted wife. Even so, Elisabeth chooses to remain by her mother in law's side. The cost of this decision remains to be seen, but like Ruth in The Old Testament, Elisabeth's devotion to Marjory is steadfast.

Lady Marjory struggles to grasp the reality of her loss of social standing, possessions, and her sons. Trusting the Lord does not come easily to a lady who is used to being in control. All that remains of her past life are a few items in her trunk, her daughter in law, and memories. Even her devoted former servant, Neil Gibson, who was paid to deliver a message to Cousin Anne, is nowhere to be found.

Residents of Selkirk are gearing up for the arrival of Lord Jack Buchanan. Recently retired from the Royal Navy, Admiral Buchanan looks to settle into his English estate. He is hiring servants, and Elisabeth hopes to secure a position as a seamstress. Despite the fact that she was a lady of means, the skills her father (a tailor) taught her, may now come in handy.

The Kerr ladies struggle to make their way through the complicated labyrinth of society. Where is their place? Who will accept them? Does Elisabeth, at age 24, dare to hope to find love again?  I will not give any secrets away, but can assure you that there is a happy ending. For that I was very glad. It is an outstanding conclusion to Book One.

Ms. Higgs is one of the most gifted storytellers I know. Her fiction is filled with layers of rich and meaningful details. Biblical parallels abound, and stir the reader beyond the fictional realm. I savored every morsel of this tale. It will surely be counted among my favorite books.

To read an excerpt of Mine is the Night, click here.

To view the book trailer, visit here.

I received this review copy for free from the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.


What gems have you read lately?

Happy weekend,

Karen

Review - Lady in Waiting

Lady in Waiting                         

by Susan Meissner

Waterbrook Multnomah

Jane Lindsay is heartbroken as she watches Brad, her husband of twenty two years, walk out the door of their Manhattan apartment. Devastated and confused, she wonders how their marriage got to this point. How does one make sense of something they didn't see coming? Jane doesn't know, and is clueless as to what to do next.

Feeling as though she has no rudder, she stumbles through her days at her antique shop. One day is brightened slightly when she finds an old ring under the cover of a 16th century prayer book. Intrigued, she launches a search to find its origin. She feels a connection with the mysterious owner, for the name engraved on the inside of the ring belongs to her as well. Jane.

Rewind the calendar to 1548, and we find an equally distraught young English girl by the name of Lady Jane Grey. At eleven years of age, she is the chief mourner at the funeral of her friend, Queen Katherine. The little Lady is not only grieving the Queen, but saddened that Katherine's infant daughter will never know her mother. Politics and family circumstances dictate that Jane's slight frame bear more than it should.

Tutors and higher learning fill the young Lady's days. Jane's desire is to have the approval and affection of her mother, but knows it will never happen. In time the young Edward Seymour grows fond of Jane, and she of him. He bestows her with a secret gift as a promise for their future.

Both Janes struggle to find their purpose and the answers they long for. Our modern Jane relies on her friend Molly for a listening ear, the Lady Jane, her seamstress Lucy. Only our modern Jane, though, has the privilege of knowing how they might be connected. Do they experience life's hard lessons? Yes. Do they grow and change? Perhaps.

I read Ms. Meissner's book, The Shape of Mercy and enjoyed it so much that I knew I had to read Lady in Waiting. She has a gift for taking two people, who are outwardly unrelated, and linking them together through the bonds of hidden similarities and challenges. There's much to be said for the ties of kindred spirits and the stories that lie within. Ms. Meissner's storytelling ability is wonderful and I hope that she continues writng this way. I, for one, am a big fan.

To download and preview the first four chapters of Lady in Waiting click here.

Happy reading,

Karen

I received this review copy for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Here Burns My Candle Review and Giveaway

Review:

This month's Blog Tour feature is:

Here Burns My Candle

by Liz Curtis Higgs

Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers

Check out the trailer here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2nPMBA_rgM

Liz Curtis Higgs fans can rejoice. Her newest book, Here Burns My Candle has arrived. No disappointments here; as always, Higgs treats the reader to a marvelous tale set in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1745.

The reader is immediately immersed into the Kerr family's world, a world laced with secrets. Lady Elisabeth Kerr and her husband Donald live with Donald's mother, the widow Marjory Kerr. Donald's brother Andrew and his wife Janet complete the family in residence.

Elisabeth, a Highlander by birth and a Lowlander by marriage, has secrets hidden in her heart and past. Donald's secrets are in danger of being revealed, and one of Marjory's secrets is buried under her bedroom floor. But wait! There are other secrets, and they are revealed as the story weaves its way around the events in which these intriguing characters find themselves. Marjory has not completely accepted Elisabeth into the family as Elisabeth's heritage as a Highlander stands in the way. Elisabeth struggles for acceptance and to find true peace in her heart.

