Revelation 19: 11 - 16
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS."
Scripture comes from the NKJV Journal the Word Bible.
Friday, July 31, 2020
Verses that Stuck
By Kelly Bridgewater
"Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written"
Scripture comes from the NKJV Journal the Word Bible.
Scripture comes from the NKJV Journal the Word Bible.
Monday, July 27, 2020
Robin Lee Hatcher: How Sweet It Is
By Kelly Bridgewater
He lost his brother. She lost her dream. Together, they might find what they're really looking for.
Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.
Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father , the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.
Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.
My Thoughts:
A Legacy of Faith series by Robin Lee Hatcher ties all the characters together with a family Bible. I have my grandfather's old pulpit Bible and a couple of my Daddy's Bibles. It is really neat to go back and see their thoughts on certain Scripture. I have three Bibles that I do most of my studying out of. I have three boys. I have written notes in each one for each individual child. Each boy will own one of the three boys with all my notes in them. I plan to pass them down to them as a legacy too. But Hatcher's stories is a Bible that is passed down to help the grandchildren as they have lost their way from the Lord. The romance is sweet. Just like contemporary romances' fans enjoy. The predictable ending occurs, but it was a nice journey to see how the heroine and hero fall in love and overcome obstacles. As for the cover, I'm usually not a fan of white covers because there is so much dead space, but for some reason, I really like this cover. The yellow on her apron matches the yellow in the title and looks nicely done. I think fans of Hatcher and contemporary romance authors like Courtney Walsh, Kara Issac, or Becky Wade might enjoy this novel too.
I received a complimentary copy of How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase How Sweet It Is
He lost his brother. She lost her dream. Together, they might find what they're really looking for.
Holly Stanford is doing the best she can with the restaurant she inherited from her late uncle. But after her fiancé abandons her and the business, Holly regrets having given up her dream of becoming a pastry chef. Now a few bad financial decisions might cost her everything, including her hope for the future.
Jed Henning has done well with his new company despite his prodigal brother’s behavior. When Jed‘s father , the controlling member of the board of directors, temporarily suspends operations until his sons work out their differences, Jed resentfully chases his brother, Chris, to Boise. There Jed rents a basement apartment from Holly and hopes to convince Chris to get his act together before their company collapses.
Unaware that Holly is the one person who can help him get through to Chris, Jed starts the tough work of reconciliation armed with little more than a few family photographs, a stack of old letters, and a Bible that belonged to his great-grandfather, Andrew Henning. And as romance blossoms between Holly and Jed, the story of Jed’s great-grandfather highlights the power of God across the generations and the legacy of a family’s courageous faith.
 |
| From Goodreads |
My Thoughts:
A Legacy of Faith series by Robin Lee Hatcher ties all the characters together with a family Bible. I have my grandfather's old pulpit Bible and a couple of my Daddy's Bibles. It is really neat to go back and see their thoughts on certain Scripture. I have three Bibles that I do most of my studying out of. I have three boys. I have written notes in each one for each individual child. Each boy will own one of the three boys with all my notes in them. I plan to pass them down to them as a legacy too. But Hatcher's stories is a Bible that is passed down to help the grandchildren as they have lost their way from the Lord. The romance is sweet. Just like contemporary romances' fans enjoy. The predictable ending occurs, but it was a nice journey to see how the heroine and hero fall in love and overcome obstacles. As for the cover, I'm usually not a fan of white covers because there is so much dead space, but for some reason, I really like this cover. The yellow on her apron matches the yellow in the title and looks nicely done. I think fans of Hatcher and contemporary romance authors like Courtney Walsh, Kara Issac, or Becky Wade might enjoy this novel too.
I received a complimentary copy of How Sweet It Is by Robin Lee Hatcher from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase How Sweet It Is
Friday, July 24, 2020
Kindle Libraries
By Kelly Bridgewater
Kindle Libraries . . .
Most of us have them.
Most of us jump on the chance to purchase a new book when it is offered free or discounted, but purchase religiously when a favorite author has a new book come out.
After a while our Kindle start to fill up. Yes, we can delete things and send them into the cloud, but what if you want to get rid of books from the cloud too?
As a reviewer, I download digital ARC all the time, so my Document section had 519 novels in them. (Only 5 were downloaded currently.)
My books had 1316 in them. Only 725 were downloaded.
