Book Review: Prayers and Promises for Worried Parents by Robert J. Morgan

From the back cover:

Worrying about our loved ones is the worst kind of worry in the world, espe­cially when it’s our children for whom we’re concerned. From the moment they’re born, our youngsters have an unrivaled place in our hearts, and we feel an unending burden for their welfare. We do our best to provide for them and to protect them. But sometimes, like the prodigal’s father in Luke 15, all we can do is entrust them to the Lord, love them, and give them time to find their way. Nothing is more difficult.

Prayers and Promises for Worried Parents offers hope for your prodigal and help for you. In more than a hundred brief readings, Robert J. Morgan offers doses of hope—encouragements from Scripture, effective prayers, true-life stories, promises from God’s Word, timely quotes, and helpful hints for coping with yourself and your child in difficult times.

God specializes in being gracious, and prodigals have a way of coming home. Don’t despair over your wayward ones. The Lord hasn’t given up on them. Nor on you!

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Every phase of life within families has its joys and struggles. Each year that passes holds its unique challenges given the development and personalities of our kin. That being said, it is my belief that my family is entering an extremely trying period within the life of one of our members. Without airing the family’s dirty laundry, I will generally state that life with this loved one has been challenging for a very long time, but lately it has tested me almost to the breaking point. I care for them so much, and I worry about the choices they're making and the road that they may be on.

About a month ago I was approached to review Prayers and Promises for Worried Parents by Robert J. Morgan. I usually gravitate toward fiction titles, but this one seemed like it might have a few nuggets that would help me in my efforts as a concerned family member. Not long after I sent the acceptance email, a major crisis erupted, and I once again found myself crying out to God for comfort and direction in our trying situation. A few days later, Robert Morgan’s book arrived. I began reading it that very night.

To say that Prayers and Promises was a blessing to me is an extreme understatement. On many occasions, the words leaped off the page and impacted me so much; I literally had to put the book down to cry. The tears that flowed were ones of sadness over what was happening to our family, as well as tears of gratitude for the comfort that had been given to me through this simple, short book. I treasured every chance I could get to read one of the 108 devotions that comprise this work. Morgan’s intention may have been for the reader to go through each short chapter over the course of three and a half months, but I found it difficult to read just one entry at each sitting. It was easy reading, but more importantly, it was a lifeboat for me within a raging storm.

As mentioned, Prayers and Promises is presented in devotional form. The 108 entries fall into three general categories:

1. Passages of scripture that apply to our struggles as worried family members/friends of those who are struggling or leading a “prodigal” lifestyle. Morgan oftentimes would re-write the scriptures to reflect the situation, allowing the reader to insert the name of their loved one within God’s word in order to apply it to their lives.
2. Prayers and thoughts from both Robert Morgan and his experiences as a troubled soul, and also from beloved Christians such as:
   
   • Billy Graham
   • Oswald Chambers
   • Hudson Taylor
   • John Wesley
   • Norman Vincent Peale
   • C.H. Spureon
   • J.I. Packer
3. Hopeful stories of prodigals who have struggled in life, but have yet found victory and recovery by God’s grace and through the prayers of their loved ones. 

This is a simple template for a book—indeed, Morgan originally did not intend it for public consumption. During his own times of struggle, he was journaling and putting this collection together for himself, words that would comfort him and guide him during trying times. Thankfully, Mr. Morgan has made this work available to the public, and for that I am sincerely grateful. Prayers and Promises is a simple premise, yet it holds truths and encouragements that will resonate forever. Possibly my favorite lines from the book came in devotional #22, “Open His Eyes”:

The tears in our eyes are sometimes converted, through prayer, into eye drops for our prodigals.
As we pray through our tears, the Lord hears our requests and opens our prodigals’ eyes.

As someone who has shed countless tears over my loved one, it is such a comfort to know that those tears are not in vain; the Lord sees them. Morgan quotes, “It is not possible that the son of such tears should be lost” –from Augustine’s Confessions. Through this I will not see weeping as a wasted exercise, but as a measure of sowing that will reap joy in the future (Psalm 126).

If your heart is aching for a wayward son, daughter, grandchild, family friend or even a spouse, I cannot recommend Prayers and Promises highly enough. In fact, I will most surely be opening this book again in the future. Much of the content within this work is tried and true—scriptures that will never fail. Words of wisdom from renowned and respected Christians. Stories of struggle and victory that can give even the most concerned reader hope for the future. Our family members and friends may not always make the best choices. They may take themselves (and therefore their loved ones) through days or years of seemingly inexplicable pain. But I am thoroughly confident that the Lord sees it all. Somehow He has His hand on everything, working it all out according to His plan, despite our wandering. And it is through gifts like Prayers and Promises for Worried Parents that He has reminded me of this and brought me profound comfort during some very trying days.

Review copy provided by
Howard Books Blogger Review Program

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Cover Reveal - Love at First Slight by J. Marie Croft

I recently received word that a new Austenesque novel will be published soon, and I'm excited to be a part of the cover reveal for this title.  Love at First Slight by J. Marie Croft seems like it will be a delightful diversion, and I look forward to reading it soon.  Take a look at the lovely cover and book information:

Love at First Slight by J. Marie Croft

Genre: Fiction | Romance | Historical | Regency | Jane Austen Sequel

ISBN13     9781936850525

Publication Date: October 1, 2013

About the Book:

“It may not be universally acknowledged, but the unvarnished truth is that a young widow in possession of a good fortune is not necessarily in want of another husband.”

In this humorous, topsy-turvy Pride & Prejudice variation, all the gender roles are reversed. It is Mr. Bennet’s greatest wish to see his five sons advantageously married. When the haughty Miss Elizabeth Darcy comes to Netherfield with the Widow Devonport nee Bingley, speculation—and prejudice—runs rampant.

