Book Review: To Heaven and Back by Dr. Mary Neal

A kayak accident during a South American adventure takes one woman to heaven — where she experienced God’s peace, joy, and angels — and back to life again.

In 1999 in the Los Rios region of southern Chile, orthopedic surgeon, devoted wife, and loving mother Dr. Mary Neal drowned in a kayak accident. While cascading down a waterfall, her kayak became pinned at the bottom and she was immediately and completely submerged. Despite the rescue efforts of her companions, Mary was underwater for too long, and as a result, died.

To Heaven and Back is Mary’s remarkable story of her life’s spiritual journey and what happened as she moved from life to death to eternal life, and back again. Detailing her feelings and surroundings in heaven, her communication with angels, and her deep sense of sadness when she realized it wasn’t her time, Mary shares the captivating experience of her modern-day miracle.

Mary’s life has been forever changed by her newfound understanding of her purpose on earth, her awareness of God, her closer relationship with Jesus, and her personal spiritual journey suddenly enhanced by a first-hand experience in heaven.  To Heaven and Back will reacquaint you with the hope, wonder, and promise of heaven, while enriching you own faith and walk with God.

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Within the last few years, I've enjoyed reading a couple of books that recounted the testimonies of those who have had experiences in heaven.  Don Piper’s book 90 Minutes in Heaven was amazing, and his continued testimony of how he has endured physical and emotional pain since his return is inspiring.  I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of years ago, and I look forward to finishing his follow-up book of encouragements, Heaven is Real.

This past Christmas I also read the jaw-dropping story of Colton Burpo in Heaven is for Real, which has spent many weeks on the bestseller lists.  In both cases, I was awed, inspired and given so much hope from the experiences of these two individuals.  As a Christian I do believe in heaven, but to hear direct testimony from these guys was just incredible.  And while their stories are amazing, I felt comfortable believing in what they’ve been sharing with their audiences.

Recently I saw Dr. Mary Neal on a national news program sharing her own heavenly story as well, and my interest was piqued.  I read her book To Heaven and Back, and while I found it interesting and at times amazing, I didn’t feel as compelled to buy into everything that was shared in her story.  I believe that she’s sharing from her heart, that she has good intentions and that she did have these experiences.  I just felt that theologically there were some “red flags” in her story.  I always try to apply what I know of God’s word whenever I hear stories like hers, and for some reason, I felt that some of it just didn’t line up.







I’m not trying to discount eyewitness accounts of miracles that most certainly occurred the day of Dr. Neal’s accident.  I do believe in miracles, both ancient and modern, and I do accept that many miraculous things have happened to Mary.  There were just some subsequent spiritual moments and revelations in her life that I cannot be certain were from the Lord.

For example, she believes that we existed before our birth here on earth, and that we have already seen the basic outline of how our lives are going to play out.  She also believes that very young children still hold the memories of their pre-earth lives.  She states:

In preparation for our journey to earth, we are able to make a basic outline for our life. This is not to imply that we, the humans, are entirely in charge of our life’s design. It is more like God creates it, then we review it and discuss it with our “personal planning” angel. Within the algorithm are written branch points in our lives at which times we may exit, returning to God, or we may be redirected to a different task and goal.

I know that Dr. Neal is just writing from her heart, sharing what she has experienced and truly believes.  I also know that there is much about the spirit world that we cannot begin to comprehend, sometimes making it very difficult to verify.  There are forces that can disguise themselves as angels of light, deceiving us into believing things that seem to be lovely and true, but in actuality go against what the Lord has told us in His word. 

Unfortunately, I’m not enough a Biblical scholar to specifically refute the things that didn’t sit well with me in this book.  Much of To Heaven and Back was encouraging and amazing, showing God’s definite hand in the life of this intelligent, caring woman.  There were just enough doubtful elements that keep me from accepting the whole of the book.  My recommendation would be to read her story with both an open mind and a skeptic’s heart as well.  There’s much to learn from Dr. Mary Neal’s testimony, but I would take care as you experience it for yourself.

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In order to be an informed reader,
here are some To Heaven and Back book resources:

Dr. Mary Neal's Website

Dr. Mary Neal's Facebook Page

            

 I received this book for free from
WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Movie Review: Disney/Pixar's Brave

In my household, going to the theater is de rigueur for any Pixar film. The amazing animation absolutely must be seen on the big screen.  The acquisition of the video for home viewing is pretty much inevitable, too.  So this review is coming from someone who considers herself a fan of the studio and just about everything they’ve ever done.

That being said, my comments today are aimed at a very specific audience:  conservative parents of young children who don’t care about spoilers.  If you have older kids or are going to the movie on your own without them, you can disregard at least half of what I’m about to share.  In fact, you may want to skip this altogether and come back after you’ve seen it for yourself.  I’d hate to spoil anything for you!

Today I went to the 12:00pm showing of Brave in glorious 2D, free from the encumbrances of those annoying 3D glasses that make the images dark, and my peripheral vision go crazy. My husband had to work and my eldest son is away at Centrifuge camp, so it was just a mommy/son date for me and Colson, age seven.  We snuggled up together and settled in for a fun couple of hours.

Pre-feature comments:  Can I just tell you how much I love watching the previews for the upcoming Hobbit films?!?  And the Pixar short that precedes the movie is sweet, touching and beautiful.  But on to the movie…

I don’t know what it is about animated movies with female leads:  They are either of the old-school variety, where the girl is a fair damsel in distress and/or looking for her one true love, or she’s a rebellious teenager fighting against the powers that be. Brave’s Merida falls into the latter “modern” category, of course.  Now don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and The Hunger Games.  But I can’t help but wish for a different motif once in a while.

Merida’s rebellion isn’t completely unjustified—her parents seem to be completely oblivious or intentionally ignoring her true nature, to be a free and spirited girl.  At the same time, as a parent I’m just weary of seeing parents portrayed in this fashion, and princesses always rebelling against them.  At one point, I thought to myself, “I’m glad my sometimes-rebellious preteen son isn’t here right now.  He doesn’t need to see this.”  And fortunately, I think most of the teen angst went over my younger son’s head.  The first thing he said to me as the credits rolled was, “What was that movie about??”  A lot of the content was just lost on him, I think.

As I said to a friend earlier this morning, I don’t care how beautiful the animation is. For me, my enjoyment of a film is grounded in the story.  It’s all about the story.  When it comes to beautiful animation, Brave has it in spades.  It is so gorgeous!  I wanted to get on a plane to Scotland immediately.  And Merida’s hair is almost a character unto itself.  It’s so multi-dimensional and dynamic.  But sadly, I wasn’t captivated by the story.  Yes, the overall theme is wonderful, emphasizing compassion, reconciliation and forgiveness.  Yet somehow it just didn’t hold my interest.  The film relied too much on silly pratfalls, spit takes and occasional potty humor, which is so unnecessary to me.  Do I really need to see a 6-inch line of snot hanging from a child’s nose for half a scene before he sucks it back in again? 

Other thoughts:  There are five bears in this film.  Four are “good” and one is, well, really horrible.  He’s quite a nasty beast, and even gave me the willies whenever he was present. Parents of small children:  this guy may give your kids nightmares.  He’s pretty frightening. I put my arm around Colson whenever the creature was on screen.

Another minor note:  These aspects didn’t offend me in the least; I actually thought they were funny, but their presence took me by surprise.  In one scene, a group of men have to lose their pants, and they walk away, naked from the waist down.  Yes, we see their animated tushies, but still—I was surprised to see it.  Later Merida’s three brothers run around naked as well.  In one scene, a character must literally dive down into a woman’s ample bosom from up above, and we get a VERY close shot of her generous cleavage.  Again, I found these moments to be funny, but some parents might want to be aware of them just in case they’re more conservative than I am.

All in all, I don’t want to give Brave a completely negative review.  The animation is striking, the overall theme of forgiveness and reconciliation is beautiful and the music is lovely.  I was just somewhat unimpressed with it for some reason.   My recommendation to parents is to view this film first.  You may find that your kids can handle some of these questionable moments just fine.  Only you know what is appropriate for your children.  I’d also recommend reading the review from the folks at Plugged In Online. They reiterate some of the same concerns and disappointments that I have.

I’m glad I was able to see the film, and enjoyed going with my seven year-old.  That being said, I’m not going to take great measures to make sure my elder son sees this anytime soon, and I don’t feel the need to own the video. I’m sad to say that about any Pixar film, but that’s where I am with this.  I still hope Brave is wildly successful and that the studio continues on so that they can make great movies. Although they have slightly missed the target on this one, I know there will be many more perfectly-executed stories from them in the future.

Book Review and Giveaway: Bewitched, Body and Soul: Miss Elizabeth Bennet

"Well, my comfort is, I am sure Jane will die of a broken heart, and then he will be sorry for what he has done."

--Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Determined to right a wrong against her family by reuniting her sister with the man she loves, Elizabeth finds that Society's expectations and decorum are only a few of the things standing in her way.

Upon discovery, will she forgive the one man who has been the means of disappointing the hopes of a most beloved sister?

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In Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Miss Elizabeth Bennet comes from a modest family of five sisters.  Her most dear sibling Jane develops an affection for the delightful and wealthy Charles Bingley, who is obviously far above her in the social strata.  His close friend, the sometimes haughty Fitzwilliam Darcy, feels it is in Charles’ best interest to not become involved with the lovely yet middle-class Jane Bennet and takes measures to keep them apart.

In Bewitched, Body and Soul, author P.O. Dixon develops Austen’s original plot in similar and entirely new ways.  Miss Elizabeth discovers Darcy’s efforts to thwart this budding romantic relationship and is horrified at his assumptions and interference.  Seeing Jane’s dejected state of mind, she takes it upon herself to call on Mr. Darcy to try to right the wrong he has done.  Unfortunately, she is caught in a rainstorm and is forced to spend more solitary time with Darcy than she had ever intended.

P.O. Dixon’s novel may be a brief one at only 165 pages, but what it lacks in length it makes up for in quality.  The writing is superb, balancing modern readability with period customs and turns of phrase.  The characterization of these classic figures is just perfect; the choices made in this incarnation of Austen’s world could easily have been made in the original work.  And while the plot choices were very reasonable for the genre, I was kept guessing in between the established beginning and the expected outcomes.

I also appreciated Dixon’s choice in keeping things very chaste in her romantic scenes.  There is certainly more detail than was given in Austen’s original work, but compared to many Austenesque novels in today’s market, this one is decidedly clean.  Bewitched, Body and Soul may have a sultry title, but in its world, the ultimate gentleman not only feels great passion, but he is devoted enough to his future bride to keep it in check until the appointed time.

Bewitched, Body and Soul cannot be recommended highly enough.  I have given it a rare five-star review on Goodreads.com.  My only complaint for this novel would be that I wish it had been longer. Dixon could easily have spent more time with Jane, Bingley and Caroline, giving us more of her excellent storytelling. This was my first exposure to her writing, and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading more of her.  I offer my highest praise to P.O. Dixon, and congratulate her on a fabulous work of Austenesque fiction.

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P.O. Dixon Around the Web

Blog

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest
YouTube

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Bewitched, Body and Soul Giveaway! (USA)

As much as I enjoyed P.O. Dixon's novel, I'd like to share my gently-read copy with one of you!  Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:01am EST on July 8th, 2012.
• Contest is open to U.S. entrants only. Sorry-- gotta stay domestic on this one.
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday, July 8th.  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.  For example, if you leave a blog post comment and would like it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate this through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the form.
• You may tweet about the giveaway once per day for bonus entries. Please report the direct URL to the tweet in the Rafflecopter form.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

If you can't see the Rafflecopter form below,

try clicking on the "Read more »" link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want another chance to win? 
Stop by So Little Time and enter! (Ends July 1)

http://candy-m.blogspot.com/2012/06/bewitched-body-and-soul-by-po-dixon.html

        

Romanov Birthday and Giveaway!

I don't know about you, but ever since the 1997 animated movie Anastasia was released, I've been intrigued with the history and lore surrounding the fate of Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov of Russia.  This April the novel The Last Romanov was published, and while I haven't had a chance to read it yet, it has definitely piqued my interest.  The book's publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark has graciously offered my readers the opportunity to win a copy of Dora Levy Mossanen's alluring novel. This event is being held in conjunction with what would have been Anastasia's 111th birthday, or as us Lord of the Rings fans would say, the "eleventeenth" birthday of this mysterious figure on June 18th.  Here's some more information about The Last Romanov:

In a Time of Rasputin's Magic and Romanov Mystery,
A Young Girl Finds Herself at the Heart of the Royal Family

She was an orphan, ushered into the royal palace on the prayers of her majestry. Yet, decades later, her time spent in the embrace of the Romanovs haunts her still. Is she responsible for those murderous events that changed everything?

If only she can find the heir, maybe she can put together the broken pieces of her own past-maybe she can hold on to the love she found. Bursting to life with the rich and glorious marvels of Imperial Russia, The Last Romanov is a magical tale of second chances and royal blood.

"A master story teller at the height of her game...weaves history and magic into a riveting page-turner."—Robin Maxwell, bestselling author of Signora da Vinci and The Seceret Diary of Anne Boleyn

"This haunting tale of prophecy and redemption sweeps up into an opulent world of glamour, myth, tragedy and unforgettable humanity."—C.W. Gortner, author of The Confessions of Catherine de Medici

DORA LEVY MOSSANEN is the bestselling author of the widely acclaimed novels Harem and Courtesan, which have been translated into numerous languages, and is the recipient of the prestigious San Diego Editors' Choice Award. She blogs for the Huffington Post, reviews fiction for the Jewish Journal, and has been featured in various publications.

The Last Romanov Giveaway!

Sound good?  One of you can win a copy! Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:01am EST on July 23rd, 2012.
• Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian entrants.
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday, July 8th.  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.  For example, if you leave a blog post comment and would like it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate this through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the form.
• The winner's mailing information will be sent to Sourcebooks for prize shipment. 
• You may tweet about the giveaway once per day for bonus entries. Please report the direct URL to the tweet in the Rafflecopter form.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.  

If you can't see the Rafflecopter form below,

try clicking on the "Read more »" link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want another chance to win?
Here are some other giveaways of The Last Romanov!

http://celticladysreviews.blogspot.com/2012/06/celebrate-anastasias-111th-birthday.html
(Ends 6/21)

http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/2012/06/giveaway-last-romanov-by-dora-levy.html
(Ends 6/25)

http://www.brokenteepee.com/2012/06/celebrate-anastasias-111th-birthday.html
(Ends 6/30)

Book Review and Giveaway - The Secret Keeper by Sandra Byrd

The author of To Die For returns to the court of Henry VIII, as a young woman is caught between love and honor.

Juliana St. John is the daughter of a prosperous knight in Marlborough. Though her family wants her to marry the son of her father’s business partner, circumstances set her on a course toward the court of Henry VIII and his last wife, Kateryn Parr.

Sir Thomas Seymour, uncle of the current heir, Prince Edward, returns to Wiltshire to tie up his business with Juliana’s father’s estate and sees instantly that she would fit into the household of the woman he loves, Kateryn Parr. Her mother agrees to have her placed in the Parr household for “finishing” and Juliana goes, though perhaps reluctantly. For she knows a secret. She has been given the gift of prophecy, and in one of her visions she has seen Sir Thomas shredding the dress of the king’s daughter, the lady Elizabeth, to perilous consequence.


As Juliana learns the secrets of King Henry VIII’s court, she faces threats and opposition, learning truths about her own life that will upset everything she thought she once held dear.

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Although I tend to gravitate toward the 18th Century when I delve into historical fiction, the premise of Sandra Byrd’s The Secret Keeper was intriguing, and I delighted at the chance to join in the Secret Keeper Virtual Book Tour, sponsored by Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours. The lure of the royal court, prophecies and secrets was undeniable.

Sandra Byrd does a magnificent job of transporting her readers to mid-16th Century England, in particular to the court of Kateryn Parr. Her writing style is such that we as modern readers can comprehend the language of the characters, but she also inserts enough appropriately antiquated terms that the environment seems authentic.

While the bulk of the story revolves around the court of Kateryn Parr, the main character is actually Juliana St. John, a young woman who is brought into Kateryn’s court through her family’s relationship with Sir Thomas Seymour. Juliana, like several female Biblical characters, has the gift of prophecy that has allowed her to see remarkable visions, messages of events that are to come. Through this God-given gift, she is able to occasionally help others, but in incredibly crucial moments in time.

Juliana also has a bit of drama of her own.  She experiences a horrific event, which changes her life seemingly forever.  Miss St. John also has affection for one male in particular, and this also brings interesting aspects to her story.  I found Juliana to be the most interesting character of this novel, as she seemed very real, imperfect, compassionate and brave.  Her growth as a woman was evident throughout the storyline, and I enjoyed seeing her overcome some amazing obstacles in the eight years that are covered in the plot.

Certain Christian topics are a part of The Secret Keeper, such as prophecy, the English Reformation, the debate over scriptural accuracy and other issues.  Sandra Byrd also states in a post-novel interview that she herself is a Christian.  And it’s notable that certain adult concepts were handled in a realistic, yet non-gratuitous fashion. That stated, I would not pigeonhole this novel into the limited Christian Fiction genre.  The church was a dominant force during the 16th Century, sometimes for ill as well as for good.  The Secret Keeper is simply covering events that either did occur or easily could have occurred during that time period.  Those not sharing the Christian faith could easily enjoy this novel, regardless of their religious persuasion.

Although I did appreciate much of Sandra Byrd’s choices in her storytelling, at times the recounting of events and goings-on within the court became confusing and weighty.  The family trees included at the book’s outset were helpful, but I still found myself frequently trying to remember the identities of the litany of people within the story.  Fortunately, the handful of main characters that were always near the forefront were easy to recognize and follow, and I did enjoy their contributions to the narrative.  I’m not sure how the accuracy and veracity of the story could have been retained with some simplification, but if that could have been accomplished, I would have enjoyed this novel more overall.

That reservation aside, I find Sandra Byrd to be an excellent, well prepared writer who has clearly done her homework and cares about her characters.  She plays with history just a bit, but never takes the story beyond what is reasonably plausible for the time period.  I especially enjoyed the characters of Juliana, Kateryn and Jamie, and Sandra’s ending was so sweet and satisfying.  If you’re looking for a bit of royal intrigue, spiritual wonderment, romance and adventure, The Secret Keeper would be a fine way to start off some quality summer reading.

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About the Author

Sandra Byrd has published more than three dozen books in the fiction and nonfiction markets, including the first book in her Tudor series, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn.  Her second book, The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr, illuminates the mysteries in the life of Henry's last wife.

For more than a decade Sandra has shared her secrets with the many new writers she edits, mentors, and coaches. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children. For more Tudor tidbits, please visit www.sandrabyrd.com.

Follow the Book Tour on Twitter using hashtag #SecretKeeperVirtualTour

Secret Keeper Giveaway!

Thanks to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours, I have two copies of The Secret Keeper to offer our readers!  Winner #1 will win a new copy of the novel from the book tour, and Winner #2 will win my gently-read review copy.  Be sure to read the guidelines below, enter via the Rafflecopter widget, and good luck!

• The contest period ends at 12:01am EST on July 8th, 2012.
• Contest is open to U.S. and Canadian entrants.
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday, July 8th.  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.  For example, if you leave a blog post comment and would like it to count toward your contest entry, be sure to indicate this through the "Leave a Blog Post Comment" button on the form.
• The first winner's mailing information will be sent to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for prize shipment. The second winner's information will be used by The Calico Critic to mail the gently used review copy.
• You may tweet about the giveaway once per day for bonus entries. Please report the direct URL to the tweet in the Rafflecopter form.

Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

If you can't see the Rafflecopter form below,

try clicking on the "Read more »" link

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want more chances to win? 
Check out these other giveaways of The Secret Keeper!

A Bookish Affair: Ends July 8th

Peeking Between the Pages: Ends July 12th

Luxury Reading: Ends July 16th

Book Review: The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman

Emily and Jessamine Bach are opposites in every way: Twenty-eight-year-old Emily is the CEO of Veritech, twenty-three-year-old Jess is an environmental activist and graduate student in philosophy. Pragmatic Emily is making a fortune in Silicon Valley, romantic Jess works in an antiquarian bookstore. Emily is rational and driven, while Jess is dreamy and whimsical. Emily’s boyfriend, Jonathan, is fantastically successful. Jess’s boyfriends, not so much. 

National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Allegra Goodman has written a delicious novel about appetite, temptation, and holding on to what is real in a virtual world: love that stays.

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Because of the nature of my opinion, this review will be short...

I wanted to like The Cookbook Collector, I really did. When it was released a few years ago, it received rave reviews and was touted as a bit of a modernized take on Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility. And as a fan of Austenesque fiction, this idea intrigued me.

I can understand the rave reviews. Allegra Goodman is a fabulously talented writer. She has more writing skill in two sentences than I will ever compose. I can also see the details that tie this with Austen's work.

That being said, I went from trying to give the book a chance, to tolerating it, to just enduring it. Ultimately I didn't care for the story, the characters, or the massive amount of foodie details when discussing recipes and menus. The only things that kept me from abandoning it were my lingering hopes that it would improve, and my required review for the Amazon.com Vine Program.

There are those out there who will adore this book and relish it with the delight of someone having a fine meal. Unfortunately, I was not one of them. When I finally managed to finish the book today, my immediate vocal response was "Good riddance!"

I will now move on to some true Austenesque fiction, with characters and plot lines that are more of a match for my palate...

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 For those who might want to try The Cookbook Collector,
despite my lack of enthusiasm for it...

            

Book Review: Dancing at the Chance by DeAnna Cameron

New York City in 1907 is a kingdom of endless possibilities for anyone who dares to dream. The Gilded Age has ended, and immigrants fill the bustling streets. The glamour of Broadway lures those who desire the limelight-but only a few are fortunate enough to thrive in the lights of a city that casts long, dark, and merciless shadows...
Pepper MacClair and her mother arrived penniless in New York thirteen years ago, and their fortune has not changed. A dancer of fluid grace and motion, Pepper is still only one chorus girl among many, struggling for an opportunity to prove herself worthy of something bigger.
For now, Pepper dances at The Chance, a rundown venue long past its prime. It is not only Pepper's workplace, where she has pushed her physical endurance to its limit, but also her home. And as the larger world changes around her and she is pulled into the intrigues of New York's elite, it is her last hope, not only to fulfill her dream, but to fulfill her heart.

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With the recent popularity of PBS's Downton Abbey and the reinvigorated interest in the Titanic, there are many like myself who have turned their attentions to the early 20th century.  NBC’s Smash may have also returned a bit of spotlight to the Broadway stage, with all its talent and behind the scenes drama. If your interests are similar, then I recommend to you DeAnna Cameron’s lovely Dancing at the Chance.  Set in New York City in 1907, it’s a pleasant blend of theater politics, performance and interpersonal relationships.

The main focus of the story is Pepper MacClair, a young dancer who has spent most of her life in the theater, who struggles with insecurities and the desire for love and approval. I enjoyed her development as a character, as she grew from a self-doubting performer, looking for love in the wrong place, to someone who knows where to find her true talent and love. She’s a plucky young lady, and I enjoyed her journey. The characters who surrounded her were interesting as well, from her love interest, to her best friend and the many players working at the fictional Chance theater in New York.

While at times I found the plot of Dancing at the Chance to be a bit easy to predict, I enjoyed Cameron’s writing and how she chose to play out her story lines.  The novel’s conclusion was very satisfying, sweet and even a tad surprising in some moments.  Her protagonists are likeable and her villains are detestable, which makes for enjoyable reading.

I also appreciated that the romantic aspects of the story were decidedly PG in nature. There are many similar authors who could have taken advantage of several scenes, spicing them up unnecessarily. This writer is talented enough that she can convey romance, passion and unrequited love in a way that is realistic without being overly titillating.  For that I offer my thanks to Ms. Cameron.

I’m no theater aficionado, but I have attended a handful of Broadway productions and have participated in several amateur musical theater performances over the years (the latter case being in the orchestra pit as a French horn player).  And while Vaudeville is no longer with us, I do have an appreciation and affection for this world.  Dancing at the Chance takes the reader right into the middle of it, with the on stage nerves, backstage politics and all the relational conundrums between cast members.  If you enjoy the theater, this novel will be a fun diversion for you. For those who are completely unfamiliar with this world, it will not only be an enjoyable story, but a bit of an education can be gleaned from Ms. Cameron’s work.

I offer my applause and a “brava” to author DeAnna Cameron. Vaudeville may have been replaced with more modern productions, but in Dancing at the Chance, it endures and glitters upon this literary stage. Take a seat in the audience, and prepare to enjoy the show!

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Stop by DeAnna Cameron's Website for lots of great Dancing at the Chance content and enter her monthly drawing!

Read an excerpt here

Visit DeAnna's Blog

Enter the monthly contest

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Book Review - Until Next Time by Amy Lignor

Visit the Until Next Time Tour Here

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

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Despite my usual preference for Austenesque fiction, I occasionally branch out into other genres.  In recent years I’ve read a few titles that have a bit of a spiritual/paranormal theme to them, including a novel centered around angels.  In particular I’m thinking of Illusion by Frank Peretti, Arson by Estevan Vega, Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine and Angelology by Danielle Trussoni. For the most part I’ve found these novels fun to read, while they usually do require a bit of belief suspension in certain areas of reality, theology and science.  They’re entertaining reads, not meant for spiritual education in general.

In many ways the same can be said for Amy Lignor’s Until Next Time, the first book in her Angel Chronicles series. It’s a bit of light Young Adult fiction, not meant to be taken seriously by those in serious theological study, despite its angelic themes.

I tried to keep this in mind as I read Until Next Time, seeing it as an opportunity for a fun diversion amongst the clouds with the angels and on earth as they went about their heavenly duties.  But ultimately Time just didn’t fly with me.  I found Lignor’s writing to be frequently unclear and clunky, with odd leaps in her narrative that I found difficult to understand or appreciate. I liked her main characters, but I often found myself scratching my head at events that were occurring within the storyline.

Lignor’s spirituality seems to be somewhat loosely based in Christian theology, as there are references to angels from the Bible, some of the Gospel saints, and even a cameo from Christ Jesus Himself at one point.  But those looking for a lesson in theology really need to go elsewhere with this work. Characters can be made half human and half angel (not scriptural), and people seem to be living multiple lives, if I understood the story correctly.  But again, there are plenty of spiritual titles out there that are fun to read and aren’t scripturally accurate.  That’s not a deal breaker for me at all.  I just found some of the references to be a bit odd and distracting to the story as a whole.

Another distracting aspect of the writing was the extremely anachronistic manner in which the characters spoke while residing in 19th century Ireland.  There were a few references to the Irish accent abiding in the speech of the characters, but little to no effort was made to speak in an 19th century way in this story.  To some extent I suppose the writing could not have been too accurate, as I imagine the dialect in that region at that time would probably be very difficult for me to understand.  The English language evolves wildly over the generations.  But much authenticity was lost in setting the story in that time period.  It would have been much more believable if these characters were existing in the 20th century or later.

Until Next Time did have its pleasant moments. The main characters had a great rapport with one another, and the romantic elements were enjoyable without being too racy. There was a bit of colorful language throughout the book, but it was very mild and PG-rated. And while the theology was skewed in some odd directions, religion (and Christianity in particular) seems to be held in high regard.

I think in my case, I just didn’t match the target demographic for this group, as a married 41 year-old mother of two.  Sometimes my age doesn't come into play when I review a YA title, but in this case I believe it did. I don’t want to give this review too harsh of a negative review, as there may be those of a younger age group who may enjoy the book more than I.  It’s a quick read, and if you’re looking for some light fare, a bit of adventure and romance with a decent serving of odd spirituality mixed in, this might be the title for you.  I might not be able to say “Until next time” to this series, but perhaps someone a bit younger than I may want to check this one out.  I encourage you to visit the other stops on the Until Next Time blog tour and read others’ opinions. With an informed view, you may find that this might fit nicely in your To Be Read List.

Book Review - Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

Welcome to the next stop in TLC Book Tours promotion of C.S. Lewis’ classic novel, Out of the Silent Planet.  Be sure to check out all the points of this tour, as we have quite a few sites reviewing this beloved book.  A full listing can be found here.

For the uninitiated, here’s a bit of background from TLC on Book 1 of Lewis’ Space Trilogy:

Just as readers have been transfixed by the stories, characters, and deeper meanings of Lewis’s timeless tales in The Chronicles of Narnia, most find this same allure in his classic Space Trilogy. In these fantasy stories for adults, we encounter, once again, magical creatures, a world of wonders, epic battles, and revelations of transcendent truths.

Out of the Silent Planet is the first novel in C. S. Lewis’s classic science fiction trilogy. It tells the adventure of Dr. Ransom, a Cambridge academic, who is abducted and taken on a spaceship to the red planet of Malacandra, which he knows as Mars. His captors are plotting to plunder the planet’s treasures and plan to offer Ransom as a sacrifice to the creatures who live there. Ransom discovers he has come from the “silent planet”—Earth—whose tragic story is known throughout the universe!

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C.S. Lewis

I first encountered Out of the Silent Planet while a religion major at Wake Forest University in 1991.  I still have my yellowed paperback copy, which I unearthed for this occasion. The new Kindle edition by Harper Collins ended up being the version I used the most in this reading, but it was fun to go back and look at the old cover art and peruse my now-ancient notes written on the pages from college days.  I remember very little of my first experience with this novel, and was glad to have the opportunity to reread it for this book tour.

Notice: As this title has been in print since 1938, I’m going to assume that many of its details are public knowledge.  Thus, my review may hold what many would consider to be “spoilers”.  If you’d like to avoid these, I’d recommend returning to this post after you’ve had a chance to read this slim novel.

As a meager book blogger/reviewer I feel a sense of trepidation in even assuming that I can critique C.S. Lewis’ work.  He has been a favorite of mine for decades, and I will never hold a candle to him in anything that I will ever write in my lifetime.  That being said, I feel that this space affords me a chance to merely offer my opinion, even if my impression of this classic work is in the minority of reader preferences.

One of the first things that struck me as I began Planet was some of the coarse language that Lewis chose to use in his dialogues. My 11 year-old son Matthew, who attempted to read the book several months back, alerted me to the colorful words before losing interest in it altogether. So to those of you who are most familiar with Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia, which were written more for the younger set, be aware that not only is this story written with a depth that only adults will come close to appreciating, but it also has occasional mature language as well.

Planet begins interstingly enough, with the kidnapping of Dr. Ransom and his travels with Weston and Devine to the distant planet of Malacandra, or as we know it, Mars.  Of course, Lewis’ knowledge of space travel is based purely on speculation, as we as a species didn’t slip the surly bonds of earth for more than two decades after this was written. Still, his depiction of the astronautical journey and arrival on Malacandra was interesting.  He got a number of things correct, but in many cases, as a reader I just enjoyed the fictional aspects of this science fiction work.

While I had moments of enjoyment with Out of the Silent Planet, more often than not I found myself frustrated with Lewis’ choices in his narrative, or rather, the lack thereof.  He spends an inordinate amount of time describing the Malacandrian landscapes and the creatures that inhabited it.  The interest seemed to lie more in an anthropological study of this world, and less on actual story and/or spiritual allegory.  Of course, my weaknesses as a reader may have caused me to miss allusions that are obvious to others, but it’s hard to deny the word count on so many terrestrial descriptions.

Once Lewis gets past all of his literary illustrating, he provides quite a few philosophical moments interwoven throughout his text.  Dr. Ransom encounters creatures who are aware of The Bent One on our planet, the one whom we refer to as Satan.  In this alien world, God’s name is Maleldil.  Lewis uses this science fiction platform to discuss matters of humanity back on Earth, or Thulcandra as it’s called by the Malacandrians.  If I understood correctly, Thulcandra is “silent” because of The Bent One and choices he has made throughout history.  Weston is advised by the Malacandrian Oyarsa:

It is the Bent One, the lord of your world, who wastes your lives and befouls them with flying from what you know will overtake you in the end. If you were subjects of Maleldil you would have peace.

Despite the several moments of Lewis’ philosophizing within the narrative of the story, I found Out of the Silent Planet to be more of an exercise of frustration for me than anything else. I wish I could report something different. Far be it for me to give a negative review of this favorite author, but I simply can’t say that I enjoyed this one very much.

That being said, as a Lewis fan, I do still plan to read Books 2 and 3 of the trilogy, Perelandra and That Hideous Strength.  Perhaps as I continue the journey I’ll have a greater appreciation of this first episode.  If not, I’m sure Out of the Silent Planet will not suffer from one semi-negative review.  It has long been considered a classic, and long after I’m gone it will certainly retain that title. For those of you who care to give it a try, I encourage you to take the journey and see where it takes you. May it be a pleasant trip, one that you can enjoy despite one lowly human’s opinion.

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Book Review - Mr. Darcy Forever by Victoria Connelly

Sarah and Mia Castle are closer than best friends and share just about everything, including a deep and abiding love for all things relating to Jane Austen. Their annual trip to the Jane Austen Festival in Bath is a highlight of their lives—until the year they discover that no matter how close two sisters may be, it’s impossible to share one man between them. Even if he does seem like their own perfect Mr. Darcy, if one wins him, won’t both of them lose?

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Victoria Connelly’s Jane Austen Addict Trilogy concludes with Mr. Darcy Forever, where we find not one but two Janeites together in Bath for the annual Jane Austen Festival.  As sisters Sarah and Mia are both fervent fans of the 1995 film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, they are thrilled to have the opportunity to not only attend the festival, but also take their lodging in the very cottage used in the film. Staying in the fictional Barton cottage is a dream come true, and they look forward to their sisterly time together and time away from troublesome men.

Like Elinor in Austen’s novel, Sarah is the elder sister who operates primarily from her intellect.  She’s so disconnected from her feelings that she also suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, having a driving need to constantly organize the world around her and maintain cleanliness at all times.  Mia, the younger sister by nine years, is very much like Austen’s Marianne, as she tends to follow her heart and make poor choices in her love life.

It’s not long before their serene holiday is interrupted by the arrival of a tall, dark and handsome man named Alec. He’s very charming, but his entrance into the Castle girls’ lives is the start of significant upheaval.  Whether he proves to be a Darcy or a Willoughby remains to be seen, but after meeting him, the lives of these two women will never be the same.

Connelly’s previous titles, A Weekend with Mr. Darcy and Dreaming of Mr. Darcy were fun, delightful novels, perfect for a Janeite to read on a weekend or a vacation. Her characters are likeable, and her plots always maintain my interest.  The same is true with Mr. Darcy Forever.  It’s imminently readable, and any fan of Austenesque fiction or cinematic portrayals of Austen’s work will enjoy this.  Connelly not only references her own work in the rest of the trilogy, but she also nods at fellow Austenesque writers as well. She is just a much a fan of this world as her characters and readers.

While the title and cover art may suggest that Mr. Darcy Forever is a romance, it’s really more of a tale of two estranged sisters.  We see them endure betrayal, secrets, and yes, romance, but the focus of the novel is primarily on their relationship and its undulations over the years. The women make some poor choices, some expected and some less so, and the both must go through trials and growth as they work out the consequences of their decisions. The overall tone of the plot is generally lighthearted, but the girls still deal with some heart wrenching issues as well. Connelly keeps things fairly clean, as sexual moments are referenced but no intimate details are given.  She easily could have taken advantage of a few romantic scenes, and I appreciate the fact that things didn’t become too graphic.

Connelly uses a literary device in her storytelling that I enjoyed very much. Her chapters tend to alternate between the present day and the girls’ visit to Barton Cottage three years before.  Through a series of flashbacks, we learn the origins behind the sisters’ estrangement and how they came to their current state of alienation. I loved how details of the past were doled out over several separate chapters, and on a couple of occasions, I was completely surprised by Victoria’s plot choices. In one instance, I put the book down, began shrieking in disbelief and glee, and began punching the bed on which I was sitting.  My husband looked up from his own reading and said, “Enjoying the book, are we?!”  I laughed with delight.  This was such fun!

Once again, I can highly recommend Victoria Connelly's work in Mr. Darcy Forever. It’s a delightful novel that any Janeite can enjoy.  Like a summer holiday in Bath can be, it’s full of fun, romance and drama.  There will be no slogging through this one—Victoria has once again woven a tale that I enjoyed from beginning to end.  Pick up her Austen Addicts trilogy today!

Sourcebooks.com

Book Review - NIV Boys Bible

Several years ago I bought a New International Version (NIV) of the Bible for my son, Matthew. I’ve always enjoyed this translation, as I like its modern style and accuracy. He has used his NIV for Sunday school, church, the Awana program and in many other ways. It’s become quite worn, with pages falling out and the cover detaching from the whole volume itself.  Time for a new Bible!

When I was given the chance to review the new NIV Boys Bible from Zondervan, I thought this would be a great opportunity for Matthew.  I’m pleased to report that this version has been a great fit for him.  As an almost 12 year-old boy, he’s been really taking it in and using it as much as his old faithful copy.  He particularly likes the special features of the Bible, which I’ve observed him reading on his own.  In addition to the NIV text, here are the extras that Matthew has been enjoying:

• What’s the Big Deal? – These sections take up about a third of a page and help the reader gain greater understanding of topics, people and places that are mentioned in verses nearby.  Publisher Zondervan writes, “While everything in the Bible is important, certain people, places and things stand out. Find out who’s who, what’s what, and how they connect to God. You’ll discover the adventures and challenges of mankind.”
• Makin’ It Real – These informative sections also take up about a third of a page.  Matthew said he likes these because they help him apply the Bible to “real life”, as he put it.  I was impressed that at his age, he would understand the importance of this! Zondervan makes this comment about these applications: “Think the Bible is too ancient to make sense today? You’ll be surprised. Get the scoop on what boys like you can learn from the Bible—no matter what century you live in.”
• Check It Out – These are very short blurbs placed on the page, with the following publisher description: “Boost your smarts with fascinating facts and trivia. Read about the cool and interesting stuff in the life and times of the Old and New Testaments.” For example, the “Check It Out” comment on Isaiah 37:36 says, “God only needs to send one angel to end a battle. One angel wiped out 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night. Several armies of men would never be a match for a team of angels.”
• Words to Live By – Notable verses from scripture are highlighted in a separate colored box, giving the reader suggestions for a memory verse.  
• Grossology – And possibly my son’s favorite feature comes in the grossology moments.  Most boys like all things gross, and these short two or three sentence bits give them a chance to see that not everything in scripture was neat, clean and tidy. As a mom I’m not interested in reading these portions myself, and I’m glad they’re not on every page, but they do bring to light some of the gritty, uncomfortable things that were very much a part of life during scriptural times.

In the back of the Bible there are a few more features.  I’m not sure if Matthew has utilized these yet, but knowing his inquisitive mind, I’m sure he’ll check them out:

• Through the Bible in a Year Reading Chart
• Promises from the Bible – suggested topical verses for your every need
• Perspectives from the Bible – topical index
• Journaling Pages

If you’re the parent of a middle-grade boy who is looking for a Bible for your child, the Zondervan Boys NIV Bible may be a good fit.  The NIV translation has proven to be a relatable and respectful version, and the bonus features which are sprinkled throughout this text are helpful and interesting.  In today’s postmodern society, it’s so important to keep our children grounded in God’s word so that they can know God’s Truth and navigate through the minefields of adolescence.  This Bible is a great option for young men, giving them tools and knowledge that they will use for a lifetime and beyond.

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For a sample section of the NIV Boys Bible, click here.

Review copy provided by:

Guest Post and Giveaway - Author Regina Jeffers

The Calico Critic is pleased to welcome author Regina Jeffers with her guest posting today.  I had the pleasure of reading Regina's Christmas at Pemberley last year, and I'm looking forward to her latest novel, The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy, which is available today!  Here's a taste of what we can look forward to in Regina's new Austenesque mystery:

Shackled in the dungeon of a macabre castle with no recollection of her past, a young woman finds herself falling in love with her captor – the estate’s master. Yet, placing her trust in him before she regains her memory and unravels the castle’s wicked truths would be a catastrophe.
Far away at Pemberley, the Darcys happily gather to celebrate the marriage of Kitty Bennet. But a dark cloud sweeps through the festivities: Georgiana Darcy has disappeared without a trace. Upon receiving word of his sister’s likely demise, Darcy and wife, Elizabeth, set off across the English countryside, seeking answers in the unfamiliar and menacing Scottish moors.

How can Darcy keep his sister safe from the most sinister threat she has ever faced when he doesn’t even know if she’s alive? True to Austen’s style and rife with malicious villains, dramatic revelations and heroic gestures, this suspense-packed mystery places Darcy and Elizabeth in the most harrowing situation they have ever faced – finding Georgiana before it is too late. 

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What an intriguing premise! I'm looking forward to this one. With that in mind, I hope you enjoy the following thoughts from Regina. After that, take a moment to enter to win a copy of The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy by filling out the Rafflecopter form. Thanks to Regina for generously offering this copy to one of our readers.

Incorporating Fascinating Legends
in Classic Story Lines
Regina Jeffers

I have been writing Jane Austen-inspired novels since late 2007. One of the issues of reinventing Austen’s story lines to incorporate new materials or events that would prove true for the time period. As I am preparing to write my fourth Austen novel with a “mysterious” slant, I have become quite proficient in finding unusual legends that add a bit of suspense to the plot/conflict. Some of my favorite twists and turns include Bungay and Blythburgh’s Black Shunk, The Hat Man, Landisfarne Island and St. Cuthbert, the baker of Depedale, as well as the Merrick Moor’s Murder Hole.

The legend of the Black Shunk comes to us from the late 16th Century in the small towns of Bungay and Blythburgh and serves as part of my first mystery, The Phantom of Pemberley. According to church records, on August 4, 1577, during a violent thunderstorm, an apparition of a black dog entered unseen by the assembled parishioners the nave of the church of St. Mary’s in Bungay. The apparition touched two of the congregation and immediately fell dead. As Abraham Fleming stated in his 1577 pamphlet, “A Straunge and Terrible Wunder,” a third parishioner was “drawn together and shrunk up as like a piece of leather.” Thirteen miles away, at the Holy Trinity Church of Blythburgh, three parishioners were killed and others “blasted” by the demonic creature.

All down the Church in midst of fire,


The hellish monster flew;


And passing onwards to the Quire,


He many people slew

In Fleming’s own words, he described the apparition as, "This black dog, or the divel in such a likenesse (God hee knoweth al who worketh all), running all along down the body of the church with great swiftnesse, and incredible haste, among the people, in a visible fourm and shape, passed between two persons, as they were kneeling uppon their knees, and occupied in prayer as it seemed, wrung the necks of them bothe at one instant clene backward, in somuch that even at a momet where they kneeled, they stragely dyed." Fleming also said of the dog, "[s]ame black dog...passing by an other man of the congregation...gave him such a gripe on the back, that therwith all he was presently drawen togither and shrunk up, as it were a peece of leather scorched in a hot fire; or as the mouth of a purse or bag, drawen togither with a string." This victim "dyed not, but as it is thought yet alive.”

Those in Blythburgh described the event as, "[l]ike thing entered, in the same shape and similitude, where placing himself uppon a maine balke or beam...sodainly he gave a swinge downe through ye church, and there also, as before, slewe two men and a lad, and burned the head of another person that was there among the rest of the company, of whom diverse were blasted." Fleming thought these events as a "woderful example of God's wrath, no doubt to terrifie us.”

The Black Dog of Bungay became part of the local folklore; the official Bungay coat of arms features the famous Black Dog and the local Bungay Town Football Club goes by the popular name of the Black Dogs. However although the local St Mary's Church does possess a wooden carving that depicts the legendary Black Dog, there are otherwise no remaining signs of the beast's visit. On the other hand, if you travel down the A144 and then nip across the B1123 to Blythburgh, and visit the Holy Trinity Church the north door still bears the marks of the Black Dog to this day (or perhaps these are the remnants of a lightning strike during the storm).

The legend of the Hat Man served as the “Phantom” in “The Phantom of Pemberley.” Shadow People are supernatural shadow-like humanoid figures that, according to believers, are seen flickering on walls and ceilings in the viewer's peripheral vision. They are often reported moving with quick, jerky movements, and quickly disintegrate into walls or mirrors. They are believed to be evil and aggressive in nature, although a few people consider them to be a form of guardian angel.

Reportedly, Wes Craven based Freddy Krueger on an experience that he had as a young boy. Craven once saw a scary looking man wearing a bowler hat. The man had scars all covering his face.  People who reportedly come across a hat man usually claim to feel a frightening feeling, as if they are being threatened. While some ghosts do not seem aware of the presence of the living, it appears that shadow people do. Witnesses claim that, despite not seeing his face, they have a sense that the hat man is staring right at them. Furthermore, it would seem that this entity’s sole purpose in visiting people is to make them as uncomfortable and frightened as possible. They normally don’t try to communicate, except for the fact they are emitting bad vibes. Their mere presence alone is enough to make someone feel extremely uncomfortable and even threatened.

Dale Abbey Archway

I used the tale of the Baker of Depedale in my latest novel, The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy. Dale Abbey is in Derbyshire, the shire in which Jane Austen placed Fitzwilliam Darcy’s magnificent estate of Pemberley. Once known as Dependale, Dale Abbey is three miles SW of Ikleston and six miles NE of Derby. Augustinian monks founded the abbey in the 13th Century.

Behind All Saints’ Church, one can find an ancient woodland area with beech, ash, oak and lime trees. Within these woods is the Hermit Cave, which was hewn out of the sandstone cliff by a 12th Century Derby baker. It is said an angel had visited the baker and had told him to find his way to this place and to live as a recluse. The cave is six yards by three with a doorway, two windows, a peephole, and a niche that let in more light. Part of the legend includes how the Norman Ralph Fitz-Geremund found the hermit in the woods, and touched by the baker’s piety, gave the man the site of the hermitage and a tithe of his mill at nearby Borrowash. Then the hermit built himself a more pretentious oratory and a cottage to end his days.

One of my favorite legends to incorporate into a story was that of St. Cuthbert and Lindisfarne Island. I used Lindisfarne as the final location of vampire George Wickham’s remains in Vampire Darcy’s Desire. The island is said to have magical powers.

One of those powers is the idea that those buried on the island do not decay. This comes from the tale of St. Cuthbert. Cuthbert, monk, hermit and Bishop of Lindisfarne, died on 20 March 687. Eleven years after his death the monks went to dig up the body, to translate it into the fine new shrine inside the church, and found, to their astonishment, that his body was incorrupt. Bede, the first English historian, said that Cuthbert was more like a sleeping than a dead man.

418 years after Cuthbert’s death, questions arose as to whether Cuthbert’s body remained undecayed. Therefore, nine monks, led by Prior Turgot, examined the contents of the coffin. The first account of this is in Symeon of Durham’s 'Historia Ecclesiae Dunhelmensis,' written in the 12th Century.

St. Cuthbert's Coffin

The nine monks carried the coffin into the new church. There, they lifted the lid and removed the cloths until they exposed body of Cuthbert. The monks reported that Cuthbert was lying on his right side, whole and undecayed, as though he were asleep. The watchers immediately fell on their knees and recited the penitential psalms. Then they removed the bones of Bede and other saints, which had been stored in Cuthbert’s coffin and put them to one side.

Two of the monks nervously lifted out the body, and the watchers reported that it sagged, as if alive. A new floor was made for the coffin and Cuthbert’s body replaced. News of the revelation spread quickly amongst those who had been invited for the translation ceremony, but skepticism persisted.

Lindisfarne is a tidal island off the NE coast of England. It is also known as Holy Island and constitutes a civil parish in Northumberland. A causeway connects the island to the mainland of Northumberland and is flooded twice a day by tides–something well described by Sir Walter Scott: “For with the flow and ebb, its style/Varies from continent to isle/ Dry shod o’er sands, twice every day/ The pilgrims to the shrine way/ Twice every day the waves efface/ Of stave and sandaled feet the trace.” This fact played out well in Vampire Darcy’s Desire because Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam chose the island because vampires supposedly cannot cross water. However, a causeway would provide Wickham an escape. Large parts of the island, and all of the adjacent intertidal area, are protected as Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve to help safeguard the internationally important wintering bird population. I did not use the birds in the story line, but I am enthralled with the idea of how the birds return to the island year after year.

I have added several more new and unusual legends to The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy. When you read it, I hope you will think of the way I have previously used distinctive tales in my novels, while you enjoy the reading journey.

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Author Bio

Regina Jeffers, an English teacher for thirty-nine years, considers herself a Jane Austen enthusiast. She is the author of 13 novels, including Darcy’s Passions, Darcy’s Temptation, The Phantom of Pemberley, Christmas at Pemberley, The Scandal of Lady Eleanor, A Touch of Velvet, and A Touch of Cashémere. A Time Warner Star Teacher and Martha Holden Jennings Scholar, as well as a Smithsonian presenter, Jeffers often serves as a media literacy consultant. She resides outside of Charlotte, NC, where she spends time teaching her new grandson the joys of being a child.

Website – www.rjeffers.com

Blog – http://reginajeffers.wordpress.com

Twitter - @reginajeffers

Publisher – Ulysses Press

The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy Giveaway!

Would you like to win a copy of The Disappearance of Georgiana Darcy?  Check out the guidelines below, go to the Rafflecopter form and enter to win!

• The contest period ends at 12:01am EST on May 13th, 2012.
• Contest is open to U.S. and international entrants.
• Make sure you leave your email address in the one required portion of the Rafflecopter form. Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday, May 13th.  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.
• The winner's mailing information will be sent to Regina Jeffers for prize shipment. 
• You may tweet about the giveaway once per day for bonus entries. Please report the direct URL to the tweet in the Rafflecopter form.
• Entries will be verified.  If a fraudulent entry is detected for the winning name, another winner will be drawn.

If you can't see the Rafflecopter form below,
try clicking on the "Read more »" link