I had the idea for this post when Tina Radcliffe shared on Facebook her total of Kindle books. She had over 1500. Others started sharing what their total was. One person actually had 8,883 Kindle books on their Kindle.
Wow! That is A LOT of books.
So I googled how to delete Kindle books from my cloud. Thought I would start with my Documents since they were review copies, and I can't do anything with them anyway.
I figured out how to delete them.
Log into Amazon.
Click on Manage your Content.
Click books of Documents.
On the way to the left is a square box next to the book titles. Click it for the ones you want to delete. When you get a good number selected, (it will tell you at the top.), click on delete in the row of orange buttons. Another screen will come up with all the titles pictured, asking if you want to delete them permantly. Yes.
Then wait a couple of minutes.
I got my Documents down to 25. My books are stuck at 1116. For some reason, it won't allow me to delete anymore books right now. I'll try again later.
I hope this helps! Make some room for some new books to
Kindle Libraries . . .
Most of us have them.
Most of us jump on the chance to purchase a new book when it is offered free or discounted, but purchase religiously when a favorite author has a new book come out.
After a while our Kindle start to fill up. Yes, we can delete things and send them into the cloud, but what if you want to get rid of books from the cloud too?
As a reviewer, I download digital ARC all the time, so my Document section had 519 novels in them. (Only 5 were downloaded currently.)
My books had 1316 in them. Only 725 were downloaded.
I had the idea for this post when Tina Radcliffe shared on Facebook her total of Kindle books. She had over 1500. Others started sharing what their total was. One person actually had 8,883 Kindle books on their Kindle.
Wow! That is A LOT of books.
So I googled how to delete Kindle books from my cloud. Thought I would start with my Documents since they were review copies, and I can't do anything with them anyway.
I figured out how to delete them.
Log into Amazon.
Click on Manage your Content.
Click books of Documents.
On the way to the left is a square box next to the book titles. Click it for the ones you want to delete. When you get a good number selected, (it will tell you at the top.), click on delete in the row of orange buttons. Another screen will come up with all the titles pictured, asking if you want to delete them permantly. Yes.
Then wait a couple of minutes.
I got my Documents down to 25. My books are stuck at 1116. For some reason, it won't allow me to delete anymore books right now. I'll try again later.
I hope this helps! Make some room for some new books to
Monday, July 20, 2020
Michele Phoenix: Fragments of Light
By Kelly Bridgewater
An impossible decision in the chaos of D-Day. Ripples that cascade seventy-five years into the present. And two lives transformed by the tenuous resolve to reach out of the darkness toward fragments of light.
Cancer stole everything from Ceelie—her peace of mind, her self-image, perhaps even her twenty-three-year marriage to her college sweetheart, Nate. Without the support of Darlene, her quirky elderly friend, she may not have been able to endure so much loss.
So when Darlene’s prognosis turns dire, Ceelie can’t refuse her seemingly impossible request—to find a WWII paratrooper named Cal, the father who disappeared when Darlene was an infant, leaving a lifetime of desolation in his wake.
The search that begins in the farmlands of Missouri eventually leads Ceelie to a small town in Normandy, where she uncovers the harrowing tale of the hero who dropped off-target into occupied France.
Alternating between Cal’s D-Day rescue by two young French sisters and Ceelie’s present-day journey through trial and heartbreak, Fragments of Light poses a timeless question: When life becomes unbearable, will you press toward the light or let the darkness win.
My Thoughts:
I adore World War II novels. I have enjoyed a number of time-slip novels, so when I read the synopsis for Michele Phoenix's World War II time-slip novel, I jumped on-board. Most time-slip novels that I have read are usually 50/50 of the past story and the present story. Phoenix story is not. It is about 80% the present, and 20% of the past. There was a huge moment in the past, and it took a long time to go back and see what actually happened. Phoenix stayed in the present for a long time before returning and showing readers what occurred. The main heroine had a huge dilemma or many dilemmas to overcome, and I felt bad for her, but I think Phoenix made the issues not that big of a deal. It drove the force of the story, but the heroine kept moving on without much reaction to them. I wanted to feel something for the heroine, but I didn't feel it. Overall, Fragments of Light appeared to be missing parts of the plot and empathy for the readers to empathize with the characters. Not a book I would pick up again.
I received a complimentary copy of Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase Fragments of Light
An impossible decision in the chaos of D-Day. Ripples that cascade seventy-five years into the present. And two lives transformed by the tenuous resolve to reach out of the darkness toward fragments of light.
Cancer stole everything from Ceelie—her peace of mind, her self-image, perhaps even her twenty-three-year marriage to her college sweetheart, Nate. Without the support of Darlene, her quirky elderly friend, she may not have been able to endure so much loss.
So when Darlene’s prognosis turns dire, Ceelie can’t refuse her seemingly impossible request—to find a WWII paratrooper named Cal, the father who disappeared when Darlene was an infant, leaving a lifetime of desolation in his wake.
The search that begins in the farmlands of Missouri eventually leads Ceelie to a small town in Normandy, where she uncovers the harrowing tale of the hero who dropped off-target into occupied France.
Alternating between Cal’s D-Day rescue by two young French sisters and Ceelie’s present-day journey through trial and heartbreak, Fragments of Light poses a timeless question: When life becomes unbearable, will you press toward the light or let the darkness win.
 |
| From Goodreads |
My Thoughts:
I adore World War II novels. I have enjoyed a number of time-slip novels, so when I read the synopsis for Michele Phoenix's World War II time-slip novel, I jumped on-board. Most time-slip novels that I have read are usually 50/50 of the past story and the present story. Phoenix story is not. It is about 80% the present, and 20% of the past. There was a huge moment in the past, and it took a long time to go back and see what actually happened. Phoenix stayed in the present for a long time before returning and showing readers what occurred. The main heroine had a huge dilemma or many dilemmas to overcome, and I felt bad for her, but I think Phoenix made the issues not that big of a deal. It drove the force of the story, but the heroine kept moving on without much reaction to them. I wanted to feel something for the heroine, but I didn't feel it. Overall, Fragments of Light appeared to be missing parts of the plot and empathy for the readers to empathize with the characters. Not a book I would pick up again.
I received a complimentary copy of Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase Fragments of Light
Friday, July 17, 2020
Summer Titles
By Kelly Bridgewater
Being in the middle of summer and all the heat, I thought I would share some of my favorite covers or titles that feature summer or summer activities. (All images come from Goodreads unless noted.)
A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad
Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad
Ride of Her Life by Lorna Seilstad
Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano
Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn
Being Known by Robin Jones Gunn
What about you? Could you add some more summer titles to this stack? When I glance through Robin Jones Gunn novels, practically everyone single one of them have to do with the beach. Definitely summer fun for some people.
Being in the middle of summer and all the heat, I thought I would share some of my favorite covers or titles that feature summer or summer activities. (All images come from Goodreads unless noted.)
A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad
Making Waves by Lorna Seilstad
Ride of Her Life by Lorna Seilstad
Out of the Ordinary by Jen Turano
Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn
Being Known by Robin Jones Gunn
What about you? Could you add some more summer titles to this stack? When I glance through Robin Jones Gunn novels, practically everyone single one of them have to do with the beach. Definitely summer fun for some people.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Elizabeth Goddard: Don't Keep Silent
By Kelly Bridgewater
Justice comes easy for these two. But forgiveness? That's another matter altogether.
Investigative reporter Rae Burke will do anything to find her missing sister-in-law, even if it means facing Liam McKade, a man who almost lost his life saving hers. A former DEA agent, Liam thought he could find peace at his Wyoming ranch, but he doesn't feel at home anywhere anymore. When the reporter who blew his cover on an important investigation inserts herself back into his life, he's less than thrilled. But Rae's keen investigative skills have led her down the right path--and directly into the dragon's mouth--leaving Liam no choice but to protect her.
As the danger increases, the past they both tried to flee catches up to them, along with the feelings they once had for each other . . .
Investigative reporter Rae Burke will do anything to find her missing sister-in-law, even if it means facing Liam McKade, a man who almost lost his life saving hers. A former DEA agent, Liam thought he could find peace at his Wyoming ranch, but he doesn't feel at home anywhere anymore. When the reporter who blew his cover on an important investigation inserts herself back into his life, he's less than thrilled. But Rae's keen investigative skills have led her down the right path--and directly into the dragon's mouth--leaving Liam no choice but to protect her.
As the danger increases, the past they both tried to flee catches up to them, along with the feelings they once had for each other . . .
 |
| From Goodreads |
My Thoughts:
Don't Keep Silent by Elizabeth Goddard is a hunt for the
truth of what happened to Zoe. The story moves and bends as the suspense keeps
readers flipping through the pages. I enjoyed the fast pace of the plot. The
romance was really low key too, which is the way I enjoy my romances when I 'm
in the middle of a suspense novel . I don't want to be distracted by all the
romance and emotions flying everywhere. Fans of Romantic suspense authors like
Irene Hannon, DiAnn Mills, and Colleen Coble should pick up this novel and
enjoy it.
I received a complimentary copy of Don't Keep Silent by Elizabeth Goddard from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase Don't Keep Silent
Monday, July 13, 2020
Carrie Stuart Parks: Relative Silence
By Kelly Bridgewater
A powerful family with lots of secrets. A forensic artist with his own tragedies. And a hurricane drawing bearing down on their private island.
Fifteen years ago Piper Boone’s only child died in a boating accident, and Piper’s almost perfect life came to an end too. After living through a divorce and losing her job, she retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home—a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, who are practically American royalty.
But Piper’s desire to become a recluse is shattered when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where Piper is having lunch. The crisis puts her family in the spotlight by dredging up rumors of the so-called Curlew Island Curse, which whispers say has taken the lives of several members of the Boone family, including Piper’s father and sister.
Forensic artist Tucker Landry also survives the shooting and is tasked with the job of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. They forge a bond over their shared love of movies and tragic pasts. But when police discover a connection between the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, they face a more terrible lineup of suspects than they could have imagined: Piper’s family.
Unraveling the family’s true history will be the key to Piper’s survival—or her certain death.
My Thoughts:
I enjoy Carrie Stuart Parks stories. I love how she captures the artist's attention to detail. With her latest novel, Relative Silence, I loved the mystery. As a word of warning, the story does start a little slow for fans of non-stop thrills. It appears to be a family narrative, but then the suspense speeds up right along the approaching hurricane. That is when Parks captured my attention, and I stayed up way too late, trying to finish the novel. I really invested myself in the family and the characters. I couldn't wait to see justice prevail and have some peace for Piper as she deals with her family and her dead daughter. Parks did a fabulous job at keeping the villain's identity secret. Even I didn't figure out before the end. I had it pegged at a certain character, but was proven wrong. Overall, Relative Silence is an amazing tale of a family and the woes a family can create. I loved the action in the second half. I honestly can't wait for whatever else she decides to create.
I received a complimentary copy of Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks through Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase Relative Silence
A powerful family with lots of secrets. A forensic artist with his own tragedies. And a hurricane drawing bearing down on their private island.
Fifteen years ago Piper Boone’s only child died in a boating accident, and Piper’s almost perfect life came to an end too. After living through a divorce and losing her job, she retreats to Curlew Island and her childhood home—a secluded mansion for the politically powerful Boone family, who are practically American royalty.
But Piper’s desire to become a recluse is shattered when a mass shooter opens fire and kills three women at a café where Piper is having lunch. The crisis puts her family in the spotlight by dredging up rumors of the so-called Curlew Island Curse, which whispers say has taken the lives of several members of the Boone family, including Piper’s father and sister.
Forensic artist Tucker Landry also survives the shooting and is tasked with the job of sketching a portrait of the shooter with Piper. They forge a bond over their shared love of movies and tragic pasts. But when police discover a connection between the shooting and two more murders on Curlew Island, they face a more terrible lineup of suspects than they could have imagined: Piper’s family.
Unraveling the family’s true history will be the key to Piper’s survival—or her certain death.
 |
| From Goodreads |
I enjoy Carrie Stuart Parks stories. I love how she captures the artist's attention to detail. With her latest novel, Relative Silence, I loved the mystery. As a word of warning, the story does start a little slow for fans of non-stop thrills. It appears to be a family narrative, but then the suspense speeds up right along the approaching hurricane. That is when Parks captured my attention, and I stayed up way too late, trying to finish the novel. I really invested myself in the family and the characters. I couldn't wait to see justice prevail and have some peace for Piper as she deals with her family and her dead daughter. Parks did a fabulous job at keeping the villain's identity secret. Even I didn't figure out before the end. I had it pegged at a certain character, but was proven wrong. Overall, Relative Silence is an amazing tale of a family and the woes a family can create. I loved the action in the second half. I honestly can't wait for whatever else she decides to create.
I received a complimentary copy of Relative Silence by Carrie Stuart Parks through Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase Relative Silence
Friday, July 10, 2020
My Personal Library
By Kelly Bridgewater
Back in February, I decided to paint our living room, my library , and our main hallway a light gray. As I put the books back on the bookshelves, I counted my books. I owned 900 physical books. My boys were amazed.
They obviously don't enjoy reading, so they don't understand my obsession with having physical books.
But with the way the world was running a couple of months ago where no one could leave their houses, it is nice to have a library to go to since most "real" libraries across the nation were closed.
I enjoy my library.
It features all my books.
I organized them by author then once you hit the author, it is organized by publication order.
It is easier for me to find a book this one.
What about you? What does your library look like? Have you ever counted how many novels you have on hand? How do you organize them?
Back in February, I decided to paint our living room, my library , and our main hallway a light gray. As I put the books back on the bookshelves, I counted my books. I owned 900 physical books. My boys were amazed.
They obviously don't enjoy reading, so they don't understand my obsession with having physical books.
But with the way the world was running a couple of months ago where no one could leave their houses, it is nice to have a library to go to since most "real" libraries across the nation were closed.
I enjoy my library.
It features all my books.
I organized them by author then once you hit the author, it is organized by publication order.
It is easier for me to find a book this one.
What about you? What does your library look like? Have you ever counted how many novels you have on hand? How do you organize them?
Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Liz Tolsma: The Green Dress
By Kelly Bridgewater
About the Book:
Title: The Green Dress
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Historical
Publication Date: June 1, 2020
Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History
True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through a unique stories of historical romantic suspense. Collect them all and be inspired by the hope that always finds its way even in the darkest of times.
When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton.
As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?
My Thoughts:
I have really enjoyed devouring this series with American Crimes published by Barbour novels. I have read every single one of them. Some I like more than others. But The Green Dress written by Liz Tolsma was a fascinating read. I had a pretty good idea who was doing the harm to the family members. I don't think Tolsma tried to hide the reality of the bad person from us. I was just in awe over the character's ability to do these things to their family. I loved the writing style. Tolsma took me into the story and the setting with her historical research and allowed me to enjoy the storytelling. The concept of the green dress is the novel is a little creepy. See if, as a reader, you catch it before it is revealed. I did! Overall, The Green Dress was a delightful, yet horrible story about a true event in America's history. Fans of this series should pick this one up and add it to their collection.
I received a complimentary copy of The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Green Dress
Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.
About the Book:
Title: The Green Dress
Author: Liz Tolsma
Genre: Historical
Publication Date: June 1, 2020
Fiction Based on Strange, But True, History
True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through a unique stories of historical romantic suspense. Collect them all and be inspired by the hope that always finds its way even in the darkest of times.
When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton.
As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?
 |
| From Amazon |
My Thoughts:
I have really enjoyed devouring this series with American Crimes published by Barbour novels. I have read every single one of them. Some I like more than others. But The Green Dress written by Liz Tolsma was a fascinating read. I had a pretty good idea who was doing the harm to the family members. I don't think Tolsma tried to hide the reality of the bad person from us. I was just in awe over the character's ability to do these things to their family. I loved the writing style. Tolsma took me into the story and the setting with her historical research and allowed me to enjoy the storytelling. The concept of the green dress is the novel is a little creepy. See if, as a reader, you catch it before it is revealed. I did! Overall, The Green Dress was a delightful, yet horrible story about a true event in America's history. Fans of this series should pick this one up and add it to their collection.
I received a complimentary copy of The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Green Dress
About the Author
Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.
More from Liz
We’ve all been there—started a letter or an email or even a list, didn’t like what we had, crossed it out or hit the delete button, and tried again. Now imagine that happening when you’re writing a novel.
That’s what occurred with The Green Dress. Finding the perfect place to start a novel can be tricky, but when you’re trying to balance fact with fiction, it’s even harder. I needed the fictional heroine, Harriet Peters, to have a good reason to come into contact with and become close to the factual Robinson family. And I needed for the hero, Michael Wheaton, to meet Harriet early on. So I dove into the story. Five chapters later, the hero and heroine hadn’t yet met. The book wasn’t working.
I scrapped those chapters and started at a different point. At first, it seemed to be going better. I was happy. Until I got to the fifth chapter, when I realized again that the book wasn’t working. Frankly, it was boring. So those ended up in the virtual trash bin. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking on my deadline. I was desperate to find the right starting point, at a place with high tension. Finally, I had an “aha” moment, and the story flowed from there. That’s how the first five chapters (and the rest of The Green Dress) came to be.
—Liz Tolsma
Blog Stops
The Power of Words, June 26
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26
deb’s Book Review, June 26
A Reader’s Brain, June 27
Rebecca Tews, June 27
For Him and My Family, June 27
Texas Book-aholic, June 28
Back Porch Reads, June 28
Inklings and notions, June 28
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 28
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 29
Genesis 5020, June 29
Emily Yager, June 29
Christian Bookaholic, June 30
Robin’s Nest, June 30
To Everything There is A Season, June 30
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 30
Blogging With Carol, July 1
Bigreadersite, July 1
Read Review Rejoice, July 1
Life of Literature, July 2
Connie’s History Classroom, July 2
Betti Mace, July 3
Southern Gal Loves to Read, July 3
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 3
Stories By Gina, July 3
For the Love of Literature, July 4
Remembrancy, July 4
Reviewingbooksplusmore, July 4
Godly Book Reviews, July 5
Splashes of Joy, July 5
Vicky Sluiter, July 5
Older & Smarter?, July 6
Through the Fire Blogs, July 6
Daysong Reflections, July 6
amandainpa, July 6
Locks, Hooks and Books, July 7
Pause for Tales , July 7
Just the Write Escape, July 7
Hallie Reads, July 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, July 8
Blossoms and Blessings, July 8
Spoken from the Heart, July 9
With a Joyful Noise, July 9
Artistic Nobody, July 9 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Monday, July 6, 2020
Melanie Dickerson: The Peasant's Dream
By Kelly Bridgewater
In this reverse Cinderella story, a poor farmer’s son, who dreams of using his talent as a woodcarver to make a better life for himself, falls in love with a duke’s daughter and must fight for a chance to win her heart.
Adela is the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim and is never allowed outside of the castle walls. She loves her family, but she sneaks away one day to the market in the town center. There she meets a handsome young man and wonders what it might be like to fall in love with a poor farmer with a kind heart instead of marrying the man her family is suggesting for her.
Frederick earns the income for his family and defends his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He also uses his talent and creativity to carve figures, animals, and scenes into wood, and he's asked to carve these scenes into cathedral doors when his talent is noticed. Frederick is inspired by the sweet and beautiful Adela, but he has no knowledge of her true identity. When he gets swept up into a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter, both are shaken by what they learn about the other.
With the heartbroken Adela resigned to an arranged marriage with her noble suitor, Frederick must decide what he’s willing to risk for love.
My Thoughts:
Melanie Dickerson has crafted a wonderful family saga with the Hagenheim family. It was really neat to see different versions of popular fairy tales and seeing them come to life with the individuals from this one family. The Peasant's Dream is Ardela's story. She is a painter who wants to marry for love, but her family wants her to marry a kind hearted person, but he needs to have money. Not that her family is really pushing, but with the choices they offer her, it says different. I love the idea of the hero, Frederick, being the poor person who falls in love with wealthy. It was a nice difference. The plot is interesting, and I enjoyed every moment I spent back in Hagenheim. At the end, there was a family reunion. Familiar characters returned, even if only by name. I believe fans of Dickerson's series will enjoy this novel too. I sure did.
I received a complimentary copy of The Peasant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Peasant's Dream
In this reverse Cinderella story, a poor farmer’s son, who dreams of using his talent as a woodcarver to make a better life for himself, falls in love with a duke’s daughter and must fight for a chance to win her heart.
Adela is the youngest daughter of Duke Wilhelm of Hagenheim and is never allowed outside of the castle walls. She loves her family, but she sneaks away one day to the market in the town center. There she meets a handsome young man and wonders what it might be like to fall in love with a poor farmer with a kind heart instead of marrying the man her family is suggesting for her.
Frederick earns the income for his family and defends his mother from his father’s drunken rages. He also uses his talent and creativity to carve figures, animals, and scenes into wood, and he's asked to carve these scenes into cathedral doors when his talent is noticed. Frederick is inspired by the sweet and beautiful Adela, but he has no knowledge of her true identity. When he gets swept up into a plan to kidnap the duke’s daughter, both are shaken by what they learn about the other.
With the heartbroken Adela resigned to an arranged marriage with her noble suitor, Frederick must decide what he’s willing to risk for love.
 |
| From Goodreads |
My Thoughts:
Melanie Dickerson has crafted a wonderful family saga with the Hagenheim family. It was really neat to see different versions of popular fairy tales and seeing them come to life with the individuals from this one family. The Peasant's Dream is Ardela's story. She is a painter who wants to marry for love, but her family wants her to marry a kind hearted person, but he needs to have money. Not that her family is really pushing, but with the choices they offer her, it says different. I love the idea of the hero, Frederick, being the poor person who falls in love with wealthy. It was a nice difference. The plot is interesting, and I enjoyed every moment I spent back in Hagenheim. At the end, there was a family reunion. Familiar characters returned, even if only by name. I believe fans of Dickerson's series will enjoy this novel too. I sure did.
I received a complimentary copy of The Peasant's Daughter by Melanie Dickerson from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Peasant's Dream
Friday, July 3, 2020
July 4th
By Kelly Bridgewater
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!
Enjoy Your Day!!!
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!
 |
| www.flickr.com |
Enjoy Your Day!!!
 |
| alittlecrafting.blogspot.com |
Wednesday, July 1, 2020
Kathy Tyers: Crystal Witness
By Kelly Bridgewater
About the Book:
Title: Crystal Witness
Author: Kathy Tyers
Genre: Science Fiction
Publication Date: June 16, 2020
Her memories are blocked. Her freedom is gone. Her crime is a mystery.
When Ming Dalamani awakens from twenty years of suspended animation, she recalls only fragments of her former life: the life she led before she was arrested by the governing interplanetary corporation, Renasco, for a now unremembered crime.
Relocated to an alien world far from the only home she has ever known, Ming serves a powerful Renasco representative to repay her debt. But daily she lives with deadly threats from two men—the hideous mutant Zardir Huekk and the handsome, secretive musician Tieg Innig—who both want the same thing: information. Renasco-trained as a calligrapher in three dimensions, Ming begins to remember more: a clan, a mission, and interstellar piracy.
Ming must decide where her loyalties lie: with her powerful new employer, with a budding resistance movement... or elsewhere.
My Thoughts:
While I enjoy the Star Wars series, I'm not a huge fan of science fiction, but Crystal Witness by Kathy Tyers sounded interesting, so I offered to give her a chance. Tyers does a wonderful job diving into the characters and making their internal dilemmas come to life. But I problem was with the pacing of the plot, it started out with what could have been a wonderful moment, then she throws us into a story that doesn't appear to have anything to do with what we just read. So as I followed the story, I kept being confused, maybe just like the heroine who was stuck on this new planet. Maybe that was Tyers agenda from the beginning. I don't know. The climactic moment didn't seem to wow me either. I ended the book not satisfied at all. Maybe because the genre doesn't really appeal to me could be why my rating is so low, but I tried something different, which is what we all should do.
I received a complimentary copy of Crystal Witness by Kathy Tyers by Enclave Publishing through Celebrate Lit, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Purchase Crystal Witness
Kathy Tyers is widely published in speculative fiction, including her award-winning Firebird series and two licensed Star Wars “Legends” novels, as well as a travel book, a writing reference book, and a memoir co-written for classical guitarist Christopher Parkening. Her messiah-in-space novel Daystar, fifth in the Firebird series, won a 2013 Carol Award, and her terraforming/genetic engineering science fiction novel Shivering World won the 2019 Christy Award for Visionary Fiction. At home in southwest Montana with her husband William Gillin, Kathy focuses on writing, teaching music, and freelance editing.
About the Book:
Title: Crystal Witness
Author: Kathy Tyers
Genre: Science Fiction
Publication Date: June 16, 2020
Her memories are blocked. Her freedom is gone. Her crime is a mystery.
When Ming Dalamani awakens from twenty years of suspended animation, she recalls only fragments of her former life: the life she led before she was arrested by the governing interplanetary corporation, Renasco, for a now unremembered crime.
Relocated to an alien world far from the only home she has ever known, Ming serves a powerful Renasco representative to repay her debt. But daily she lives with deadly threats from two men—the hideous mutant Zardir Huekk and the handsome, secretive musician Tieg Innig—who both want the same thing: information. Renasco-trained as a calligrapher in three dimensions, Ming begins to remember more: a clan, a mission, and interstellar piracy.
Ming must decide where her loyalties lie: with her powerful new employer, with a budding resistance movement... or elsewhere.
 |
| From Goodreads |
While I enjoy the Star Wars series, I'm not a huge fan of science fiction, but Crystal Witness by Kathy Tyers sounded interesting, so I offered to give her a chance. Tyers does a wonderful job diving into the characters and making their internal dilemmas come to life. But I problem was with the pacing of the plot, it started out with what could have been a wonderful moment, then she throws us into a story that doesn't appear to have anything to do with what we just read. So as I followed the story, I kept being confused, maybe just like the heroine who was stuck on this new planet. Maybe that was Tyers agenda from the beginning. I don't know. The climactic moment didn't seem to wow me either. I ended the book not satisfied at all. Maybe because the genre doesn't really appeal to me could be why my rating is so low, but I tried something different, which is what we all should do.
I received a complimentary copy of Crystal Witness by Kathy Tyers by Enclave Publishing through Celebrate Lit, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Purchase Crystal Witness
About the Author
Kathy Tyers is widely published in speculative fiction, including her award-winning Firebird series and two licensed Star Wars “Legends” novels, as well as a travel book, a writing reference book, and a memoir co-written for classical guitarist Christopher Parkening. Her messiah-in-space novel Daystar, fifth in the Firebird series, won a 2013 Carol Award, and her terraforming/genetic engineering science fiction novel Shivering World won the 2019 Christy Award for Visionary Fiction. At home in southwest Montana with her husband William Gillin, Kathy focuses on writing, teaching music, and freelance editing.
More from Kathy
In 1988, after the initial release of Firebird and Fusion Fire by Bantam Books of New York, my then-editor asked for a stand-alone novel, and my then-agent presented me with a contract to write that book in just over half the time that I actually needed. So my third novel, Crystal Witness, appeared in 1989—and while the plot had strong bones, I wished I’d had several more months to polish it. Much to my delight, Enclave Publishing is re-issuing Crystal Witness in June 2020 with the layers of polishing added. While I was adding those layers, I found myself wondering what would happen next. Maybe … oh, yes … hmmm … Aha!
Now that Crystal Witness is ready to stand up and sing, I am delighted to be working on a multi-book sequel series, The Sunstone Saga, also to be released by Enclave Publishing. Book 1 of the saga, The Long Silence, is well underway. It introduces a new cast of characters and asks a powerful question: Where has God been, while humankind went to the stars?
Crystal Witness is the story of young Ming Dalamani, who wakens from twenty years of suspended animation to find herself “company property” on a distant world, with no memory of the crime she must have committed. She only knows that a powerful corporate monopoly rules interstellar space, and she has been assigned to serve a company representative. Immediately, powerful (and opposing) individuals offer threats and bribes, trying to enlist her to spy for both sides of a deadly intrigue. How long can Ming play both sides of the plot against her urgent wish to find out who she is … and what was her crime?
My background in music and the arts always manages to show up in my books. I made Ming a calligrapher in three dimensions, wielding a set of injection pens to create elegant designs in clear slabs. Another character is a court musician with futuristic technology at his fingertips. My entire family was musical; my mother played in 20thCentury Fox’s prestigious sound stage orchestra in the 1950s, and my father grew up in a family band that toured the U.S. every summer. When I was widowed in 2004 and needed to make a fresh start, I discovered that Regent College in Vancouver BC had a program in which I could study toward a Master’s degree in Christianity and the Arts—and write a science fiction novel as part of my thesis project. That book, Wind and Shadow, picked up the Firebird series at Book 4 and led to its completion in Daystar, Book 5. That series is conclusively finished—as you know, if you have read Daystar!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 30
Fiction Aficionado, July 1
Where Faith and Books Meet, July 1
Texas Book-aholic, July 2
Inklings and notions, July 3
deb’s Book Review, July 3
Worthy2Read, July 4
Blogging With Carol, July 5
For Him and My Family, July 6
Book of Ruth Ann, July 7
Mia Reads, July 7
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, July 8
Through the Fire Blogs, July 9
Emily Yager, July 10
Hallie Reads, July 10
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, July 11
Breny and Books, July 11
amandainpa, July 12
Pause for Tales, July 13
The Artist Librarian, July 13
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Kathy is giving away the grand prize package of a still-in-box set of miniature toys that was released in 1996 to go with her novel, Star Wars: The Truce At Bakura, a signed copy of Firebird and One Mind’s Eye!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)