William Bennet, a reluctant and irreverent future reverend, catches Miss Darcy’s eye even though he is beneath her station. However, his opinion of her was fixed when she slighted him at the Meryton Assembly. As her ardour grows, so does his disdain, and when she fully expects to receive an offer of marriage, he gives her something else entirely ….

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Buy Online:  Rhemalda.com

Add to your Goodreads list: Goodreads.com

Author’s Website: http://www.prideand.com/

Publisher Websites:

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About the Author:

J. Marie Croft, a Nova Scotia resident and avid reader all her life, discovered Jane Austen's works later than others but made up for lost time by devouring the six novels and as many adaptations and sequels as she could find. In the midst of reading prodigious amounts of Austen-based fan-fiction, she realized, "Hey, I can do that." In her spare time, when not working at a music school or on a wooded trail enjoying her geocaching hobby, she listens to the voices in her head and captures their thoughts and words in writing. Her stories are light-hearted; and her motto is Miss Austen's own quote, "Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery." J. Marie Croft is a member of the Jane Austen Society of North America (Canada) and admits to being "excessively attentive" to the 1995 BBC version of Pride and Prejudice. She can be contacted at jmariecroft@gmail.com.

Book Review: Jack Absolute by C.C. Humphreys

From Goodreads.com:

A new historical adventure series starring the dashing Jack Absolute that has already been called "the finest historical novels since O'Brian." (Good Book Guide UK)

In 1777 Jack Absolute, the charming lover in Sheridan's comedy The Rivals, is famous throughout London. However, this notoriety comes as something of a shock to the real Jack Absolute when he arrives in England after four months at sea. But there's barely time for outrage before he finds himself dueling for his life. Even worse, as soon as he's won the duel he's forced to flee London by the quickest means possible, becoming a spy in America's war of Independence.

Thus we meet Jack Absolute - rogue, duelist, charmer and Captain in the Light Dragoons. From the field of honor in London through the pivotal battle of Saratoga to a hunt for a double agent in wintry Philadelphia, this novel marks the impressive debut of this new series.

*          *          *

Novels set during the American Revolution are not my usual genre, but the description of Jack Absolute drew me in.  He seemed like a cross between the men found in the Regency novels that I do frequent and our modern-day James Bond.  Thankfully, I was not disappointed in that regard.  Jack Absolute was a fun, rollicking, adventurous good time.  He is a bit of a playboy, but I was won over by his heart and personality. 

C.C. Humphreys as
Jack Absolute

The character of Jack Absolute is derived from The Rivals, a play written by Richard Brinsley Sheridan and first performed in 1775.  The author of Jack Absolute, C.C. Humphreys drew from his own acting experiences, as he has played the character of Captain Jack in The Rivals himself.  The Captain in the novel is a bit of a distillation and expansion of the character in the play.  We see that the “real” Jack in Humphreys’ world is very similar to the “scripted” Jack in The Rivals, but in many ways the Rivals’ Jack is more of a caricature of Humphreys’ version. This may seem confusing, but C.C. Humphreys makes the concept very clear in the book.

As an American, it was interesting for me to see our Revolution from the other side—through the eyes of the British.  According to Humphreys, there was more at stake in this war than just American independence.  The British side was also fighting for the rights of Native Americans, people whom they felt were being exploited by the Americans, in the name of profit and conquering land.  Humphreys explores this idea in a conversation between Jack and an associate. They discuss how white men have hurt the Native Americans, and Jack exhibits his concern to protect what is left of their world.  The associate asks:

“And you think the Rebels will not [protect what’s left]?”

“I know they will not…The British North America Act in seventeen sixty-three gave the Indians rights—especially the right to their own land. Boundaries were negotiated, limits many Americans—and I include native-born English-Americans here—cannot tolerate. They see wealth in uncontrolled expansion.  Or rather, expansion controlled by them.  George Washington?  Principal shareholder in the Vandalia Company.  They seek to expropriate all the lands designated tribal.  Not only such lands as my brothers still control, but west beyond the Alleghenies, into Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin… It is the untold story of this war and it is the story of every war ever fought.  Greedy men seeing someone weaker with something they want.”

“I see…I had not considered this.”

“Joseph Brant once called the act of sixty-three the Indian Magna Carta. And that is the very cornerstone of English liberty.  That is worth fighting for.”
*          *          *
Jack came by his instinct to protect the Indians through his relationship with the Iroquois. During his many travels he spent much time with them, even adopting some of their ways.  One of his closest friends is his blood brother Ate', a Mohawk Indian warrior who frequently partners with Absolute in battle.  Together, Jack and Ate' fight for their threatened cause with passion and honor, and they save each others’ lives on more than one occasion.

During most of the novel, Jack serves as a spy for the British side.  Several of his adversaries go by code names and are very elusive.  Throughout his travels and battles, he is constantly on the watch for intelligence about these secret agents and their secret plans against the British. We see Absolute’s skills at breaking codes, which comes in handy when intercepting printed messages.  I found this aspect of Jack’s character to be very interesting.  There were modes of code making and code breaking which were new to me, ones I would have never considered in this age of encrypted computer codes and the like.

Jack Absolute inhabits many roles: Indian sympathizer, soldier, spy, friend and lover. While known for being a bit of a ladies’ man, he does meet a woman who makes him want to leave his rakish ways behind.  They have adventures over land and sea, and while she is not always with him during the entire tale, she is always at the back of his mind.  C.C. Humphreys does well in conveying the romantic details in Jack’s life.  The material is somewhat PG-13, but Humphreys certainly held back in his descriptions of Jack’s exploits.  I’m pleased with the inclusion of the romantic storyline in this novel; it appeals to the female audience and keeps our attention throughout the many descriptive battle scenes. 

These battle scenes are an important part of Jack Absolute’s story, but there were times when I felt that the episodes within this arena were either too long or too frequent.  The book’s pace slowed for me when I read through those particular passages.  This may be because of my personal interests—I enjoy the romantic themes and the spy-related plotlines very much.  I’m sure lovers of the history of the American Revolution would enjoy these chapters, however.

