Guess What, International Readers?

Julie Lessman reminded me that international readers can enter the giveaway for A Heart Revealed can be entered by anyone from anywhere! So therefore, even if you live in Canada, China, or Congo, feel free to enter! And any other countries too, of course. The interview with Julie is right below this post, or find it by clicking the Julie Lessman tag at the bottom of this post.

Christmas Giveaway Week: Julie Lessman!

During these past few weeks, I have been blessed with getting to know a wonderful Christian author named Julie Lessman. You probably saw my reviews not long ago of A Hope Undaunted and A Heart Revealed. So you know I enjoyed those books! And now, I'm delighted to bring you an interview with her!

First, a quick bio:

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 13 Romance Writers of America awards and was voted by readers as “Borders Best of 2009 So Far: Your Favorite Fiction.” Chosen as #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll and #3 Author of the Year, #5 Novel of the Year and #4 Historical Fiction Author of the year. She resides in Missouri with her husband, daughter, son and daughter-in-law and is the author of “The Daughters of Boston” series, which includes A Passion Most Pure, A Passion Redeemed, and A Passion Denied. Her “Winds of Change” series has recently released with A Hope Undaunted, which ranked #5 on Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010. You can contact Julie through her website at www.julielessman.com. Charity talking here...Julie does have a more recent book, the one I've been talking about, A Heart Revealed.

Julie, I'm so glad to have you here today! As you know, I've greatly enjoyed your books. :) So what sparked your interest in romance, and how has that impacted your writing?

Four life-altering words: Gone With the Wind. You see, when I read that novel at the age of twelve, I was swept away into the world of romance for the very first time. It captured me like no other book had done, and I immediately set out to write (along with thousands of other love-struck young girls, I’m sure), what I hoped would be “the great American novel.” Obviously my dreams of grandeur didn’t go anywhere, but I did write 150 single-spaced pages of a story that became the basis (some forty years later!) for my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure.

Today, I like to think that not only are Margaret Mitchell’s fingerprints are all over me in my religious devotion to passion, but God’s as well—merging my passion for romance with my passion for Him.

Wow, 150 single-spaced pages is a lot of writing! I'm impressed. :) Now, you've joked about being the "Queen of Rejections." Can you tell us a little about that?

Uh, yeah … anyone who attended the 2005 ACFW Conference will remember me as the poor slob who waved her hands wildly in the back of the room when Brandilyn Collins asked who had the most rejections in a year. I won hands-down with 19 (at that time) and went on to garner in excess of 45 (both agent and publisher rejections, including three received AFTER I signed a 3-book contract with Revell Publishing!). Even my agent, Natasha Kern, blanched a bit when she first signed me, realizing after the ink was dry just how many times I’d been rejected. I believe the word she used was “daunting.” But apparently not too daunting for her amazing skills as an agent because she landed a contract for me within six months. Imagine my shock and awe when a few years later I stood on the same stage on which I’d received that booby prize for the most rejections, to receive ACFW’s Debut Book of the Year. Go ahead— pinch me! 

What a story! What would you like your readers to take away from your books?

The MOST important thing I pray readers take away from my books is the reality of how natural and fulfilling an intimate relationship with God can and SHOULD be. Like breathing. These books may be fiction, but this is NOT a fairy tale here. It IS possible to have a living, breathing relationship with the God of the Universe. He’s crazy about us, and if most people really understood that, their lives would turn on a dime and blessings would overtake them. Believe me, I KNOW this firsthand—I used to be a hard, cynical, coarse human being before God pulled me up by the scruff of the neck and said, “Yo, Julie! Get a clue. You’re the apple of my eye!” J He’s been the love of my life ever since.

