Monday, December 1, 2014

Tears of the Sea by MaryLu Tyndall

Blurb

Doomed by the evil warlock Forwin to wander the ancient seas as a mermaid for all eternity, Perdita longs for the release death would bring. Every ten years she has a chance to break the curse when she emerges from the sea fully human for one month. The catch? She must find a man willing to die for her. After 300 years, her failures have left her heartbroken and alone.

Savion Ryne wants nothing to do with beautiful women. It was one such woman whose betrayal sent him far away to battle Natas’ rebellion. He longs to return to his father’s kingdom in Nevaeh but must first complete an unknown mission. 

After Savion falls off his ship during a storm, he wakes on the shores of an island with visions of a dark haired mermaid tending his wounds. When a woman similar in appearance begs for his protection, he is suspicious.

Perdita has never met anyone as honorable as Savion. Even though he shuns her every advance, she falls for him. But as the end of her time on land approaches, she faces the hardest decision of all, save Savion and remain cursed for all eternity or break the curse and watch the man she loves die.

Review 

5 crowns out of 5

MaryLu Tyndall is amazing, guys. Really. I've read her books for years and loved all of them (pirates, anyone?), but this one was different from her typical novel. This one was so amazing! It had a MERMAID. A beautiful, lonely mermaid with a death-wish, and a pirate who is slightly reminiscent of a knight. Harsher than Tyndall's other books, Tears of the Sea is full of underlying message. Tyndall still has an awesome writing style, and you will be sucked into this story of sacrifice and unconditional love.
 And it has a mermaid. So this story is basically brimming with awesomeness and beauty. 
And that cover? WOW.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, but also jumps at the chance to read Fantasy and YA. Its a win-win, and an absolute fantastic read!

 *I received a copy of this book from the author for review. All opinions expressed are mine and were not influenced by the author or publishing house.*


Saturday, November 22, 2014

Frank Peretti meets a modern day Treasure Island! {And Kindle Giveaway!}

Welcome to the series launch of J.A. Marx's Destiny series. Book one, Destiny Defied, is a chilling tale of freedom from oppression and the Light that overcomes the dark.

J.A. is celebrating the launch of her series with a Kindle giveaway and a Facebook author chat party on December 2. 
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  One grand prize winner will receive:
  • A Kindle Fire
  • Destiny Defied by J.A. Marx.
Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 12/2. Winner will be announced at the Destiny Defied Facebook author chat party on December 2nd. RSVP for a chance to connect with J.A. Marx, to chat about the book, as well as to win some great prizes!
destiny-enterbanner
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}

RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 2nd!

  About the book:

Destiny Defied | Book One in The Destiny series.

A dramatic shipwreck emancipates Riki Hammad, but the island where she finds refuge is compromised. Unless she finds a power truly great enough to defeat her dark past, she will choose death over returning to captivity. Lord Vétis, high priest of a cultic underground, will stop at nothing to reclaim their chosen one. Using black magic, he manipulates Riki and her four self-assigned bodyguards, triggering a battle that consumes the entire island. The underground will never allow Riki to live out her dreams of a normal life . . . something she has never known.


Purchase a copy:  http://ow.ly/DZjrR

 My Review 

Destined Defied by J. A. Marx was quite the intriguing read. The premise is set around four boys out to have a good time, and one mysterious girl that will change their lives. Just like they will change her's. Its a hardcore spiritual warfare, with an emphasis on faith even in the most trying situations. I had a hard time with the story at first. It was confusing, and I was pretty easily distracted. But with patience comes reward! I truly enjoyed the thrill ride that is Destiny Defied. Even if it was a touch scary. Just a touch. But then again, whats a good thriller without the scare factor? Sign me up for book two!!

