"Christmas Books" Giveaway Hop

As a part of the "Christmas Books" Giveaway Hop, I'm holding a giveaway for the following book:


A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs is a Christian historical romance set in 1894 in Scotland.
You can read my review.

Christmas Eve 1894. All Margaret Campbell wants for Christmas is a safe journey home. When her plans for a festive holiday with her family in Stirling crumble beneath the weight of her brother’s bitterness, the young schoolteacher wants nothing more than to return to the students she loves and the town house she calls home.

Then an unexpected detour places her in the path of Gordon Shaw, a handsome newspaperman from Glasgow, who struggles under a burden of remorse and shame. When the secret of their shared history is revealed, will it leave them tangled in a knot of regret? Or might their past hold the threads that will bind their future together?


This contest is for USA & Canada residents only.


To enter the giveaway:

1) you can twitter me saying "Hi @genrereviewer. Enter me in the giveaway for A WREATH OF SNOW by Liz Curtis Higgs."

OR

2) You can leave a comment to this post asking to be entered. (I have comment moderation on to prevent spam comments, so don't worry if your entry comment doesn't appear immediately. It will soon.) Please also leave some way for me to contact you--or follow this blog so you can see the winner announcement. I'd be fun if you also included why you're interested in reading this novel.


This giveaway ends on December 7, 2012 at midnight. The winner will be randomly selected. I'll announce the winner on December 8, 2012 on this blog.

If you entered using twitter, I'll send you a @ or DM telling you of your win and asking where to send the book. If you entered using the blog comments, you'll need to leave your e-mail address or check back to see if you won so you can e-mail me your mailing address. If the winner hasn't responded with a mailing address within four days, I reserve the right to pick a new winner.

I hope everyone has fun with this!


The blogs participating in the "Christmas Books" Giveaway Hop:

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer ISBN-13: 9780373836840 Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages Publisher: Harlequin Books Released: January 10, 2006

Source: Bought through Half.com.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
When Gervase Frant returns unscathed from the wars to claim his title as the new Earl of Stanyon, he faces resentment from his stepmother and half-brother for managing to survive. Then Gervase meets a lovely young woman whom all the young men in the area are in love with--including his half-brother and his cousin. His half-brother has a nasty temper and confronts Gervase in an attempt to make him stay away from her. Then a series of dangerous "accidents" occur, and it's clear that someone wants Gervase dead...


My Review:
The Quiet Gentleman is a historical romantic suspense novel set in the Regency Era in England. I liked both of the romances, with one couple seeming so well suited for each other and the other involving the man coming to appreciate the initially overlooked finer qualities that the woman has. The conflict was created by family resentment over Gervase inheriting the title and estates and between the men vying for innocently flirty Marianne.

The mystery involved who was attacking Gervase and how Gervase was going to resolve all the conflict (including dealing with whomever was attacking him). Sometimes Heyer has the prime suspect really be the "whodunit," and sometimes she has it be someone else. I wasn't entirely sure which it was in this story until near the end, so I had two main suspects until then. I enjoyed trying to puzzle this out.

The characters were engaging, interesting, and acted in realistic ways. The setting and historical details brought the story alive in my imagination. This edition of the book also had a glossary of some Regency slang and a fun short story called, "To Have the Honour."

There was some explicit bad language (mainly that using "God"). There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

And the winner is...

It's time to announce the winner of the Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop. Including Twitter entries, we had 47 entries. Using a random number generator and numbering the entrants in the order I received them, the winner is:

Jennifer Haile
who won "Mrs. Jeffries & the Mistletoe Mix-Up"

Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for your address.

For those who didn't win, you can always buy a copy of these books from your favorite bookstore or see if they have them at your local library.

City of the Dead by T.L. Higley

City of the Dead by T.L. Higley ISBN-13: 9780805447316 Trade Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: B&H Books Released: March 1, 2009

Source: Review copy from the author as a part of her Great Book Giveaway.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Up from the sands of Egypt rises the Great Pyramid, where Hemiunu, Pharaoh’s Grand Vizier, commands the historic building project as he orders his life—with justice, truth, and precision. But when a series of murders at the site threatens chaos, Hemi turns his attention to hunting down the killer...a killer who may be closer than he expects.

Has someone decided to seek justice for or remove all remembrance of a past injustice that Hemi and his closest friends have been ordered to never discuss? The killer's targets are those who know that a past death was not an accident...


My Review:
City of the Dead is a Christian historical suspense novel with a romance. This is the second book in the Seven Wonders series, but it's a stand alone novel. The only connection between the novels in this series are that they take place near one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.

The characters were likable or interesting, complex, and acted in realistic ways. The historical and setting detail helped to bring the world alive in my imagination, but there weren't as many details as in some of this author's books. This may be because there are conflicting views about the pyramids and not as much information available about this time and place compared to some of her other stories. Also, I had a hard time getting immersed into this story because I found the rather casual way almost everyone seemed to treat each other as doubtful.

The mystery was very suspenseful due to physical danger to various characters, and I remained unsure of whodunit until the end. The romance was believable, but the focus wasn't on the two spending time together and falling in love. I appreciated that both characters were likable and also liked and respected each other from the start.

There was a Christian element to the story. The love interest character was a part of a group of Egyptians who still remembered the One True God (from teachings passed down after the confusion of languages at Babel) and that He promised to send a Redeemer to take away their sins. Hemiunu knew that he wouldn't get into the afterlife when judged by Egyptians gods, and he's interested in their beliefs when he encounters the sect.

There was a very minor amount of "he cursed" style of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this exciting and well-written novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt on the author's website.

The Plain Princess by Phyllis McGinley

The Plain Princess by Phyllis McGinley Hardcover: 66 pages Publisher: J.B. Lippincott Company Released: 1945

Source: Inherited from my grandparents.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
The Princess Esmeralda is fortunate in many ways, for the King and Queen shower her with gifts, toys, feasts, and entertainment. But she's plain by her kingdom's standard's of beauty: her mouth turns down, her nose turns up, and her eyes do not sparkle. When a neighboring Prince is turned off by her selfish, spoiled attitude, he points out to her how plain she is which makes her very unhappy.

Her parents are determined to do something to help her become beautiful, but no one knows what to do....until Dame Goodwit offers to make the Princess beautiful on the condition that the Princess will come and live in her cottage with her five daughters. The changes that take place are only natural ones; but when the Princess learns to do a truly unselfish things, then her mouth turns up, her nose turns down, and her eyes sparkle.


My Review:
The Plain Princess is a children's picture book. It's a fun little book about how a spoiled, disagreeable child is viewed as plain, but as she learns to be helpful and unselfish, she becomes "beautiful." It's a nice lesson and an entertaining sequence of events illustrated with colorful drawings (like those on the cover). It's probably not easy to find, but I do recommend this enjoyable story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Deadly Aim by Patricia H. Rushford

Deadly Aim by Patricia H. Rushford ISBN-13: 9781441239433 ebook: 317 pages Publisher: Fleming H. Revell Company Released: February 1, 2004

Source: A free ebook from Christianbook.com.

Book Description from Goodreads:
When a police shootout results in the death of a 12-year-old boy, Officer Angel Delaney is blamed, convicted, and condemned by the media and the Sunset Cove community before the case even goes to trial. Angel will have her day in court, but before she has the chance to defend herself, the situation spirals out of control.

Key evidence is missing, evidence that could have verified her claim of firing only one shot in self-defense. In short order, the body count rises, and suddenly Angel is a suspect in more than one murder investigation. Heartsick about the young boy's death, and questioning her judgment as a police officer, Angel joins forces with Detective Callen Riley to fight the mounting charges against her.


My Review:
Deadly Aim is a romantic suspense/mystery. It is the first in a series, but it reads like a stand-alone. The story was very suspenseful as things just kept getting worse and worse--emotional trauma, physical danger, and a series of murders of which people were quick to suspect her guilty. I didn't see how the author was going to turn things around. The characters were interesting, complex, and acted realistically. However, some evidence was used even after circumstances where it could potentially have been tampered with, and I'm not sure that was realistic.

While "whodunit" was on my list of likely suspects, I was left feeling somewhat unconvinced that this whodunit would have gotten away with all the evidence tampering, drug trafficking, and such without anyone noticing or could do that much killing without any change in behavior.

I liked that the romance didn't move too quickly. Angel had to work through letting go of a "safety net" boyfriend that she didn't intend to marry so that both of them could move on. I had admired how Angel and Callen didn't act on their desire to hug and kiss when it would have been inappropriate for them to do so...and then, within a page, they did do so. Ah, well. Also, I found it ironic that Angel hated how her father wouldn't trust her to do her job well despite all the evidence that she could, yet Angel wouldn't trust Callen to do his job well. But this was handled realistically.

Angel had been a Christian before a friend of hers was killed. Then Angel rejected God because He didn't answer her prayers the way she wanted Him to. After briefly ranting at her Christian family members about this on a few occasions, her mother pointed out that God had granted the prayer of the friend who died, and Angel reconsidered her view of God. This was worked in naturally and didn't come across as a sermon at any point.

There was no sex or explicit bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this suspenseful romantic mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin

Killer Librarian by Mary Lou Kirwin ISBN-13: 9781451684643 Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Pocket Books Released: November 27, 2012

Source: Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Minnesota librarian Karen Nash embarks on her dream trip to London even though the love of her mid-life, Dave, dumped her hours before takeoff. When she spies him at the airport with a young honey on his arm, she's so angry that she thinks of schemes for Dave’s untimely demise.

After landing, she checks into a cozy B & B run by charming bibliophile Caldwell Perkins. Soon she’s spilling tears in her pint at the corner pub, sharing her heartbreak saga with a stranger. When she sobers up, she begins to fear that she accidentally set an assassin on her ex's tail! Then she finds a B & B guest dead and wonders if it really was a natural death. If the matter isn't cleared up, several of the guests will always think the wife killed her husband. Karen decides to set things right.


My Review:
Killer Librarian is a romance with a cozy mystery. The focus was on her getting over her ex-boyfriend and falling in love with someone new. Everyone she met seemed to have been so hurt by a break-up that they considered killing their ex, so she got a lot of sympathy. And when she thinks she accidentally sent an assassin after her ex, she realized she doesn't really want him dead...and wondered what she ever saw in him since they really didn't have much in common. As wacky as the assassin bit was, it did provide a way to get Karen more quickly over her ex so she could move on.

I didn't really like Karen at the beginning because she didn't seem to like who she was and kept pretending to be things she wasn't. However, I did like how she did eventually get tired of living a lie and was brave enough to admit the truth in the hopes of being loved for who she was.

The mystery was clue-based, but much more time was spent on sight-seeing or spending time with Caldwell than in trying to find clues about whodunit. It was easy for Karen to get a confession. The setting description gave a good idea of what London is like. The characters were interesting and weren't cliche, not even small-part characters like a shop owner who sold Karen a shawl (loved that gal).

There was a very minor amount of explicit British bad language. Unmarried sex was implied, but there were no sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this novel to romance readers who don't mind some mystery thrown in.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop

As a part of the Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop, I'm holding a giveaway for your choice of one of the following books:


Mrs. Jeffries & the Mistletoe Mix-Up by Emily Brightwell is a historical mystery set in England in the late 1800's. You can read my review.

Moments after a high tea is interrupted by a fire in the servants’ hall, art collector Daniel McCourt is found sprawled on the floor of his study under a bundle of mistletoe, his throat slit by the bloody sword lying next to his body. Could the killer be one of his fellow collectors, pointedly using one of McCourt’s own acquisitions to kill him? Inspector Witherspoon is determined to solve the case, but of course he will need some assistance from the always sharp-witted Mrs. Jeffries.


Through the Fire by Shawn Grady is a Christian suspense novel.
You can read my review.

Firefighting burns in Aidan O'Neill's blood, but one call goes horribly wrong, a rookie is hurt, and Aidan is suspended. It couldn't have happened at a worse time. An arsonist is targeting Reno, leaving a scorched path of destruction. Teaming with a beguiling fire investigator, Aidan is determined to discover who is setting the fires that are so similar to the one that killed his father.


The Convenient Marriage by Georgette Heyer is a funny historical romance set in 1770's England.
You can read my review.

Horatia Winwood, a stammering girl barely out of the schoolroom, offers to take the place of her beautiful older sister (who is romantically involved elsewhere) in a marriage of convenience with the wealthy Earl of Rule. Horatia thinks that Rule loves another woman who is unsuitable to marry, so she tries to find her happiness in buying clothing and flirting with other men. But Rule is actually taken with his adorable new wife. Lord Lethbridge sees this as an opportunity to ruin Horatia as revenge against Rule for an earlier dispute between them.


This contest is for USA & Canada residents only.


To enter the giveaway:

1) you can twitter me saying "Hi @genrereviewer. Enter me in the giveaway for [give the book name and author's name]."

OR

2) You can leave a comment to this post asking to be entered and naming which book you'd like to win. (I have comment moderation on to prevent spam comments, so don't worry if your entry comment doesn't appear immediately. It will soon.) Please also leave some way for me to contact you--or follow this blog so you can see the winner announcement. I'd be fun if you also included why you're interested in reading this novel.


This giveaway ends on November 25, 2012 at midnight. The winner will be randomly selected. I'll announce the winner on November 26, 2012 on this blog.

If you entered using twitter, I'll send you a @ or DM telling you of your win and asking where to send the book. If you entered using the blog comments, you'll need to leave your e-mail address or check back to see if you won so you can e-mail me your mailing address. If the winner hasn't responded with a mailing address within four days, I reserve the right to pick a new winner.

I hope everyone has fun with this!


The blogs participating in the Gratitude Giveaways Blog Hop:

Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs

Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs ISBN-13: 9780441019540 Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Ace Released: November 2, 2010

Source: Bought through Half.com

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Aralorn, a shapeshifter and mercenary spy, returns home because her noble father, the Lyon of Lambshold, has died. But when Aralorn and her companion Wolf arrive, they discover that he's not dead. Black magic has been used to hold her father in a death-like state, and he will die if he's not released within two weeks. To break the spell, they need to know who set it and how. But no mage is likely to admit to knowing how to work the forbidden black magic even if this wasn't a trap apparently designed to kill Wolf. And, because it's strong black magic, someone's going to die...


My Review:
Wolfsbane is a fantasy novel. It's the sequel to Masques. You don't need to read the previous novel to understand this one, but the ending of Masques is spoiled if you read this novel first.

The story was written more like a cozy mystery than an action fantasy. After a fairly active beginning, the characters basically alternated between talking over what they knew and gathering more information. For the "cozy" aspect, Aralorn had two fight scenes and told one story that did nothing to move the story forward. Even the beginning was slowed a bit by all the back story we're given (some of it unnecessary), so don't expect a fast-paced book.

I was pleased that Aralorn was back to being the original, cheerful character I love from the original version of Masques. I was surprised by how quickly previous enemies from Masques and from the beginning of this book turned into close working companions. This was so different from Masques, were Aralorn's friends kept turning into enemies at the most inopportune moments.

There was a very minor amount of explicit bad language. There was a lot of implied sex. The fantasy magic of the previous book had some new elements, including printed out words to one spell and training in "centering and grounding." To me, this felt like a story that just happened to use some names (and some humor) similar to the previous book rather than an actual continuation of Aralorn's and Wolf's story.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

A Bride For Donnigan by Janette Oke

A Bride For Donnigan by Janette Oke ISBN-13: 9781556613272 Trade Paperback: 222 pages Publisher: Bethany House Publishers Released: 1993

Source: Personal library.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Kathleen O'Malley stood on the deck and watched the land she'd called home for more than a dozen years slip from her view. Even though Kathleen had not been happy with her situation, it was all she had ever known. Now her only certainty was that she was bound for America to marry a man whose name she did not even know and whose face she had never seen.

On the other side of the Atlantic, Donnigan Harrison anxiously awaits Kathleen's arrival on a prairie farm. He has known the wonder of a dream fulfilled--a snug frame cabin, the sturdy log barn and outbuildings, a fine herd of livestock, and crops in the field that made his eyes sparkle. Yet Donnigan felt lonely and had limited opportunities for finding a wife. Donnigan's anticipation is overshadowed with terrifying uncertainties--What have I done?


My Review:
A Bride For Donnigan is a Christian historical set in the American West during the pioneer time period. It's a part of the Women of the West series, but the books aren't connected to each other so you can read them in any order. These novels are quick reads.

The setting and historical detail created a nice yet still somewhat vague (as to exact time period) backdrop for the events. The story followed Kathleen's life from seventeen-years-old until she has a large family of her own. Kathleen and Donnigan have to overcome misunderstandings about what they think the other partner wants out of marriage and the sorrows of losing and raising children.

The Christian element was woven into the story, and it was the focus of the story near the end. Kathleen and Donnigan both realize there must be a God, but they don't know anything about him and there's no preacher available. They glean what they can from the Bible and, after some misunderstandings caused by various Christians not clearly answering their questions, finally come to understand how to make things right between themselves and God.

Married sex was implied (as babies were born). There was a very minor amount of "he cussed" style of bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable novel.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Important information

I wouldn't normally do this, but I was an Animal Science student in college back when GMOs were just starting to be used. I had no idea of what had happened since then, and people really need to know this. Here's a free 1 hr 30 minute video that's free until Nov. 6th. Please take the time to watch as much of this as you have time for, especially people in California. http://geneticroulettemovie.com/ or

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs

A Wreath of Snow by Liz Curtis Higgs ISBN-13: 9781400072170 Hardcover: 224 pages Publisher: WaterBrook Press Released: October 2, 2012

Source: Review copy from the publisher.

Book Description from Cover:
Christmas Eve 1894. All Margaret Campbell wants for Christmas is a safe journey home. When her plans for a festive holiday with her family in Stirling crumble beneath the weight of her brother’s bitterness, the young schoolteacher wants nothing more than to return to the students she loves and the town house she calls home.

Then an unexpected detour places her in the path of Gordon Shaw, a handsome newspaperman from Glasgow, who struggles under a burden of remorse and shame.

When the secret of their shared history is revealed, will it leave them tangled in a knot of regret? Or might their past hold the threads that will bind their future together?


My Review:
A Wreath of Snow is a Christian historical romance set in 1894 in Scotland. It's a novella, so it's a short, quick read and events move forward relatively quickly. It's a nice, sweet story where secrets and lies have brought deep hurt but there's a chance for the truth to bring healing.

The characters were complex and realistic, and I could sympathize with the main characters. Due to the shortness of the book, though, we don't get to know the characters really well. The romance "worked" for me, and there were enough historical and setting details to bring the story alive in my imagination.

There was a Christian element that was woven into the story about forgiveness and telling the truth. I didn't feel that it ever got "preachy," though. There was no sex and no bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this book to those looking for a short read that ends with hope and healing.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.

Collared by L.A. Kornetsky

Collared by L.A. Kornetsky ISBN-13: 9781451671643 Trade Paperback: 320 pages Publisher: Galley Books Released: November 13, 2012

Source: Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher.

Book Description, Modified from Back Cover:
Ginny Mallard and her shar-pei, Georgie, need to dig up another client for her private concierge business. Ginny enjoys bantering with Teddy Tonica, the bartender at a nearby bar, and her dog is oddly fond of his bar cat, Mistress Penny. While at the bar, she overhears a drinker tell his business woes to the bartender.

Ginny interrupts and lands a job tracking down some important business papers that have gone missing—along with the customer’s uncle. Ginny can use her research skills to track him down, but she quickly realizes that she needs a partner with people skills—like Tonica—if she's going to succeed.

This is one dangerous case that’s about to go to the dogs – unless man, woman, cat, and canine can work together as one very unconventional crime-solving team.


My Review:
Collared is a mystery novel. The mystery was to find a missing man and to discover exactly why he decided to hide (along with some important business papers) from his nephew. They weren't investigating a murder, which was a refreshing change. It wasn't really a puzzle-mystery but following along as they uncovered the trail and decided what to do with what they learned. The suspense was from potential danger to them and the missing man.

The characters were engaging, and Ginny and Teddy both acted in realistic ways to the situation. I liked that they were more concerned about what harm their actions might cause people than in finishing the job to get the money or to prevent a bad reputation for Ginny's business. They also realized when they were in over their heads and when they needed to hand the situation over to professionals.

The dog and cat had "speaking" (to each other) parts in the story, but their concerns and actions were like real cats and dogs. A nice level of detail about the setting, jobs, etc., was woven into the story.

There was no sex. There was a fair amount of explicit bad language. If you don't mind that level of bad language, then I'd recommend this engaging mystery.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.

And the winner is...

It's time to announce the winner of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop. Including Twitter entries, we had 17 entries. Using a random number generator and numbering the entrants in the order I received them, the winner is:

Michele Shroyer
who won "The Tale of Castle Cottage"

Congratulations! I'll be contacting you for your address.

For those who didn't win, you can always buy a copy of these books from your favorite bookstore or see if they have them at your local library.