Haha, I love how He "said" Yo! :) How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I RUN … not walk … to the throne of God! He is my high tower, my place of refuge in ANY storm, be it professional or personal. For me, He has never been a last resort, but a first resort when life’s hurried pace overwhelms me. A good example is a story on my Web site about when a doctor told us he thought our college-age son had cancer. Now I am a wired individual under the best of circumstances, so this had the potential to fell me like a tree. But I sprinted to God faster than Jackie Joyner Kersee going for the gold, and the prize was God’s peace. You can read the steps I took in maintaining my sanity at http://julielessman.com/from-the-heart/.

We know your husband and children are the light of your life. Do they enjoy your stories?

Well, yes, most of them … You see, my husband Keith wouldn’t read A Passion Most Pure until he could hold a published book in his hand because he hated the gargantuan binders I’d use. But once he did, I was shocked at his response. He admitted he was nervous because what if he didn’t like it??? I still remember the first day I caught him reading it—it was so weird seeing this big, hulking guy holding a romance novel. But the moment he looked up, his eyes locked on mine and he mouthed the words, “It is soooo good!” Needless to say, my heart swooned! I mean, the man’s only read two or three books in 30 years, and my book actually kept him up till the wee hours of the morning AND made him cry! Now, I’m not saying the ability to make your husband cry is necessarily a good thing, but in this case, it was pretty special!

Now my daughter? Another story altogether! Although she was an A student in college, she despises reading, so I actually had to bribe her with $20 to read the first chapter of A Passion Most Pure. But I am happy to report that it hooked her, and the rest of the book and the other two didn’t cost me a dime! J  But … my son the financial advisor? He’ll probably read one of my books when I include baseball statistics or financial advice!

Oh, how sweet! I love those stories. :) Can you tell us a bit about your newest release, A Heart Revealed?

A Heart Revealed is book 2 in “The Winds of Change” series, and it’s the forbidden love story of the oldest O’Connor brother, Sean O’Connor, a confirmed bachelor, and his sister’s best friend, Emma Malloy, a battered married woman. Here’s my blurb:

The ring on her hand belongs to one man …

But her heart belongs to another.

As a battered woman, Emma Malloy fled Dublin for Boston ten years ago, seeking shelter for a heart badly bruised by both her husband and guilt. But when she falls in love with Sean O’Connor, a confirmed bachelor who wrestles with demons of his own, fear and shame almost destroy her … until she is finally set free by a heart revealed.

*sigh* I enjoyed that story. :) Readers, my review is already up! It also has a bit more about the book, so make sure you check it out! Julie, what makes Emma and Sean's romance unique?

Emma and Sean’s romance in A Heart Revealed is not my typical romance where boy meets girl and sparks fly. Instead, it is a ten-year friendship that grows spiritually and emotionally, ripening into unconditional love where two people sacrifice themselves for the other. In many ways, A Heart Revealed is a departure for me—a heroine who is scarred, both inside and out, and a forbidden love with minimal romantic interaction. You see, Emma Malloy is married, a battered woman who fled Dublin to seek shelter for a heart badly bruised by an abusive husband. But when she falls in love with Sean O’Connor, a confirmed bachelor with demons of his own, fear and shame wreaks havoc in her life until God finally sets her free with “a heart revealed.”

What are you hoping readers will take away from A Heart Revealed?

One of the basic themes of A Heart Revealed is “honesty is the best policy.” Every character in this story is struggling with some form of honesty with people they love, whether it’s guilt, delusion, deception, secrecy, manipulation or outright stubbornness. It is my hope that Sean and Emma’s story will not only “reveal” the grace and mercy of a loving God, but the healing power of His truth … which truly does set us free.

Please tell us about Emma, the gentle and scarred heroine of A Heart Revealed. How is it that you wrote a whole story about her?

Believe it or not, I never planned to write Sean and Emma’s story until three-quarters of the way through A Passion Redeemed, when Charity brought Emma home for dinner. The moment I wrote the following very innocent lines in that book, I felt a spark of something that I KNEW would grow into an amazing love story someday.

Marcy smiled and passed the rolls. “Sean, Charity brought her good friend home to stay. Emma, this is Sean, my oldest.”

Sean stood and extended his hand across the table, his smile as broad as his reach. “Welcome. Anyone who can put up with this sister of mine has to be the genuine article.”

Charity smacked him.

Emma blushed. “Nice to meet you, Sean.”

“Emma, Charity tells me you and she met at Shaw’s and that you’ve worked there forever.” Faith dolloped potatoes on her plate, then handed them off to Collin.

Emma gave her a crooked smile. “Yes, I was actually Mrs. Shaw’s top sales clerk before Charity came on the scene. Dublin’s gentry took one look at her and pushed me aside.”

“Oh, pshaw. Don’t believe her. It took me a solid six months to catch up.” Charity removed a roll from the basket, eyed the lighter one on Brady’s plate and switched it with hers. He stared her down, but she ignored him.

“What happened to your face?” Katie asked.

“Katie Rose!” Marcy, Faith and Charity’s voices rang in shock.

Emma smiled. “No, it’s a natural question and one I don’t mind answering. I got in the way of a pan of hot grease, I’m afraid.”

Katie’s eyes bugged. “How did you do that?”

“Katie, zip it,” Charity warned.

“Someone accidentally threw it in my face.”

Forks, knives and spoons stilled as all eyes focused on Emma.

Charity cleared her throat and elbowed Sean, who stared as if Emma had just announced she was from the moon. “So, Sean, Mother tells me you finally wrangled a promotion.”

He chewed slowly, his eyes still fixed on Emma. He swallowed and turned to his sister. “Yeah, I did. Don’t look now, sis, but you’re rubbing shoulders with the Assistant Manager of the largest hardware mercantile in south Boston. Not to mention future manager of a new store.”

One of her brows slanted up. “Well, well. Must be those dangerous good looks drawing all the ladies in to buy nuts and bolts.”

He grinned and chomped on a roll. “Must be.”

Oh, and by the way, Emma’s name was originally Myrna. I know, I know, not as appropriate as “Emma,” but keep in mind that originally, Emma was to be just a comical bit character in the beginning of A Passion Redeemed. However, just like Cluny McGee was only meant to be a bit character in A Passion Denied (but charmed me into making him a huge subordinate character), “Myrna” charmed me as well when she came to Charity’s defense over and over again. I fell in love with her gentle loyalty so much, that I made her a critical part of the story in A Passion Redeemed.

I'm so glad you changed it to Emma! And I. Love. Cluny McGee. Just sayin'. :) Loved that excerpt from the book...definitely have to read it! The part about Charity switching rolls...oh my word. Lol! How can readers find you on the internet and/or get in touch with you?

I LOVE to hear from reader friends, so they can contact me through my Web site at www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/. My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there’s always a contest featuring signed book giveaways including one right now to have a character named after you or a loved one in my next book. Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots” (http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots/), which is a very laid-back, Friday journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Then finally, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog (http://seekerville.blogspot.com/), a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication.

Awesome, thanks so much, Julie! It's been a real pleasure to have you here!

Back to me from here on. :) Julie has kindly offered a giveaway! All you have to do is leave a comment here for Julie! The winner will be announced in January, right here on my blogAnd the winner will be contacted by Julie, so please leave an email address! Otherwise, you can't be entered. ((side note: make sure you leave it in this form to avoid spammers: charityu.austenite[at]gmail[dot]com ))

You could win your own copy of A Heart Revealed!

So just leave a comment, with your email, for Julie! She will be coming by to reply to you, so make sure you subscribe to comments. :)

Extra entries? Definitely!

If you posted about this week of giveaways, you get +2 entries!

+2 if you post about this particular interview and giveaway!

+2 if you follow Austenitis!

Now go ahead and enter! This is an international giveaway, that ends at midnight on December 31. :)

Christmas Giveaway Week: Lena Nelson Dooley!