  *I received a copy of this book from the Litfuse Publicity for review. All opinions expressed are mine and were not influenced by the author or publishing house.*
 

Monday, November 17, 2014

The Princess Spy by Melanie Dickerson

  • Release date: November 4th, 2014
  • Publishing company: Zondervan   
  • Pages:304                                       

 Blurb

Margaretha has always been a romantic, and hopes her newest suitor, Lord Claybrook, is destined to be her one true love. But then an injured man is brought to Hagenheim Castle, claiming to be an English lord who was attacked by Claybrook and left for dead. And only Margaretha—one of the few who speaks his language—understands the wild story.

Margaretha finds herself unable to pass Colin’s message along to her father, the duke, and convinces herself “Lord Colin” is just an addled stranger. Then Colin retrieves an heirloom she lost in a well, and asks her to spy on Claybrook as repayment. Margaretha knows she could never be a spy—not only is she unable to keep anything secret, she’s sure Colin is completely wrong about her potential betrothed. Though when Margaretha overhears Claybrook one day, she discovers her romantic notions may have been clouding her judgment about not only Colin but Claybrook as well. It is up to her to save her father and Hagenheim itself from Claybrook’s wicked plot.

Review

First off, I would like to mention that stunner of a cover. It's a perfect introduction to an ethereal storyline. Margaretha was formerly introduced in The Captive Maiden, but The Princess Spy is purely her story. Margaretha is being courted by a bit of a fop, and seems a bit flighty at the start of the story. Until, of course, her life is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious Englishmen with a bit of a temper. This interruption causes a series of adventurous happenings that makes the pages turn a bit faster. Colin is a good fit as the hero of the story, even if you question just how hero-ish he actually is. He turns out to be a dashing protagonist (I love you, Melanie Dickerson) and the fairytale theme of the book doesn't overpower the historical setting. The dialogue was a little bit stiff, however that could be because the series is targeted for a younger age set. The Princess Spy is perfect for an upper middle-grader, but with just enough depth for the YA, or even adult reader. 
 If you have any tweens or younger teens who love reading to buy presents for, this would be the perfect gift! Or just get the whole series. They will love these sweet reads! :)

 *I received a copy of this book from the author for review. All opinions expressed are mine and were not influenced by the author or publishing house.*
 

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Throwbook Thursday (Beyond All Measure)

Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love

Ada has loved deeply and lost dearly. But protecting her heart could mean missing the love of a lifetime.
Ada Wentworth may be young, but she's seen enough of life to know she can only rely on herself. Everyone including God it seems, has let her down. Having lost her family, her fiance, and her fortune, Ada journeys from Boston to Hickory Ridge, Tennessee, to take a position as a lady's companion. Though initially charmed by the pretty little Southern town tucked into the foothills of the great Smokies, Ada plans to stay only until she can earn enough to establish a millinery shop.
Her employer, Wyatt Caldwell, the local lumber mill owner, is easily the kindest, most attractive man Ada has met in Hickory Ridge. He believes Providence has brought her to town and into his life. But how, after so many betrayals, can she ever trust again? Besides, Wyatt has a dream of his own. A dream that will one day take him far from Hickory Ridge.
As the South struggles to heal in the aftermath of the Civil War, one woman must let go of her painful past in order to embrace God's plans for her. Can she trust Him, and Wyatt, with her future and her heart?

Review

Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love was an interesting post/civil war historical. This is the first book in A Hickory Ridge Romance, a series that has become dependable in the historical genre. The historical aspect was really the main focus of the book. Ada could be aggravating and stubborn, but it just added a good dose personality to a book full of a hard time in history. I liked Wyatt, and though he was a good hero, I didn't totally buy into his and Ada's love. I would have liked it if their relationship was delved into a little more. However, the history was the main focus of the book, and from that stand point, it was an excellent novel. Beyond All Measure gave a gripping look into the lives of two people living after the civil war, trying to build a better South and a better life.