Jack Absolute was an enjoyable novel, and I am pleased to know that there are two more Absolute novels, The Blooding of Jack Absoluteand Absolute Honor. Captain Absolute is a flawed character, but I find him interesting, fun and very likable.  C.C. Humphreys’ writing is well-crafted and researched.  I learned quite a few things about the American Revolution along the way.  I look forward to spending more time with Captain Jack, and expect the upcoming titles to be enjoyable as well.

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Today's Workout - More Cardio Interval Burn

Some readers my recall my participation in the Peak Fit Challenge in 2011.  Since that time, instructor Michelle Dozois of Breakthru Fitness has produced additional videos to supplement this fabulous program.  And while I simply adore the original set of DVDs, the latest videos have brought some great new material and have been a breath of fresh air to my routine.  First up, my review of More Cardio Interval Burn:

Just like the original Cardio Interval Burn, Michelle takes us through a warm-up, five training blocks and a cool-down.  On screen graphics and motivating bells keep you aware of how much time is left. There is no equipment required, but you should definitely strap on supportive shoes and have a towel and water nearby.  In my home, I also push some furniture back two feet.  You'll want to have plenty of room to move during this 60 minute routine!

Warm Up - We take 4 minutes to get the body limbered up and our major muscle groups stretched out. It's a very reasonable section, and a great way to start the routine.

Training Block 1

Each training block is 10 minutes, broken up into two segments, five minutes each. It begins with the Ascent portion (2 1/2 minutes), which is moderate in intensity. Highlight moment: A jump-to-the-floor, side burpee move.  That sounds harder than it is-- I find it to be innovative and interesting choreography.  Challenge moment:  Wrapping my brain around a knee up-switch move, which I can handle physically, but is going to take some practice for my mind/body connections!

Next comes the Climb portion of the segment. The tempo increases, and so does the effort, heart rate and sweat production for about two minutes. This part of the workout is fairly challenging and sometimes uncomfortable, but over time my ability to do them has improved. Highlight moment: A 180° hop turn, in between jumping jacks and a speed bag move.  I've learned to keep my knees up and my elbows in as much as possible on this, enabling me to spin faster.

Block 1 Air Jacks

The final portion of the segment is the signature Peak.  For this training block, we perform air jacks, which are similar to jumping jacks, but with an added leap.  If you're not able to perform the air jacks very well, just watch cast member Diane on the right side of the screen, who offers lower-intensity options throughout the workout.  The Peak section is only about 25 seconds, but that half minute will really push you to the limit.  I frequently will pause the video after each Peak section, to catch my breath, mop my dripping brow and get a sip of water.

Following each Peak is Basecamp, which begins the next segment.  During this period, Michelle keeps you moving, but it's low intensity, designed to allow your body to recover for only about 30 seconds.  Then she repeats the Ascent portion that was performed at the top of the workout, going through the cycle again.

Training Block 2

This block repeats the pattern, with new choreography.  Ascent Highlight: A front knee-up, back leg kick move with arm movements. I just love how my body moves through this, and it's just so different from material I've done before. Climb Highlight: A three-hop, turn move that reminds me of hopscotch when we were kids.  This move is so carefree, and it just makes me happy every time! Peak Challenge: Step side jump shot. This one isn't too bad; the challenge is seeing how many I can crank out!

Training Block 3

Block 3 brings out my almost nonexistent hip-hop side. I crank up the music and really move! I honestly can't pick a highlight moment in the Ascent portion.  The whole thing is great! Climb Highlight: The tempo really increases, so prepare to keep up! I love the hook-twist section-- I almost have to be careful not to do it too hard. Peak Challenge: Tuck jumps to a burpee. This one is really tough for me, and I'm constantly improving. Just do your best and do as many as you can!

Block 4 Side Kick

Training Block 4

Once again, fun and motivating music begins this segment. Ascent Highlight: A knee up, crescent, side kick move. Great way to get in some standing abdominal work. Climb Challenge: A touch down, squat and lunge back. These were really difficult for me at first, but I've come to love them, because they bring out my fierce side. Besides, there are only four at a time, and I can do four of anything. Peak Challenge: 180° lunge jump. If you're running out of gas, these can sneak up on you.

Training Block 5

Ascent Challenge: The body twist, knee up move challenges my brain more than my body here. I frequently lose count and feel like Chevy Chase saying, "It was my understanding that there would be no math..." But after a few attempts at this, I'm beginning to do just fine. Climb Highlight: Three-step, arms pull, knee up. Makes me feel strong, like I'm breaking a board with my knee.  Peak Challenge: Quarter eagle to knee-slapper. Again, an area that I'm still perfecting. Tip: Watch Yalda behind Michelle, on the left side with the braid. She doesn't turn all of her upper body as much when her lower half twists, keeping her hands forward.  Doing this has helped me a bit.

Cool Down

This 5-minute section is so important. Always be sure to cool down and stretch. Michelle has chosen poses that mirror the warm up and address the specific muscles that were tightened during our routine. You'll feel great afterward and reduce the chance of injury.


More Cardio Interval Burn is a great addition to Michelle's Peak videos. It's challenging and fun, with something for everyone.  Pair this with More Cardio Strength later in your week.  You'll feel great and see remarkable results!

Coming Soon: More reviews of Breakthru Fitness videos!

More Cardio Strength

Cardio Interval Burn Remix

Cardio Strength Remix
BodyFit 360

               

Book Review - A Jane Austen Daydream by Scott Southard

From Goodreads.com:

All her heroines find love in the end—but is there love waiting for Jane?

Jane Austen spends her days writing and matchmaking in the small countryside village of Steventon, until a ball at Godmersham Park propels her into a new world where she yearns for a romance of her own. But whether her heart will settle on a young lawyer, a clever Reverend, a wealthy childhood friend, or a mysterious stranger is anyone's guess.

Written in the style of Jane herself, this novel ponders the question faced by many devoted readers over the years—did she ever find love? Weaving fact with fiction, it re-imagines her life, using her own stories to fill in the gaps left by history and showing that all of us—to a greater or lesser degree—are head over heels for Jane.

*          *          *

While I have read an enjoyable biography of Jane Austen, I would never consider myself an expert on her life.  However, it is my understanding that Jane was not one to have many love affairs. While hastily engaged (and disengaged) in 1802, she never married. Given the romantic content of her work, many have marveled at her ability to delve into the fictional hearts of female characters that have fallen in love.  Some have speculated that she did indeed find love in her lifetime, possibly with a man she associated with for a short time in Bath, or maybe in her flirtation with Thomas Lefroy, a relative of a friend.

Much like the book and film Becoming Jane, Scott Southard’s speculative novel A Jane Austen Daydream takes the idea of an enamored Jane Austen and draws out an interesting perspective, based both on documented events and fictional ones. Southard follows the highlights of Jane’s life, such as her days in Steventon, Bath and Chawton, as well as other locales. Yet other aspects of the story are pure fabrication, such as her interactions with men and fictional letters she wrote to her sister Cassandra.

While Southard molds Jane’s life events somewhat, he does so in a way that conveys his love for Austen. From this we have an interesting narrative, one that includes many winks to Austen’s works. Individuals from Jane’s life are frequently spouting off quotes that can be found in her novels. Moreover, we are given a view of Jane’s processes as a writer, how she was inspired to create, and how this desire would leak out into her everyday living. As a creative writer, Southard’s Jane is found fabricating a lie to suit her desires, as well as conjuring up in her mind elaborate speculations on incidents that she had not been party to.

We also see Jane’s growth as a woman. At the start of the novel, I found some of Jane’s frivolous choices and insecurities not to be consistent with how I see the true author. However, as the story progresses, certain life events occur which mold her into a more mature woman. These events seem to be sprinkled symbolically throughout her work as well. It’s clear that her ultimate daydream is to have a fulfilling love relationship with a man who seems out of reach. When this possibility seems denied to her, she allows the many characters of her novels to live out the love life she herself yearns to experience.

I will not reveal how Mr. Southard chose to end A Jane Austen Daydream. We know that Jane died as a relatively young 41 year-old woman. We don’t know if she ever truly had a fulfilling romantic relationship.  But the beauty of speculative fiction is that the author can place his hopes for his characters on the page. In that light, A Jane Austen Daydream is very much a lovely dream. It’s not always a pleasant one—Jane has her own brand of villains and obstacles to contend with along the way. Yet overall, Daydream is an interesting, entertaining look at a life that Jane could have had. Scott Southard takes her through his own dream for her, holding onto much of the reality of her life, but also offering her possibilities that could only transpire on the pages of a novel. I enjoyed Southard’s choices as a writer, and wish that Jane could have actually experienced them herself. Fans of Austen’s works will enjoy this love letter to Jane, one that both entertains as well as cherishes her as she truly was: An amazing writer and a woman who deeply loved, even if only in the written word.

        

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UPDATE:  FREE COPY!

For a limited time, A Jane Austen Daydream is free on Kindle.  I just noticed this posting from Scott on July 1st:

For the next two days my publisher is sharing my novel A Jane Austen Daydream free on Amazon! More info via the link (and please share and tell a friend!) 

http://sdsouthard.com/2013/07/01/free-ebook-the-new-book-a-jane-austen-daydream-is-free-for-a-limited-time/

 Review copy provided by Madison Street Publishing

Book Review - Seduction by M.J. Rose

From the author of The Book of Lost Fragrances comes a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost letters of novelist Victor Hugo, awakening a mystery that spans centuries.

In 1843, novelist Victor Hugo’s beloved nineteen-year-old daughter drowned. Ten years later, Hugo began participating in hundreds of séances to reestablish contact with her. In the process, he claimed to have communed with the likes of Plato, Galileo, Shakespeare, Dante, Jesus—and even the Devil himself. Hugo’s transcriptions of these conversations have all been published. Or so it was believed.

Recovering from her own losses, mythologist Jac L’Etoile arrives on the Isle of Jersey—where Hugo conducted the séances—hoping to uncover a secret about the island’s Celtic roots. But the man who’s invited her there, a troubled soul named Theo Gaspard, has hopes she’ll help him discover something quite different—Hugo’s lost conversations with someone called the Shadow of the Sepulcher.

What follows is an intricately plotted and atmospheric tale of suspense with a spellbinding ghost story at its heart, by one of America’s most gifted and imaginative novelists.

*          *          *

Seduction is not a typical choice for me.  As a Christian, I take no personal interest in séances or reincarnation, and I generally don’t reach for books with this kind of title.  However, Victor Hugo’s intrinsic involvement within the center of this story drew me in.  I adore his Les Misérables, although I shamefully admit that the bulk of my exposure to the story comes via the silver screen, not the original literary masterpiece.  My father read Les Mis when he was thirteen, so I have recently acquired a copy and have put it on my ultimate TBR list. If he could attempt such a tome at that age, I should certainly be working on it myself. In the meantime, my interest in this author remains, and given M.J. Rose’s respected reputation, I thought I’d give her latest title a try.

The titular subject of the novel is very much woven through the entire story, but the term “seduction” is not so much referring to a sexual seduction as it is a spiritual and psychological one.  As Victor Hugo becomes more involved in occultic practices in his home, a dark spirit by the name of Shadow of the Sepulcher tries to seduce him into a spiritual arrangement, whereby Victor’s fatherly pain of losing his daughter would be eased, all the while serving the evil spirit’s dark purposes.

At the same time, Carl Jung’s theories of reincarnation and the “collective unconscious” also play a dominant role in the story.  It provides three interweaving time periods, with characters that are all interconnected in various ways.  Of course there is the mid-19th Century era, with Victor Hugo, a servant girl named Fantine and the pain they both share over the loss of loved ones.  Another time period is the present day, with the perfume artist Jac L’Etoile of M.J. Rose’s Reincarnationist series of books. Jac and and old friend Theo are both dealing with loss in their lives, and they come together to investigate an intriguing letter that was supposedly written by Victor Hugo himself.  Through their research, they hope to resolve many psychological and emotional issues.  The final time period featured is that of 56 B.C.E. As with the other characters in the novel, the members of the Druid clan featured in this thread of the story also experience pain and loss that become linked to the individuals in the 19th and 21st centuries.

I found Seduction to be very intriguing, well-written and above all, fantastical. My religious beliefs run contrary to much found in this novel, but I approached the work as if I had been reading a fairy tale.  I do not believe in C.S. Lewis’s Narnia, but I can play along for the sake of the story. Likewise, I do not believe in reincarnation, but I can pretend that these lives were linked in such a fashion for my amusement.  I do agree with Jung that “there are no coincidences”, simply because I believe in a personal God, which comes out of a worldview that is very different from Jung’s.  So that aspect of the novel I could certainly relate to, although only to a certain point.

I also appreciated Rose’s depiction of the evil forces at work in the lives of several of the characters.  Satan is the ultimate liar and manipulator, and will say anything in order to get us to do his work.  Should we succumb to his seduction, we ultimately become his bond slaves in some measure.  The more we dabble and deal with him, the worse the bondage will become. Victor Hugo came to see that in his life within Seduction, and saw the foolishness in continuing the séances in his own home. He also fights major temptation with the Shadow, which I found to be very relatable, not because I have a close relationship with evil forces, but because we all deal with one temptation or another every day of our lives. In Seduction, it’s eminently clear how the Shadow is trying to use Hugo for his evil purposes.  It reminds us of what we do to ourselves when we allow compromise and sin into our lives, even on a small scale.

As mentioned, Seduction is a part of a series of novels, beginning with 2007’s The Reincarnationist.  I have read none of the previous four books, and while M.J. Rose’s content does refer back to moments in previous work, it wasn’t a dominant force that made me feel alienated from the material.  Seduction is almost a stand-alone work, and could easily be read by initiates like myself.

I do recommend Seduction, but it would be a qualified endorsement.  As a mature adult who is very firm in her Christian beliefs, I was able to read this frequently-engrossing novel with the mindset of someone reading a fairy tale or mythological legend.  However, given some of the adult content, as well as the general religious and psychological worldview of the story, it isn’t for all audiences. I wouldn’t suggest it for young readers, those new to the Christian faith, or those strongly questioning these types of philosophies.  A novel is not the best place to work out these issues, although they are worthy of questioning.  There is actually quite alot of truth to be found here. It just needs to be handled with care.

That important topic aside, I can assert that I found Seduction to be entertaining, educational and even inspirational.  It’s encouraged me to look into a quality biography of Victor Hugo, such as Graham Robb’s Victor Hugo: A Biography (as offered by M.J. Rose).  And once again, I find myself looking at my beautiful copy of Les Misérables on the shelf.  Victor Hugo is a fascinating figure, and Seduction was a compelling way to spend time with him.

About the Author

M.J. Rose is the international best selling author of eleven novels and two non-fiction books on marketing. Her fiction and non-fiction has appeared in many magazines and reviews including Oprah Magazine. She has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio.  Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com. The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Renincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and runs the blog- Buzz, Balls & Hype.  She is also the co-founder of Peroozal.com and BookTrib.com.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

For more information on M.J. Rose and her novels, please visit her WEBSITE. You ca n also find her on Facebook and Twitter.




               

For more reviews and posts, visit the other stops on the Seduction Virtual Blog Tour!

Eric Metaxas

Post Script:

As is mentioned in my review, I don't believe in coincidences.  So it was no surprise when an interesting article hit my email box today.  Eric Metaxas is a New York Times #1 bestselling author, speaker and former dabbler in Jungian notions.  He describes his progression from vague spiritual beliefs to a strong relationship with Christ in a recent article.  His thoughts addressed some issues that I thoroughly agree with, but did not have the writing skill to enunciate.  Much like the characters in Seduction, he had a supernatural experience (through a life-changing dream), but the difference found in his world is that he was ultimately led to a life of joy, as opposed to the life of bondage that was put before Victor Hugo and many of the other characters of Seduction.

Click here to read the full article.

Eric's Spiritual Journey:
Questioning is Okay

Book Review - A Gentleman's Daughter: Her Folly by Reina M. Williams

From Goodreads.com:

Felicity Wilcox, disguised as a young man, flees Naples aboard a vessel returning to her native England. A man from her past, Captain Hugh Mountbank, recognizes Felicity, but plays along with her ruse—until the two must dispose of a murdered man and journey together to her family’s home.

Amid the seeming gaiety of visits and house parties, Felicity and Hugh attempt to keep their family and friends safe, as they also work to uncover the truth about each other. Soon, they not only must protect their loved ones, but also their hearts from the growing feelings between them. When danger comes to call, can Felicity and Hugh trust each other, or will their game of subterfuge and intrigue be their final folly?

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A Gentleman's Daughter: Her Folly is a short, sweet Regency-style novella by Reina M. Williams.  It is the second in her Gentleman’s Daughter series.  The main focus of the story is Felicity Wilcox, cousin of Cecilia Wilcox, who was featured in the previous volume, Her Choice. Felicity is very much an independent woman, preferring a life of travel and freedom.  She is not the type who feels the need to look for a husband.  Overhearing a murderous plot that could put her family in danger, she rushes home to England from Italy in an attempt to foil the plans of a dastardly villain.  Along the way she must deal with meddling relatives and friends, and she struggles with romantic feelings for a man she doesn’t entirely trust.

Her Folly was a pleasant read, but there were many times when I had trouble connecting to the story.  For such a short novel, the cast list was extensive, and sometimes it was a challenge to distinguish between the many members of the Wilcox family and their associates.  The key players could have been fleshed out just a bit more to deepen my understanding of them.  There were also numerous references to plot points and ideas from the previous book, which was reasonable, but as a new initiate to this series, I frequently felt disconnected from the story.

Those concerns aside, I do feel that I can give the Gentleman’s Daughter series my endorsement. Ms. Williams’ writing is very good overall, and I love the fact that she kept her romantic content very clean.  The topics, language and issues were very true to the period, and readers of Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer would probably enjoy this work very much.  I myself would like to go back and read Her Choice, to fill out my understanding of the Gentleman’s Daughter world in full. If the series continues on to a Book 3, I would seek that one out as well.

I do not have a daughter in my life, but if I did, I would feel more than comfortable in letting her read from the Gentleman’s Daughter books in her young teen years.  Reina Williams’ writing is mature, but it never crosses over into the frequently-seen inappropriate content that is often found in Regency romance novels today.  Her Folly was a sweet, pleasant read, and one I can recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre.

          

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Book Review and Giveaway - Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen by Sally Smith O'Rourke

From Goodreads.com:

Was Mr. Darcy real? Is time travel really possible? For pragmatic Manhattan artist Eliza Knight the answer to both questions is absolutely, Yes! And Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia is the reason why!

His tale of love and romance in Regency England leaves Eliza in no doubt that Fitz Darcy is the embodiment of Jane Austen’s legendary hero. And she’s falling in love with him. But can the man who loved the inimitable Jane Austen ever love average, ordinary Eliza Knight?

Eliza’s doubts grow, perhaps out of proportion, when things start to happen in the quiet hamlet of Chawton, England; events that could change everything. Will the beloved author become the wedge that divides Fitz and Eliza or the tie that binds them?

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What a concept!  Thinking of Mr. Darcy as an American from Virginia! Sally Smith O’Rourke not only takes a leap in time in her novel Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, but she takes a big literary leap as well.  And while a friend of mine scoffed at this idea when I mentioned it to them, I went on to explain that it really becomes a plausible notion in this twist on the world of Jane Austen.

In the first book of this series, The Man Who Loved Jane Austen, Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley Farms, Virginia finds himself back in time through a mysterious portal. There he befriends the lovely Jane Austen. Through her interaction with him, she is inspired to create the character of Fitzwilliam Darcy in her beloved novel, Pride and Prejudice.  I haven’t read O’Rourke’s previous title to know all of the particulars, but it’s clear that Darcy made quite an impression upon Miss Austen, becoming somewhat of a muse.

Back in the present day, Fitz is developing a new relationship with a modern woman, Eliza Knight.  She comes to know of the portal, as well as Fitz’s role in Jane Austen’s life.  This Manhattan artist sometimes fights moments of insecurity in the face of one of the greatest writers of all time.  She questions whether Fitz can truly love her. How would she ever be able to compete with such a figure?

In Yours Affectionately, the portal is once again opened, and a young man from the 19th Century begins to build a life in the present day.  As much as we Janeites might fantasize about traveling back to Jane’s time, this young vet-in-the-making named Simmons revels in the modern conveniences that we enjoy today.  With all the opportunities that are before him in the 21st Century, it becomes very difficult for him to return to Jane’s time. But if he doesn’t, it could have dire repercussions throughout the centuries.

As my regular readers are aware, I’m almost always game for an Austenesque time-travel story. My most recent venture into that genre was Searching for Captain Wentworth by Jane Odiwe. What I especially enjoyed about this latest novel was the blending of the real world with the characters that blossomed in Jane’s mind.  I love the idea that Darcy was based upon an actual person, and an American at that.  And while some may scoff at this literary choice, I think it was well executed. O’Rourke’s Darcy is just as much a gentleman as Austen’s.  He’s a horseman with a large estate, with proper manners and just enough aloofness to fit the part.  I didn’t find him to be particularly despicable (as Jane’s could be in the original text), but that is of no consequence.  Along with the other characters in Yours Affectionately, I found the entire cast to be quite enjoyable, right down to a minor, almost villain-like character.  I loved the magical, misty quality of the portal that linked their two worlds.  I have no idea what brought it into our world, but it didn’t concern me.  I was able to buy into the concept easily and enjoy it.  During one of the final portal scenes, there is one interaction in particular that was particularly delicious.  It made me envy Eliza, wanting to step into her shoes in that moment.

My only complaint with Yours Affectionately comes from my own choice.  I made the decision to read this book first, before its predecessor, The Man Who Loved Jane Austen.  Throughout Yours Affectionately, O’Rourke does her best to inform readers like myself on events from the previous episode.  Yet there were many times when I felt like an outsider at a dinner party, trying to piece together the snippets of a story that I’d missed. However, I enjoyed Yours Affectionately so much, I am eagerly anticipating the chance to go back and take in (what I will think of as) the prequel to this novel.  I’ll relish watching Darcy and Jane meet and see how their relationship came into fruition.

Sally Smith O’Rourke’s titles certainly belie her love of our cherished author, Jane Austen.  The tone and quality of her writing shows true affection for this historical figure, and it’s quite obvious that like her modern-day version of Mr. Darcy, she is an American who holds Jane close to her heart.  Not only to I encourage you to dive through the mist into Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen, but I can almost guarantee that its predecessor will be worth our time as well.  I’ll be sure to give you a full report, and I anticipate good news as well!

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DOUBLE GIVEAWAY!

Sally Smith O'Rourke has made Calico Critic readers a great giveaway offer!