Please join me in welcoming Lena Nelson Dooley to Austenitis! If the layout of this post is strange, it's entirely my fault. I'm sorry. Computer problems have been plaguing me lately. Now, yesterday a post was published of my review of Maggie's Journey, the first book in Lena's "McKenna's Daughters" series. As you saw, I enjoyed it! I also have a Cover Focus coming soon. Love that cover. :)

Welcome, Lena! How do you choose your characters’ names?

I’ve used various means. I’ve used family members’ names or friends’names. Sometimes the character tells me what his or her name is. I’ve even had two casual acquaintances ask me to name a character after them. Which I did. So last year when Brenda Novak had the auction to raise money for diabetes research, I auctioned the naming rights to a character in the book I’m writing now. It was fun, and we raised money for a good cause.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Most of my accomplishments have been gifts from God. And I praise Him for them. Receiving the Mentor of the Year award from ACFW in 2006 was a high point. So was receiving the Will Rogers Medallion Award this year.

What wonderful awards! How does your faith play into your writing?

Since my relationship with the Lord is such an integral part of my life, a strong spiritual thread is an integral part of every book I write.

Has God ever provided an unexpected “detour” in your life that turned out to be positive?

Way too many to enumerate. I’ve found that when my life takes an unexpected turn, either for the better or for the worse, God has something for me to learn from the experience. After realizing that, I deal with possible roadblocks in an entirely different way from the way I did before.

Let’s talk about your new book, Maggie’s Journey (Charisma House, October 1, 2011), the first in your McKenna’s Daughters series. Please tell us about it. {{Below is the complete cover -- isn't it cool to see it all spread out?}}

Maggie is one of triplet sisters born on one of the last wagon trains west in 1867. Their mother dies soon after giving birth to them. And they’re separated and grow up in different areas of the western United States. Not until near their 18th birthdays do they find out they have two sisters. Maggie has grown up not even knowing she was adopted. Finding out that she was brings all kinds of emotional and trust issues into her life, as well as man who can love her for who she really is.
Sometimes we learn from our character’s experiences.

What did Maggie’s Journey teach you?

To trust God through every circumstance.

In Maggie’s Journey, you trace both the geographical and spiritual journey of Margaret Caine, who searches for an identity of her own after her discovery that she is an adopted child. Can you tell us how you came to write this particular book and the series of which it forms a part, McKenna’s Daughters?

Actually, I believe God gave this series to me. It percolated in my head for several years before my agent Joyce Hart found a home for the series. There are shadows from my life in several things in the book. I actually only found out when I was about 30 years old that my mother was rushed back to the hospital a few days after I was born. She had surgery to remove a mass of tissue, hair, and bone
that they believe was an undeveloped twin. Some of the feelings experienced by the heroine came from my life. I lost my mother when I was 7 years old, and the feeling from that loss also appeared in part in the heroine’s life.

Authors are often told that they should know their audience. Do you envision a particular audience as you plan and write your books? If so, what readers do you feel make up your audience?

I do have a fan base, and they have enjoyed various genres I’ve written—contemporary, historical, a mystery, a romantic suspense, romance, and now romantic women’s fiction. My tagline is: Characters Who Grip Your Heart. So I try to write characters the readers can really connect with. Right now, I’m writing more historical than contemporary, so I’m aiming at the audience that loves historical authenticity. That’s one of the things I strive for. Bringing the era alive with details that are
authentic.

Many of your books are historical romances. Besides the quality writing, why do you think readers relate so well to historical fiction? What does it offer readers that more contemporary fiction does not?

Sometimes, it’s taking the reader to a more simple time, so it really is an escape from the stresses of today. Also, a large segment of the reading population hated history in school. That’s the main reason I strive for correct details. If authors aren’t as careful with the details, these readers are getting a skewed picture of history. I like to help them learn to love history through an interesting story.

Where can people find you on the Internet?

www.lenanelsondooley.com
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/lenandooley
www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts – Official
Fan Page
www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley
I’m also on Goodreads, Linkedin, and Google+

Thanks for coming, Lena! I enjoyed having you. :) And we're back to me. You already know what Lena has offered to do...a giveaway of Maggie's Journey! Are you ever in luck! This is one fun book that I know you'll love. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment for Lena! You don't have to leave your email address, but if you don't, make sure you check back to see if you won.

And yes, we do have extra entries!

+2 if you posted about the Christmas Giveaway Week (or emailed five friends, if you don't have a blog).

+2 if you post about this specific giveaway.

+2 if you follow Austenitis.

That's it. USA only, and the giveaway ends at midnight on December 31!

A Hope Undaunted

Author: Julie Lessman

Genre: Romance

Series: Winds of Change

Number in series: 1st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: about 400

Time period: Early 1900’s

My overall opinion: I liked this book. I really liked this book. I believe I would have enjoyed it most if I’d been able to read the “Passion Most Pure” series by Julie first, but I still adored this book. The hero was very nice, and the heroine was delightful. I loved that one of the main characters (who starred in a "Passion Most Pure" book) was named Charity.

All in all: I loved Julie’s writing. I loved the story. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. It was a good book.

Maggie's Journey

 

Author: Lena Nelson Dooley

Genre: Life, romance

Series: McKenna’s Daughters

Number in series: 1st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 295

Time period: 1800’s (specifically 1885)

My overall opinion: Awesome! Yes, really. I greatly enjoyed this book. It was very interesting to learn about the dress-making side of things…the travel of trains of the time…and besides all of that, the storyline was riveting. I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series. Essentially – it’s triplets, who are separated at birth (hence the title of the series: McKenna’s Daughters). So far as I can tell, none are told that they are adopted, or that they have two sisters who are their triplets. This particular story only followed one child... but I’m sure that each book coming in the series will follow a different girl. The book was well-written, and the story was amazing. And I love the cover. :)

**The author sent me a copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own, and were not required to be positive.** 

Heroine Tournament at Elegance of Fashion!

Hey, everyone! I wanted to make sure you’re all aware of the Heroine Tournament that Miss Elizabeth Bennet at Elegance of Fashion is currently hosting! It’s her second Heroine Tournament. She has had several other tournaments (including Period Drama and Hero ones) and they’ve all been a ton of fun. Now, they are on the fourth round, I believe, so it would have been nice if I’d posted a little sooner, but there’s still plenty of time for you to go and vote for your favorite heroine! Also, make sure you check out the profiles for the heroines – I wrote several of them. J

And while I’m talking about Elegance of Fashion...you might like to check out the Banners! page right on Austenitis. It’s at the top of the blog, on the right. Miss Elizabeth kindly gave me her permission to re-post the amazing banners that she’s made. I love them all! So, look those up too.

Now, here’s the blog button for the Heroine Tournament! Go vote, and good luck deciding…this level’s hard.

Christmas Giveaway Week!

Guess what? I'm having a Christmas Giveaway Week! A whole bunch of authors are going to come by, and we're going to have an awesome time! Not to mention all the giveaways! I can hardly wait for you to meet the authors who will be coming. I'll be posting HTML for the button soon, which Miss Elizabeth (Elegance of Fashion) was so kind as to help me with! See you there!

Please click here to see all the posts! Multiple interviews and giveaways are now posted, so make sure you check them out! CLICK HERE!!! :)

My Apologies

To all of you. I've been having great trouble with my posts lately (can't get them to copy right, and the pictures won't upload) so this unexpected break was unexpected by me too. I'm terribly sorry, and hope to get back to blogging more soon!

New Winner!

We have a new winner for The Healing by Wanda Brunstetter! It's Margaret (singitm@....). Congratulations, Margaret! I'm emailing you.

And the Shofar Blew

Author: Francine Rivers

Genre: Unknown!

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 440 or so

Time period: Present

My overall opinion: An incredibly moving book. As it begins, a young pastor is called to a dying church. He, unfortunately, thinks he knows everything. The story continues as the church moves farther and farther from what a church should be, concentrating on attendance, offering, and outward appearance. It’s a sad (and eye-opening) book, and one that I think is sure to touch your heart. Spans over about 20 years! I definitely recommend it.

Take Two

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Genre: Life

Series: Above the Line series

Number in series: 2nd

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 316

Time period: Present

My overall opinion: Very interesting to learn about all that goes into making a movie! There are also aspects of college life. The book is primarily following two stories, about people who are related. One part’s about the movie-making, the other is more about Christianity on a secular college campus. Both are riveting! Recommended for older teens and adults, as the characters deal with some hard stuff.

The Last Days

Author: Joel Rosenberg

Genre: Adventure

Series: I believe it’s the sequel to The Last Jihad, and has several books following  it, including The Ezekiel Option and The Copper Scroll. But I’m not entirely sure on that order.

Number in series: 2^nd?

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 476

Time period: Present

My overall opinion: It was good! I’m flying through all these Rosenberg’s. Highly recommended…I believe it’d be categorized as a political suspense. Very exciting! The word “adventure” doesn’t do it justice. {Incidentally, this was my least favorite Rosenberg so far...though it was still really good}

Christmas CD’s to Love

To me, one of the most Christmasy parts of Christmas in the music. Some of them I’ve been listening to for as long as I can remember. Others were just discovered last year...and some, I haven’t heard yet. They’re on my wish-list. I’m sure that each of you also has favorite Christmas music, and I’d love to hear which of these you’ve enjoyed! And of course, please recommend some. J Now, here comes a list of my favorites!

Andrea Bocelli’s My Christmas

Andrea Bocelli is amazing. He is quite operatic, and for these Christmas songs, that’s just splendid. I know that some of the songs on this CD have music videos online. I’m specifically thinking of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.” So if you like this CD, you’ll want to check those out.

Favorite song(s): Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I Believe (with Katherine Jenkins!), Angels We Have Heard on High

Susan Boyle’s The Gift

I don’t think this is strictly a Christmas CD...I’d guess that about half of Susan’s songs on here are Christmas ones. But if you enjoy Susan Boyle, you’re definitely going to want this CD! The songs are peaceful...that’s the best word I can think of to describe it. J Oh, and she has “Silent Night” on her I Dreamed a Dream CD. But this one has more Christmas songs. Oh, I think I reviewed this CD on here.

Favorite song(s): Perfect Day, Hallelujah (neither of those is real Christmasy though), O Holy Night, The First Noel

Jim Brickman’s The Hymns and Carols of Christmas

This one’s not a singing CD, but expert piano-playing. All of the songs are beautiful...with the possible exception of the last one, on which Jim sings. :P I think his piano playing is much better. Anyway, this is a wonderful CD, especially good for background music.

Faith Hill’s Joy to the World

A delightful CD of Christmas music. Faith has the perfect voice for it! It’s a little bit in country style. She definitely sings out!

Favorite songs: Joy to the World, Holly Jolly Christmas, Winter Wonderland

Mannheim Steamroller’s CD’s

There are a lot produced by this band. And they’re definitely a must for every Christmas. We’ve listened to them for as long as I can remember! The CD’s include: Christmas Extraordinaire; Christmas in the Aire; and A Fresh Aire Christmas. They’re amazing and you MUST listen to them if you haven’t!

A few others that I’m not putting in here, but that are also very good include: Old Fashioned Christmas (played with instruments like dulcimers, flutes, harps, whistles, etc); Come On, Ring Those Bells by Evie (an older CD, and hard to find, but very good); Handel’s Messiah (absolutely amazing -- a staple for Christmas); and What if Mozart Wrote Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by the Hampton String Quartet (they also did one called What if Mozart Wrote I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus).

Finally, a few CD’s I want.

Michael Buble’s Christmas

As soon as I heard this one was coming out, I wanted it. J It’s mostly secular songs (about Santa Claus, etc, as opposed to the classic carols), but I think it’d still be fun.

Celtic Woman’s A Christmas Celebration

I do enjoy Celtic Woman a lot! I’ve heard their “Silent Night” but that’s it. Hope to listen to this one someday! I’m sure the songs are beautiful.

Before you go...tell me your favorites!

Take One

Author: Karen Kingsbury

Genre: Life

Series: Above the Line series

Number in series: 1st

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 338

Time period: Present

Passage from book: “Chase Ryan doubted there was enough oxygen in the plane to get him from San Jose to Indianapolis. He took his window seat on the Boeing 737, slid his laptop bag onto the floor space in front of him, and closed his eyes. Deep breaths, he told himself. Stay calm. But nothing about the job ahead of him inspired even a single peaceful feeling. On Monday Chase and his best friend Keith Ellison would set up shop in Bloomington, Indiana, and start spending millions of dollars of other people’s investment money to make a film they believed would change lives.”

My overall opinion: I enjoyed it! Very interesting to read about movie making. At first, there were so many characters being introduced, some of whom were related to each other and others who weren’t, that I found it a little confusing. By the end (and by the time I started the next book, Take Two), they were clear to me. J I have a feeling this is going to be a very fun series!

Movie: An American in Paris

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 7.5

Genre: Musical, romance

Primary actors: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guetary

Length: Almost two hours

Time period: 1940’s, I’m guessing

Quote(s): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0043278/quotes

Year it came out: 1951

My overall opinion: You probably (hopefully) noticed that it didn’t get as high of a rating as one might have hoped. Personally, I felt like most of it was good. However, at the end, there are 17 minutes of strangeness. I’m serious. Apparently Jerry (aka Gene Kelly) steps into his pictures (he’s an artist) and dances through dozens of people in strange costumes doing strange things in strange places, which is why it’s full of so much strangeness. I kid you not. Yeah. There are some costumes with some immodesty (you find quite a bit of that, seems to me, in these old “modern” musicals).

Overall: if you LOVE LOVE LOVE Gene Kelly, sure, go ahead and watch this. But Brigadoon is still my favorite starring him, and Singin’ in the Rain is second. So watch them first.

The Copper Scroll

Author: Joel Rosenberg

Genre: Adventure

Series: I believe that this is the fourth book in the “series.” It’s not really a series, but I think it would really help to read them in order, which I’m really not doing. :P I know that The Last Days, The Ezekiel Option, and The Last Jihad are earlier (though not in that order), so I guess that makes this the fourth.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 8.5

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 368

Time period: Present

Passage from book: “Their eyes locked for only a moment, but in that moment FBI Agent Marcus Santini knew something was terribly wrong. He had seen that face. He knew that face. But how? Santini’s cab swerved violently to avoid hitting the man who had suddenly stepped into the flow of Washington D.C. traffic. The man’s eyes flashed with fear, but not of dying. He seemed oblivious to the danger of standing in the middle of Massachusetts Avenue, busy even on a Saturday. Instead, for that brief instant, he seemed rattled only by the look of recognition in Santini’s eyes. And then he bolted.

My overall opinion: So opens this thrilling book! It was really good, and I enjoyed it a ton. Clean and exciting. You don’t want to miss this. It was very interesting. J

The Digital Photography Book

Author: Scott Kelby

Genre: How-to, photography

Series: It has a sequel (The Digital Photography Book Volume 2) but it’s not really a series.

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Non-fiction

Number of pages: 217

My overall opinion: The author uses a some strange humor, that serves to make this book fun. He lays everything out in a very straight-forward way. As he says, it’s like he’s taking me (the reader) on a photo shoot. He’s not going to tell the technical why of things, just how to program your camera to get such-and-such an effect. I found this approach wonderful. Great book for any photographer.

All Through the Night

Author: Davis Bunn

Genre: Adventure, life

My rating on a 1-10 scale: 9

Type: Fiction

Number of pages: 360

Time period: Present

My overall opinion: Riveting. Definitely, I recommend this one! It’s very exciting.