To further complicate matters, Bonny Prince Charlie aims to capture the crown, and comes to Edinburgh as part of that quest. When Simon, Elisabeth's brother, appears on the scene, the plot thickens, much to Marjory's dismay. Will the ensuing emotional and physical battles take their toll on the Kerr family? Of course they do, for it would not be a classic Higgs' tale otherwise!

Joy and heartache and trials and triumph make this engaging story a pleasure to read. Readers will ponder their own faith, desires, and challenges as they venture forth into this historical tale. Higgs' fans will enjoy this, and new readers may find another favorite author. It's a lovely work of fiction from which we can learn much.

*This was book was provided for review and giveaway purposes by WaterBrook Multnomah.

Giveaway:

Many thanks to the folks at Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers who have graciously provided an additional copy for giveaway purposes.

To enter this Blog Tour giveaway, follow these simple steps:

1) Leave a comment. Include your email address. Entries without email address will not be eligible.

2) Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.

3) Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your Facebook page. Please leave a comment telling me so.

4) Receive a bonus entry by posting this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a comment with the link.

*Entry deadline is Thursday, March 25, 2010 at midnight. Winner will be notified on Friday and will have 48 hours to respond, otherwise a new winner will be chosen. 

Thanks for sharing in the fun! 

 *Open only to residents of the United States. My apologies to my overseas followers.

Happy Writing and Reading!

.

Angels Book Winner & Audience of One Giveaway

Congratulations to Robyn Campbell! She is the winner of a copy of Angels from Monday's blog tour giveaway. Thanks to all who participated! 

Also.check out the nifty prize that my friend Jeanette is giving away on her blog, Audience of One. Jeanette is celebrating "I Love My Blog Followers" with this special giveaway. Jeanette's blog is always a blessing. Stop by if you have a minute. She'd love to see you.

Blessings to all and Happy Weekend!                                               

The One Day Way Review and Giveaway

The One Day Way by Chantel Hobbs
WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group

The One Day Way Blog Tour begins today and I am blessed to be a part of it:)

I love this book! I don't say that about many books, particularly non fiction ones, but this one is a keeper. This is not just another weight loss book; it's an encouraging manual that tells readers how to make a positive and lasting change. The premise is this, take success and failure as part of life, and don’t get hung up if you stumble. Jump back into the game and move forward, one day at a time – The One Day Way.

Chantel has been there, she struggled with weight issues for years. Finally she lost 200 pounds and kept it off. She knows what it feels like to be desperate for change, and yet powerless to achieve it. Her practical approach tells us not to get hung up on past mistakes but to move forward, focusing on small steps and successes. How many of us are trapped, listening to and believing that we cannot lose weight and cannot get past our mistakes? It’s a lie from the enemy, Chantel says, and “You need to ditch that lie.”

The thing that struck me about her comments about “that lie” was how true this is in other areas of our lives too. The devil has us believing that we’ll never achieve or overcome this or that. It is bondage, and God has better things for us. Chantel outlines the thinking and motivation behind this bondage, and shares the tools to break free.

Faith, Food, and Fitness – these are the foundational principles upon which new thought patterns, habits, and lives are built. Not only must actions change, but the way we think about ourselves, goals, and achievements must change too. Rebuild your life with good tools, Chantel says, and you will achieve the right kind of success.

Bite sized, daily, achievable goals are the ones that build success and are easier to stick with. They are also the ones that are easiest to jump back into if we slip up. Chantel shares nutritional and practical tips to maintain this bite sized success. She also shares The Ten Commandments of The One Day Way to Eat for Weight Loss and Fitness. This includes exercise tips and illustrations.

The One Day Way shares Chantel Hobbs’ desire to help anyone struggling with weight issues. As I read, I felt as though she was cheering me on, saying “You can do this!” And while I don’t have 200 pounds to lose, I wouldn’t mind shedding a few excess ones. I now feel like I really have the tools and the insight I need to move ahead and make a good and lasting change. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in losing weight. It can be done, and it can be done well The One Day Way.

This book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Now for the Blog Tour Giveaway - WaterBrook Multnomah provided an additional copy for the giveaway, wasn't that nice? This will be my first official Giveaway of 2010. How exciting!

If you would like to participate, please leave a comment with your name and email address format: karenelange(at)gmail(dot)com. Deadline to enter is Friday, January 8, 2010 at noon Eastern Standard Time. Drawing will be held Friday afternoon and our happy winner will be notified via email. Entries are limited to United States residents only.

Thanks and Blessings!