Prize #1:  U.S. Domestic - Trade paperback copies of The Man Who Loved Jane Austen as well as Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen

Prize #2:  International - eBook copies of The Man Who Loved Jane Austen as well as Yours Affectionately, Jane Austen

Now you can get started on this fabulous series, right from the beginning! Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:00am EST on Saturday, June 15th.
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Saturday the 15th. Please take measures to ensure that my email will make it past your spam filters, lest you miss my message (CalicoCritic@gmail.com). You'll have 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
• All entries must go through the Rafflecopter form. If you leave an optional blog post comment, in order for it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate that you commented through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the Rafflecopter form.
• The prizes will be distributed via Sally Smith O'Rourke.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

      

Now Available:Yours Affectionately on Audiobook!

Space Warriors Giveaway

Walden Family Theater is proud to announce the Space Warriors Blog App & a chance to win a family trip to Space Camp!

In Space Warriors, six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition but they don’t realize that they will be forced to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.

• Win a Family Trip to SPACE CAMP! - Tune in to Space Warriors on Hallmark Channel May 31 at 8/7c for the secret keyword to win a family trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center’s Space Camp!
• Enter here on The Calico Critic to win a Space Warriors Blu-ray Combo Pack! See contest instructions below.
• How Spacey Are You? QUIZ – Are you a Space Warrior? Do you use the stars to navigate your journeys instead of the map function on your smartphone? Visit the app below, and take this quiz to find out whether you're destined to orbit the cosmos or whether you're happiest living here on this planet.
• Prepare for Blast-off! Space Warriors Viewing Guide – Mark your calendars for May 31st and check off the boxes as you watch Space Warriors for the most spectacular, spaciest experience! 

Space Warriors Official Trailer

Giveaway Opportunities

 #1: Watch Space Warriors on Hallmark Channel May 31st at 8/7C for your chance to win a trip for the whole family to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp! Keep an eye out for the secret keyword for a chance to go on location where Space Warriors was filmed and train like a real astronaut! Then visit the official website to enter!

#2: Enter here on The Calico Critic to win a Space Warriors Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD + VUDU Digital Copy) (Walmart Exclusive).  To do this, open the Prepare for Blast-off Space Warriors Viewing Guide PDF found in the Space Warriors Blog App above.  Then leave a blog post comment, letting us know which of the 5 activities listed in the PDF is your favorite.  Some of the options are really crafty and creative!  I'm not sure that I would be organized enough to attempt all of them, but they sure look like fun for the kids.

• In your blog post comment about the Viewing Guide choices, be sure to leave some form of contact information, should you win. 
• Entries accepted until June 15, 2013 at 11:59pm EST.  One winner will be chosen at random.
• Prize shipment will be sent out through PartnersHub via FedEx or UPS. No P.O. Boxes please.
• Open to U.S. residents only.

Space Warriors Official Website

Thanks for entering, and good luck to all! 

About Space Warriors: 

Six highly skilled teenagers are handpicked to be part of a summer space camp competition at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama. As the competition heats up, the kids have no idea that their ultimate challenge will be to solve a life or death crisis aboard the International Space Station as the world anxiously watches.

Starring: Thomas Horn, Danny Glover, Josh Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Mira Sorvino and Booboo Stewart.

Space Warriors is the second film in the Walden Family Theater original lineup featuring great family entertainment, airing Friday nights exclusively on Hallmark Channel. Walden Family Theater is creating films for the whole family to enjoy together, so make sure to mark your calendars and gather around the television to watch all the great upcoming films!

Past films include: The Chronicles of Narnia series, Holes, Nim's Island, Charlotte's Web, and Return to Nim's Island.
 

Book Review: Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

About Once Upon A Prince:

The Royal Wedding Series Book One

Susanna Truitt never dreamed of a great romance or being treated like a princess---just to marry the man she has loved for twelve years. But life isn't going according to plan. When her high-school-sweetheart-turned-Marine-officer breaks up instead of proposing, Susanna scrambles to rebuild her life.

The last thing Prince Nathaniel expects to find on his American holiday to St. Simon's Island is the queen of his heart. A prince has duties, and his family's tense political situation has chosen his bride for him. When Prince Nathaniel comes to Susanna's aid under the fabled Lover's Oak, he is blindsided by love.

Their lives are worlds apart. He's a royal prince. She's a ordinary girl. But everything changes when Susanna receives an invitation to Nathaniel's coronation.

It's the ultimate choice. His kingdom or her heart? God's will or their own?

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Two years ago I arose at a very early hour of the morning to take in the nuptials of William and Catherine in England, just as I had done decades before at the wedding of Charles and Diana. Once again I reveled in the pomp and circumstance of it all, only this time I had the perspective and understanding of a long-married woman. And like many of you, I had hope (and still do) that this marriage would be a lifelong one filled with love and true partnership. It was so exciting to see a relative commoner marrying a prince of England, one who had shared her friendship as a school chum years before.

Rachel Hauck had similar thoughts as she enjoyed the ceremony in 2011 as well. This spawned her idea for Once Upon a Prince, the story of a common girl from Georgia and a royal from the fictional European kingdom of Brighton. In this adorable, delightful tale, Susanna meets an attractive young man named Nate, but she is hesitant to open her heart to him, as she recently had endured the breakup of a 12-year relationship. Likewise, Nate must be careful with his heart, despite his attraction to Susanna. Royal politics prevent him from being romantically involved with a common American like her.

Both Susanna and Nathaniel are Christians, and are very committed to following God’s will for their lives.  It’s admirable that both are even willing to sacrifice their earthly desires for what the Lord has for them, even if it doesn’t include being together. Serving God and those around them take high priority. That being said, spiritual matters do not dominate every topic and scene within this fun story. Their faiths are a part of who they are, but Christian themes are not heavy-handed throughout the book.

I truly enjoyed this light, romantic story from Rachel Hauck. Of course, as a Christian writer she kept things very clean and chaste, which I appreciated. The characters were just delightful, with their own distinct personalities. I especially enjoyed the character of Aurora, who serves as a whimsical advisor of Susanna’s along the way.  She made me laugh and look at my busy, complicated life in a different way.

You can probably imagine how the story plays out in Once Upon a Prince, but that is of no consequence. It was such an enjoyable read, very much a modern fairy tale that any optimist would enjoy.  Hauck also raises some important issues for her readers to consider, such as God’s will for their life, self-sacrifice, embracing life’s changes, and affecting the entire world for Christ. These are weighty issues, but they’re handled with a deft touch and incorporated into the story nicely. I’m so glad to know that this is the first book in a series of royal wedding novels.  Whether Rachel Hauck chooses to continue on with these entertaining characters or if she creates new ones, I’m sure the upcoming books will be just as enjoyable. Once Upon a Prince was a magical tale, and one I can heartily endorse.

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Rachel Hauck is celebrating the release of Once Upon a Prince with a fun "Royal Wedding" Giveaway and connecting with readers at her May 28th Facebook Party.

One "royal" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Once Upon a Prince by Rachel Hauck

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 27th. Winner will be announced at the "Once Upon a Prince" Facebook Author Chat Party on May 28th. Connect with Rachel for an evening of book chat, wedding trivia, laughter, and more! Rachel will also be sharing a sneak peek at the next book in the series and giving away books and fun gift certificates throughout the evening.

So grab your copy of Once Upon a Prince and join Rachel on the evening of May 28th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 28th!

---

Meet Rachel: 

Rachel Hauck is the bestselling author of Carol Award winner Sweet Caroline, and RITA Finalist Love Starts With Elle, and of the critically acclaimed fiction collaboration with multi-platinum country artist Sara Evans, The Songbird Novels. She lives in sunny, though sometimes hurricane plagued, central Florida with her husband and their ornery pets. Rachel earned a degree in Journalism from Ohio State University and is a huge Buckeyes football fan. She is the past President of American Christian Fiction Writers and now sits on the board as an Advisor.

Find out more about Rachel at:

RachelHauck.com

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Book Review and Giveaway - The Future Mrs. Darcy by Maria Grace

With the regiment come to camp in Meryton, many young ladies are pleased. Not all share their enthusiasm. Among them, Mr. Carver, who removes his family from Meryton's savage society. He blames, not on the militia officers, but the Bennet family. The flirtations and boisterous ways of the youngest sisters are too much to be borne. Not even Jane’s renowned beauty and charm can make up for them.   Elizabeth denies the allegations at first, but rapidly uncovers the shocking truth. The Carvers are not the only family to cut the Bennets from their acquaintance. Their reputations materially damaged, the family borders on social ruin.   The news is too much for Mrs. Bennet who collapses from the shock. So, Elizabeth and her sisters must manage the estate until she recovers, a task for which none of them is prepared.   Warned by Mr. Pierce, the local curate, that several of the officers have unsavory designs on the local girls, Elizabeth must find a way to honor her father, rein in her sister and salvage the family’s reputation, all in the most ladylike way possible. 

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In the first volume of the Given Good Principles series, Darcy’s Decision, we are introduced to Fitzwilliam Darcy in a sort of prequel/retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  The focus is on the Darcy and Wickham families, and Elizabeth Bennet is not a part of their lives yet. Near the end of the novella, Darcy’s heart for his unknown future bride is revealed; he hopes to one day marry a woman of integrity, not necessarily one of position or wealth.

In the second volume, The Future Mrs. Darcy, the same concept is applied. It’s a bit of a prequel/retelling, and almost the entire focus is on one side of the Pride and Prejudice world. This time we are privy to the family life of the Bennets. Mrs. Bennet has taken ill due to her frequently fragile nerves, and the girls are left to fend for themselves in running the household.  They learn about the management of the meager estate, and we witness how the girls (Lydia in particular) are functioning in society.

The Future Mrs. Darcy is an interesting peek into the life of the Bennets, and in particular the character of Elizabeth.  She shows strength and leadership, stepping up to helm the inner workings of the household during a difficult time.  She more than proves to the reader that she is worthy of becoming Darcy’s future bride.  Conversely, Lydia shows the opposite characteristics as usual, displaying selfishness, immaturity and an insatiable desire to pursue military men in town. As was seen in Pride and Prejudice, her antics put the future marital chances of her sisters in jeopardy.

As with Darcy’s Decision, Maria Grace’s writing and excellent, with many educational footnotes throughout the text.  Although she acknowledges some adult content, her choice of words is always kept clean and family-friendly.  She characterizes Austen’s personalities respectfully, taking them a bit away from the source material, but staying true to how Austen saw them.  Jane is kind and sweet, Elizabeth is responsible and smart.  Mr. Bennet does his best to shepherd his gaggle of women, especially the over-the-top Lydia, who seems to bring nothing but trouble to the family. These characters certainly aren’t infallible, and Maria’s presentation of them keeps the story interesting and colorful.

The Future Mrs. Darcy, while short, was another enjoyable Maria Grace novella for this Janeite. Because of the way the stories are presented, Darcy's Decision or The Future Mrs. Darcy could be read in any order. I eagerly look forward to the next combining volume, All the Appearance of Goodness, where our two story lines presumably merge. My expectation is that it will be a fine addition to this delightful series.

Post Update:  Read my review of Book 1, Darcy's Decision

 
         

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Giveaway: The Future Mrs. Darcy
(U.S. Entrants Only)

I enjoyed The Future Mrs. Darcy very much, and I would like to share my gently-read review copy with one of my U.S. readers.  Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:00am EST on Saturday, June 1st.
• Contest is open to U.S. entrants only.
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Saturday the 1st. Please take measures to ensure that my email will make it past your spam filters, lest you miss my message. (CalicoCritic@gmail.com) You'll have 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
• All entries must go through the Rafflecopter form. If you leave an optional blog post comment, in order for it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate that you commented through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the Rafflecopter form.
• The award will be mailed via USPS Media Rate shortly after the U.S. mailing address is provided.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway