First Line Fridays - Secrets of Sloane House

Happy Friday!

I am happy to announce that First Line Fridays is now hosted by the Hoarding Book Blog. So after you post your first line here, hop over there to check out every one else's First Line post...AND enter the GIVEAWAY!

This book and I were truly meant to be together. I borrowed this from the library on my kindle for my trip to CFRR. Because like any good book addict, I had ridiculously high expectations and planned on reading 5 books over the weekend...I finished 1...I think. Anyhoo, I got to the event and saw Secrets of Sloane House in my bag and was SO excited. I even was able to have Shelley SIGN it! Eeeep! Be still my heart. 

Chicago

August, 1893

As circumspectly as she could, Rosalind Perry smoothed her dark gray skirts before meeting the wide, assessing gaze of Douglas Sloane, the twenty-four-year-old son and heir of the Sloane estate. 

Now it's your turn! Post your first line below and hop over to Hoarding Books to join in more First Line fun! 

The Action Storybook Bible Giveaway by David C Cook

About the Book

The Action Storybook Bible invites families with children ages 8 and under explore God's redemptive story together.

From the sleek and amazing creatures God created at the beginning of the world to the powerful kings who reigned over ancient Israel to Jesus's gift of eternal life for you and your family-God has a beautiful and exciting plan for the world. Where do you fit into that plan? How are the truths found in God's Word reflected in your life?

This Bible storybook features 15 episodes highlighting key milestones in God's story, packed with dozens of scenes-combining stories from God's Word with brand-new captivating illustrations from Brazilian master-artist Sergio Cariello, illustrator of the bestselling The Action Bible. Discover your family's place in God's redemptive story and together put your faith into action!

Interactive features include:

-Fifteen episodes loaded with over 350 brand-new illustrations from master-artist Sergio Cariello.

-Short and easy reading for all ages. Take turns telling God's redemptive story!

-The Life, Faith, Action! feature wraps up each episode and helps your family recognize how God is moving through each story, discover how that relates to your daily lives, and feel inspired to put your faith into action.

-Heroes Hall of Fame index, where you can look up your favorite Bible characters and discover their stories!

Learn more and purchase a copy. 

My Thoughts

I have 2 young boys (ages 3 and 5) so I jumped on the opportunity to review this Action Storybook Bible. Filled with lots of color and illustrations this Bible holds their attention well and keeps them engaged. With stories about Creation, Noah, Moses, and Jesus (plus loads more) your children will get a fun overview of the Bible. At the end of each "chapter" there is a "Life, Faith, Action!" section that reviews the story, challenges the child to think, and ends with a prayer. 

Beautiful and STUNNING illustrations grace the pages of this Bible like you have never seen before. 

I am excited to continue reading through this book with my kiddos and I know that they will love reading it on their own in the years to come.

I received a complimentary copy of The Action Storybook Bible. I was not required to submit a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.  

About the Authors

Catherine has written more than twenty-five books for children, including the bestselling "Adventure Bible Storybook." As publisher of children's resources at David C Cook, she leads product development for The Action Bible® collection, which has sold more than a million copies. Catherine lives with her husband, their three children, and their big furry dog in the Colorado forest. ||**|| Brazilian-born Sergio Cariello has been an accomplished artist since childhood, drawing a regular comic strip for his city's newspaper at age 11. He spent many childhood hours poring over "The Picture Bible" (Portuguese edition), never dreaming he would illustrate an updated edition ("The Action Bible") decades later. Sergio has worked for Marvel Comics and DC comics and has illustrated Batman, Spiderman, Superman, Iron-Man, Wonder Woman, Fantastic-Four, and dozens more comic book characters.

Find out more about Catherine and at http://www.theactionbible.com.

Giveaway

Landing page:

http://litfusegroup.com/author/DeVriesCariello

An Inconvenient Beauty - Hawthorne House Book 4 - Kristi Ann Hunter

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, and he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. He's certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, but while Frederica is strangely elusive, he can't seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.

Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, her uncle will only help them if she'll use her beauty to assist him in his political aims. Already uncomfortable with this agreement, the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she wishes to be free of her unfortunate obligation.

Will Griffith and Isabella be able to set aside their pride and face their fears in time to find their own happily-ever-after? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

Kristi's debut series is beyond fabulous and she wraps it all up perfectly with Griffith's story! With several laugh out loud moments and an equal number of touching scenes that will tug at your heart, you will want to read this book in one sitting. (If only that were a reality in my household.) Griffith has been my favorite since the first book, A Noble Masquerade. And he completely lived up to (and quite possibly exceeded) my expectations that I have held on to. Especially picturing him as Chris Hemsworth...

One of the aspects that stood out to me in this story, is discerning God's direction for our lives. Especially when it comes to thinking that we don't deserve happiness, or a second chance, or forgiveness. These blinders can distract us from the GOOD that God wants to give to us.

Pinterest

I.LOVE.GRIFFITH. That is all...actually, I could go on about him for hours. So, what I want to highlight is his protective nature. His family is more important to him than anything, and he would go to any lengths to keep them safe and cared for. However, that means he puts their needs before his own. And this sacrificial love hasn't left much room for him to worry about his own future. BUT, when love strikes, things change. You could say his "world is turned upside down."  He is adorable and hilarious! 

Pinterest

Isabella is my new favorite woman in the Hawthorne Series. Even though she has secrets to hide, it is impossible to ignore her pure heart. And Uncle Percy, can only be described as the opposite of pure. The bitterness that stemmed from a heartbreaking loss has turned into a vendetta.

Four books, five if you include the novella, a slew of Hawthornes, romance, kidnappings, adventures, foiled plans, and upstanding and *ahem* SWOONY gentlemen...while my heart is sad that this series has ended. I am so thankful for the friends that I found within these pages.

I received a complimentary copy of An Inconvenient Beauty. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in computer science but always knew she wanted to write. Kristi is the author of the HAWTHORNE HOUSE series and a 2016 RITA Award winner and Christy Award finalist. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.

Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter // Website

The Hawthorne House Series

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise. 

Top Ten Tuesday - Fairy Tale Characters

Today's theme for Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish is characters! iI chose, 10 fairy tale themed stories that are brimming with original and spin-off fairy tale characters. These first 5 are books that I have read and LOVED. Click on the image to go to my review. The second group here is a list of TV shows and movies that have fairy tale stories. 

What is YOUR favorite Fairy Tale??? 

Books

TV & Movies

Click on the image to learn more

What is YOUR favorite Fairy Tale??? 

First Line Fridays - A Lady in Disguise

Happy Friday!

Continuing with the books I acquired at CFRR this summer, I have had this book on my TBR for awhile now. Every once in a while, I really need a book that keeps me up late and on the edge of my seat. Have you read this book? Do you like a good mystery? 

Hampshire, England

Early April, 1883

I stood, that bleak day, in the graveyard in the village near Winton Park.

As First Line Fridays grows...we have had to make some adjustments to how things are done. So, stay tuned as we make life so much easier for everyone and have fun while we do it!!!

Coming October 6th...

Now it's your turn! Post your first line below and blog hop and join in more First Line fun! 

A Baker's Perspective // A Brighter Destiny // All the Book Blog Names are Taken // Bibliophile Reviews //

Book Reviews by Tima //  C Jane Read // Christian Fiction Girl // Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen // 

Faithfully Bookish // Fiction Aficionado // It's Storytime With Van Daniker // Iola Goulton //  

Joy of Reading // Kathleen Denly // Lauraine's Notes //  Molly's Cafinated-Reads //
Moments Dipped in Ink // Radiant Light // Reading is my SuperPower // Robin's Nest //
Romances of the Cross // Sprinkles and Pink // Singing Librarian // With a Joyful Noise

Siren's Song - The Storm Siren Book 3 - Mary Weber

My Rating

★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book

Nym and Draewulf prepare to face off in a battle destined to destroy more lives than it saves.

With the loss of Tulla still fresh in mind, Rasha’s fate unknown, and Lord Myles taken over by the dark ability, Nym and the few Bron soldiers rush to warn Cashlin’s queen. Only to discover it may already be too late for the monarch and her eerie kingdom. As the Luminescents are sifting through Nym’s past memories and the queen is reading into her future, Nym is given a choice of how to defeat Draewulf, but the cost may be more than she can bear. And even then there are no guarantees.

With that reality burrowing into her bones—along with the guilt of the lives she will sacrifice—Nym returns to her homeland of Faelen to raise an army of peasants through promises of freedom. But when the few friends she has left, along with the world and citizens she loves, are staring down the face of a monster and his undead army, will Nym summon every element her blood is capable of controlling . . . or surrender to a different strength—one of sacrifice?

Because in the end, death may be more merciful for them all.

My Thoughts

In this, the epic conclusion of The Storm Siren Trilogy, Mary Weber has brought us the finale of a lifetime. After finishing the book only moments ago, my heart is filled with so many emotions, I'm not quite sure what to think. *PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE SPOILERS AHEAD IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST TWO BOOKS* With many of our favorite (and not so favorite) characters reappearing in this book...I have found my feelings towards some people suddenly changed. Funny how an author can do that so seamlessly.

Mary Weber has displayed her world creating super powers in an exquisite way. I love her style, her unique use of language, and the incorporation of do many "mythical" creatures/beings. Young Adult Fantasy at it's finest.  And if you look closely, there are definitely spiritual truths and lessons that we can learn from Nym and Eaogyn's story.  The darkness that tries to overtake us...the foothold it grasps if we own the door to it... the suffocating grip that evil can place on us.  But in turn, we caused how love, self  sacrificing love can release us. Free us from the sin and death that would threaten to take us down. In a sense we can see parallels to Jesus' love poured out for us as He sacrificed himself for us so that we may be free from the sin and death that would ensnare us and destroy us.

Written from the song in her heart, you can see Mary's life blood poured out on to every page. If you have been putting this series off, you need to start it right away. (You think I'm kidding.) This series is one I had put off for one reason or another, and in a way I am kind of glad I did...because I was able to read all 3 books in the last month...and that's how I recommend you do it too. These books MUST be read in order. There is so much background and setting and plot and language...that starting mid-series will just throw you off.

I received a complimentary copy of Siren's Song. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

About the Author

Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean.

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More Books by Mary Weber on Bookworm Mama

 

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise.