Revisiting my reviews of some Christy Award nominees!

I'm delighted to see that some of the books I've reviewed on this blog, as well as a couple of others but I read but didn't review, have been nominated for Christy Awards.

What are Christy Awards, you might ask? Named for Catherine Marshall's classic, "Christy," the awards are given each year to honor and promote excellence in Christian fiction.

The awards will be presented July 16th in Orlando.

Check out my reviews of four of the nominees (click on the title to go to my review):

Nominated in the category CONTEMPORARY SERIES, SEQUELS, AND NOVELLAS:

Dancing on Glass, by Pamela Binning Ewen

Nominated in the categories CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE and FIRST NOVEL:

Words, by Ginny Yttrup

Nominated in the category HISTORICAL ROMANCE:

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, by Julie Klassen

To Die For, by Sandra Byrd

Nominated in the category YOUNG ADULT:

Waterfall, by Lisa T. Bergren

Although I never reviewed it, I also blogged about (and highly recommend) Mine is the Night, by Liz Curtis Higgs, nominated in the HISTORICAL category.

And I read and really enjoyed My Foolish Heart, by Susan May Warren, nominated in the CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE category.

You can find the complete list of nominees here.

Congratulations to all the nominees!

Bookish Images Monday 8/1/11--And the winner of my giveaway!

via

I'd love for you to participate in Bookish Images Monday.

Remember, you do NOT have to post a ton of images--one will be fine if that's all you want to do! (I just tend to go a little crazy.)

They can just be interesting or pretty book covers if you want. Or just pictures of books, bookcases, libraries or bookstores. Or they can be humorous, or vintage, or related to movies based on books. They just need to be book-related in some way.

Feel free to grab this button:



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Be sure to post your link in the Mr. Linky below, leave a comment, and visit others who may participate!



I'm so pleased to announce that the winner of my give-away of Lisa T. Bergren's Cascade is:

Beckie B!

Beckie, I'll be contacting you my e-mail to get your mailing address.

I used random.org to find the winner, so everything was fair and above-board. Thanks so much to everyone who entered! I'll be having another give-away sometime in the not too distant future, so stay tuned.

My Review of Lisa T. Bergren's Cascade--and a Give-away!

My very first give-away! See details after my review

Romance! Danger! Intrigue! Political machinations! Violent medieval battles!

They're all part and parcel of the nonstop action that makes up Lisa T. Bergren's Cascade, the second in her River of Time series aimed at YA readers.

Being a big fan of time travel and of Bergren's writing, I was looking forward to this book.

The two modern-day sisters, Gabriela and Evangelia Bettarini, decide to go back to medieval Italy. This time, their Mom--an avid historian and archeaologist--takes the trip with them.

Naturally, Gabriela is delighted to be re-united with her medieval love, Marcello. But in less time than it takes to say "space-time continuum," the Ladies Bettarini are plunged back into the danger and intrigue of the enmity between Marcello's Siena and Firenze.

It doesn't help that the sisters' actions in the previous book leave them with a big target on their backs.

From Page One until the end of the book, the action is pretty much nonstop. I don't doubt that YA readers will love the nonstop chases, battles and life-threatening situations--there's not a moment for them to get bored.

As an older reader, though, I have to admit that I would have appreciated a few more lulls in the action. It seemed to me that the sisters barely had time to catch their breath before another life-endangering scenario ensued.

Younger readers will also appreciate the romance between Marcello and Gabriela, while I cringed a bit at a 17-year-old even thinking about marriage. But again, that's my take as an older reader.

And those are small criticisms. Bergren is a wonderful writer, her research into the era obvious in every authentic detail, and she's adept at narrating those fast-paced, often breath-taking action scenes as well as the quieter ones.

She's also created a compelling and lovable heroine in Gabriela, a modern girl whose feistiness and courage--not to mention skill with a sword from fencing lessons with her father--stand her in good stead in the violent and perilous age in which she finds herself.

As for the next book in the series--Torrent--the last few pages of Cascade ensure that we're going to want to be there when the Bettarinis next show up in 13-hundreds Tuscany.

Now for the give-away!

I'm giving away a brand-new copy of Cascade, by Lisa T. Bergren!

Here's what you need to do to enter:

--Comment below, and leave an e-mail address where you can be reached

For additional chances to win:

--Follow this blog on Google Friend Connect or Networked Blogs

--"Like" this blog on Facebook

Leave separate comments to let me know if you followed (or are already a follower), and if you like this blog on Facebook!

DEADLINE: You have until midnight Sunday, July 31st at 12:00 PM Central.

NOTE: This contest is limited to readers in the United States and Canada.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

My Top 10 Books So Far This Year

Fellow book blogger Small World Reads' post reviewing the books she's read so far this year gave me an idea.

For the first time in my life, I am keeping track of the books I've read this year, thanks to Goodreads.com I've set a goal to read 100 books this year. So far I've read 40.

So I decided to try to single out my top 10 favorites so far this year. (Remember, just SO FAR this year!)

Here we go--in no particular order:

Before I Go to Sleep, by S.J. Watson--Christine wakes up every day with no memory of the day before...and scant memories of her previous life. She starts keeping a journal to help her hold on to what memories she does have, and realizes her husband isn't telling her the truth about everything. Riveting.

Lady in Waiting, by Susan Meissner--The dual stories of a contemporary woman named Jane, and Lady Jane Grey. Read my review here.

Operation Bonnet, by Kimberly Stuart--Fresh, fun story, with an adorably appealing heroine. Read my review here.

The Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis--A time traveling trip back to the Middle Ages goes terribly awry. Read my review here.

Blackout/All Clear, by Connie Willis--Really has to be counted as one book, because you absolutely cannot read them separately! Time travel to WWII Blitz era goes, yes, terribly awry. Read my review here.

Waterfall, by Lisa T. Bergren--A YA book that I enjoyed immensely. Time travel to Italy in the Middle Ages goes--of course--terribly awry! A smart, brave, engaging young heroine. Read my review here.

Fairer than Morning, by Rosslyn Elliott--What I thought would be a run-of-the-mill historical fiction book turned out to be much more--truly compelling. Read my review here.

Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro--Moving, fascinating and thought-provoking dystopian tale. Read my review here.

Her Fearful Symmetry, by Audrey Niffenegger--A captivating ghost story that revolves around real-life London cemetery, Highgate. Read my review here.

Kept, by D.J. Taylor--Riveting, Dickensian-era mystery, thick with Victorian atmosphere.

Here's to the next 60 books!

WWW Wednesdays: What's in your book stack? 7/6/11

I'm participating today in WWW Wednesday, hosted by Should Be Reading. Here are the questions:

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

• What are you currently reading?

I'm actually reading two books right now! It just depends on what kind of mood I'm in when I pick up a book. Or sometimes, just whichever one happens to be handy!

They are two vastly different books: The Hand that First Held Mine, by Maggie O'Farrell, and Wedding Season, by Katie Fforde.

I picked up The Hand that First Held Mine at the library after reading more than one blogger review praising the book.

As for Wedding Season, I've enjoyed several other Katie Fforde books. They're a step above your average chick lit--fun, light-hearted, and British. I happen to adore British books!



• What did you recently finish reading?

Too Rich for a Bride, by Mona Hodgson.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Cascade, by Lisa T. Bergren. I really enjoyed the first book in the River of Time series. I'm even planning my very first book give-away for when I post my review!

"Waterfall," by Lisa T. Bergren--Time Travel, Intrigue, Hot Italian Guys

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What red-blooded American teen-aged girl wouldn't want to be transported to a time and place where she's surrounded by hot young Italian guys?

That's exactly what happens to Gabi Bettarini in Lisa T Bergren's Waterfall. Oh, but there's more. There are medieval feuds, violent battles and deadly intrigue. And the hottest young Italian guy, who has his eye on Gabi, has a fiancee who pretty much hates her.

Plus, she can't find her sister, who apparently transported to medieval Italy with Gabi but is nowhere to be found.

I was thrilled when I received this book, because I've loved anything I've ever read by Lisa T. Bergren, and I've always been fascinated with time travel.

Then I saw that it was aimed at young adults. But you know what? That didn't dampen my enjoyment of the book one bit.

If anyone is equipped to be transported to medieval Italy, it's Gabi and her sister Lia. Because their mother and their late father were archaelogists, they've spent a lot of time in Italy and have a solid knowledge and sense of its history.

Their dad made sure Gabi had fencing lessons, and Lia happens to be an expert at archery. Both very handy skills to have in the setting in which they find themselves.

And Gabi is what the British call a "plucky" girl--brave, even daring, never one to back down from a challenge or stay too discouraged about some of the more daunting realities of medieval life.

Oh, and conveniently, she finds herself speaking in the Italian vernacular of the day without even trying--a smart device on the author's part.

The story is written from Gabi's perspective, and she sounds like a teen-ager (albeit an intelligent and well-educated one.)

Bergren says her eldest daughter Olivia and her friends were the first to read the book: "They set me straight on things that would make other kids roll their eyes." With those kind of consultants, Gabi's voice is authentic and genuine.

There's plenty of danger and suspense (along with the gentle romance) to keep the pages turning. And just the novelty of a 21st century girl finding herself in this era has a very engaging fish-out-of-water appeal.

I've never met a Lisa T. Bergren book I didn't like, and this one is no exception. Although I'm closer to Gabi's mother's age than Gabi's age, I'll definitely be reading the next book in this series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Wynn-Wynn Media. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Saturday Review of Books: Lisa T. Bergren's "Breathe"

(NOTE: This post was originally published on my other blog, Notes in the Key of Life, on 07/09/09.)

As a radio interviewer, I get a lot of Christian fiction crossing my desk. Most of it I enjoy. But frankly, some books I abandon because, even though they're not terrible, they just don't "grab" me.

Breathe: A Novel of Colorado, by Lisa T. Bergren, certainly doesn't fall into the latter category. This book grabbed me from the very first page and kept me reading way past my bedtime--for me, a sure mark of a teriffic read.

I've read lots of fiction featuring people with tuberculosis--or "consumption," as it was called in the 18-hundreds--but never one in which the "consumptive" actually recovered and went on to live a healthy life. That's just one of the intriguing things about "Breathe."

Set in Colorado Springs in the late 18-hundreds, this is the first in a series about the St. Clair family--two sisters and a brother who journey by train from Philadelphia for one of the siblings to "chase the cure" and open a bookstore for their wealthy publisher father.

Apparently Colorado Springs was highly sought-after by people suffering from tuberculosis in that era because of its beneficial climate.

The beginning of the book plunges us immediately into the action: just as the St. Clair's train is about to pull into Colorado Springs, their sister Odessa is on the brink of death.

The scene establishes the three main characters: Odessa, gentle, ladylike and courageous; Moira, loving but flighty and ambitious; Nic, determined to protect his sisters, but frustrated by the role thrust upon him by his father and anxious to find his own place in life.

As we follow Odessa's recovery and budding romance at a sanatorium, Moira's involvement with the town's tyrannical sheriff, and Nic's secret life as an alcohol-swigging boxer, there's a strong subplot involving murder and mystery that would keep you turning the pages even if the interesting characters didn't.

Lisa T. Bergren is an excellent writer. A Colorado Springs resident herself, she infuses the story with the feel of authenticity and a strong sense of place.

Best of all, she's not afraid to acknowledge Christian faith throughout the story, and she portrays it in a way that is neither preachy nor cheesy.

I highly recommend "Breathe," and I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy.

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