 *I received a copy of this book from the publishing house for review. All opinions expressed are mine and were not influenced by the author or publishing house.*

Monday, October 6, 2014

Hit by Lorie Ann Grover


About HIT by Lorie Ann Grover

After receiving a full-ride scholarship to Mills College for Girls, it appears Sarah's future is all laid out before her … that is until she walks into a poetry class led by Mr. Haddings, a student teacher from the nearby University of Washington. Suddenly, life on the UW campus seems very appealing, and Sarah finds herself using her poetry journal to subtly declare her feelings for Haddings. Convinced Mr. Haddings is flirting back, she sets off for school in the rain with a poem in her back pocket—one that will declare her feelings once and for all.
Mr. Haddings has noticed Sarah's attention; the fallout from any perceived relationship with a student is too great a risk, and he has decided to end all speculation that morning.
But everything changes when Mr. Haddings feels a thud on his front bumper when he glances away from the road, and finds Sarah in the street with blood pooling beneath her.

My Review 

If you pick up a Lorie Ann Grover novel, you should realize that her books are an experience like no other. Don't go in with preconceived ideas, thinking that this is going to be some sort of CBA version of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars.
Because, personally, I think Hit is better.  
Hit spans two very traumatic days of Sarah's life, and is based off of a true story. Its a super fast read, and an even faster emotional roller-coaster.  I loved the realism found within the pages. The struggle the characters face is very real, and very present in the time that we live in. However, there is a message of hope and truth. The word I would use to describe this book would be overcome. There was just something beautiful about Hit.
It was pretty short, as mentioned, and I've heard some complaints about it not being quite fleshy enough. Sure, I would have loved to read some more, but the ending is a good one. Somehow, the end gave me the sense that the future was big, and it was going to be good, one way or the other. That God was going to finish the story in His own timing, and I can only imagine the impact that it would make.
Hit releases tomorrow, and I recommend the strong of heart go and grab it up. This book won't be for everyone. It's written in a unique voice, and it's unlike anything I've ever read. But if you abandon your checklist entitled "This is What a Novel Looks Like" (I know I had to!), you will find a highly thought-provoking tale.
Also, the poetry in the book is pretty awesome. Just FYI..
*I received a copy of Hit from the author for review. All opinions expressed are mine and were not influenced by the author or publishing house.* 


Sunday, September 7, 2014

Remnants review, daily deal, and giveaway!

 

IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!!!!!!! 

Today Remnants: Season of Wonder, by Lisa T. Bergren, is 1.99 on kindle. This is my all-time favorite Dysatopian, and I urge you (beg you!) to get this fabulous book if you haven't yet. Full of adventure and spiritual warfare, this book should be read by the young and old alike.
Somehow in the craziness of summer, my review never got put up. So for those of you still unsure if you should read this gem, here's a quick taste of Remnants: Season of Wonder.

 
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Publisher: Blink

THEIR ARRIVAL WAS FORETOLD FOR YEARS….
Andriana is a Remnant, gifted as an empath and one of the Ailith, destined to act as humanity’s last shield against the horrors that now plague those who remain.
After years of training in stealth and warfare, Andriana and her Knight protector, Ronan, are finally ready to answer the Call and begin the life they were designed for. But as they embark with the other Remnants on the first of their assignments, they quickly discover that the world beyond their protected Valley is more dangerous than they imagined.
The Sons of Sheol will stop at nothing to prevent Dri and Ronan from rescuing anyone sympathetic to the Remnants’ cause. And as the Remnants battle the demonic forces, still other enemies close in. Dangers intensity, but so do Dri’s feelings for Ronan–the one emotion she is not meant to feel. In the midst of their mission, Andriana must fine a way to master her feelings. Or risk compromising everything…

Review

This book. This book is amazing. Lisa T. Bergren has once again penned a masterpiece, this one full of spiritual battle, alongside her trademark dose of high adventure. The story sunk me in, and never quite let me go. I still get a little over-zelous when I talk about this book. 
The characters.....Ah, the characters are wonderfully memorable. But especially Ronan. Ronan was the star of the lovable hero fan club. However, there is a bit more about this book that launched it into "favorite" status, besides its hunky hero. Remnants was thought-provoking. It shed a light on a genre that desperately needs it. Adriana is a chosen Remnant. She is trying to navigate a world full of evil, and she knows she must somehow change it. But the darkness claws at her, and her struggle with overcoming it with light is the main theme of the book. A beautiful tale about a battle we must all face in life.
Remnants was an eye-opener that I recommend you all read! It's bound to find a place on your shelf and in your heart!

Giveaway

To win some Remnants swag, head over to Lisa Bergren's blog, and enter her giveaway!

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

"Finding Yourself in the Fairytale" (Guestpost by Serena Chase)

 
Today I have a special guest- post (plus some giveaway swag) from THE Serena Chase! She's going to be talking about a topic I dearly love....Fairytales! Don't forget to check out her awesome blog, and her even more awesome books! Review to come soon for The Seahorse Legacy!

Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband, two teen daughters, and one very spoiled (but really adorable) dog, Albus. A frequent contributor to USA Today’s Happy Ever After blog, she also writes for Edgy Inspirational Romance. Serena has served as a youth leader for high school students at her church, coaches her local high school’s Color Guard, and drinks entirely too much coffee between these and her daughters’ activities. You can find Serena on Facebook, Twitter @Serena_Chase, and Pinterest.  Visit her website www.serenachase.com
 

Finding Yourself in the Fairytale

by Serena Chase
 
When I was about five years old, I saw the cartoon version of C.S. Lewis’s, The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe on television for the first time. That viewing spawned a series of dreams in which I, like Lucy Pevensie, discovered a portal to another magical land—a land I was somehow responsible for saving. Unfortunately, I always woke up before being able to complete my heroic task.  
Imagine my enthusiasm, then, when my antique-loving mother happened upon a walnut wardrobe in an antique store one day, bought it, and brought it home! Of course I climbed in that old wardrobe right away—and many times after that first, unsuccessful attempt; but even though I never found my way to Narnia, or even to that land from my dreams, my love of fairy tales only grew. And when I was old enough to digest the complete Chronicles of Narnia in book form, I more than crawled inside that fictional wardrobe: I found myself, mirrored in the characters who entered Narnia just ahead of me.
I saw myself in Lucy, the true believer who still had to be taught a lesson from time to time. I was also Edmund, the betrayer who received mercy and become an advocate for justice. From time to time I even saw a bit of myself in Trumpkin the dwarf, wanting definitive proof before committing myself to a cause.
As an adult, I have made a point of regularly rereading the Chronicles of Narnia. Each time, I discover more of myself—and more truth—within each lovely story. More than any other character in Narnia, however, I’ve found myself, my story, mirrored in that of Eustace Scrubb, the Pevensie children’s pathetic whiner of a cousin. And that is not a very flattering comparison, is it?
But wait.
Eustace came on scene with a sneer. He was a spoiled, arrogant bully who found his worth in
belittling others and demanding he have his own way. He coveted others’ belongings, status, and even their character and bravery so much that, once in Narnia, he was literally transformed into the most covetous of creatures, a dragon. But as Eustace discovered—as all of us must discover—he was his own worst enemy. And when he repented of his selfish ways and admitted his need and loneliness, he was befriended and redeemed. Even now, I am brought to tears when I reflect on the beautiful scene in which Eustace’s dragon scales are painstakingly removed by the claws of a frightening, merciful Lion, because I have realized my own raw need for the same patient, resilient, persistent, and cleansing love.


I won’t pretend to be a fraction of the writer C.S. Lewis was, but it is my prayer that even the most jaded of readers will discover a new sense of hope while traveling through E’veria by way of my books; that by identifying with a character’s struggle and triumph, they would realize a fresh awe for the Creator King who longs to fully immerse them in the wonder of his love, even when it hurts to receive it. It is my hope that, within these novels, these re-imagined fairy tales I call the Eyes of E’veria series, readers will not only be so fully immersed in the tale that they are living the adventures along with the characters, but that when they have finished reading they have discovered something new and true and beautiful about themselves that can be applied beyond the fairy tale and breathed into their own story as they journey forth to become the person they were meant to be in this world. Our world.
 
My mom still has that old wardrobe, and both of my daughters—as well as my six nieces and nephews—have, at one point or another, crawled inside. As far as I know, none of them have yet found a lamp post or have dined with talking animals at Cair Paravel, but even though they are bound to be disappointed by my mother’s wardrobe, they can still find Narnia within those books. And if they listen very closely, I’ve no doubt they will hear their own names being whispered in the pages of a fairy tale.
Do you enjoy fairy tales? With which fairy tale characters do you most identify?
 

Grandprize:

 
 

 

Pirate Booty:

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Until that Distant Day by Jill Stengl (book review)



                                

 Blurb
Colette and her brother Pascoe are two sides of the same coin, dependent upon one another in the tumultuous world of the new Republic. Together they labor with other leaders of the sans-culottes to ensure freedom for all the downtrodden men and women of France.

But then the popular uprisings turn bloody and the rhetoric proves false. Suddenly, Colette finds herself at odds with Pascoe and struggling to unite her fractured family against the lure of violence. Charged with protecting an innocent young woman and desperately afraid of losing one of her beloved brothers, Colette doesn’t know where to turn or whom to trust as the bloodshed creeps ever closer to home.
Until that distant day when peace returns to France, can she find the strength to defend her loved ones . . . even from one another?

Review

I had mixed feelings about Until that Distant Day.
Because of that lets start with the things that I particularly liked.
First of all, I loved all the beautiful French phrasing inserted throughout the book. And not only that, the way Stengl introduced the beginning of the Revolution was préfet. Until that Distant Day was rich with the history of France and the Jacobins.
 Colette was my other favorite thing. I loved her realism. She was a truly relatable character, and her humor was spot on. Getting to know Colette and her story was completely worth the following vices.
There was really only two reasons I rated Until that Distant Day with three crowns.
One was the pacing. It was more realistic, but somewhat slow. During the majority of the book, I didn't even realize that there was a love interest (there is one, by the way). All the sudden declarations of love and devotion threw me off a little.
The only other thing was Pascoe. Pascoe was aggravating, and even though Colette forgives him, I never really did.
However, Pacing and Pascoe aside, this really was a beautiful story full of history, love, and redemption. I would recommend this book to anyone with a love for history and Christian fiction.

*I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.*

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Blog Move (And a GIVEAWAY)

 

Today is the day!

This is the first official post of the new Page by Paige headquarters!
After deciding to move to Blogger, I asked Lori at Imagination Designs to create this lovely new blog design. She did a fabulous job, and I am very grateful for such an awesome artist!
 
After today, all giveaways and posts will be held on this site. The Wordpress site will still be running as an archive, but it won't have a primary role. So wander around, look at books, have an adventure (the last part is referring to life, considering I'm not Gandalf...yet). And thank you to all of my followers on Wordpress, I appreciate you all SO much, and hope that you will enjoy this new venture on Blogger, also! Y'all are fabulous!

Giveaway!

In celebration, I'm hosting a giveaway! All you have to do is become a follower and then enter in the Rafflecopter form below (Make sure to look at the Review/Giveaway Policy page)! There's also some extra entries!

First Prize Winner: Four copies of some of my new favorite reads along with a cute bookmark and button!

  • The Healer of Carthage by Lynne Gentry
  • The Pelican Bride by Beth White
  • Shadowhand by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
  • The Queen's Handmaid by Tracey L. Higley 

Second Prize Winner: One $15 Amazon giftcard, a cute bookmark, and a button!



  a Rafflecopter giveaway