Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!!

Andy pauses before saying, "We're an entire population of people with spinach in our teeth--and no one to tell us."

Taken from Bo's Cafe by John Lynch, Bill Thrall, and Bruce McNicol

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page each Monday so that other book lovers and bloggers can see and comment on what's in the mailbox. Thanks Marcia for a great way of posting our new (or new to us) books!!

Have you read a book on my list? Please comment on it. It's possible I will use your comment and link back to you when I post my review of a particular book!

To Review:



Purchased:

Finding Home by Jennifer Johnson
A Love to Cherish by Janet Lee Barton
Hearts and Harvest by Amber Stockton
Always Ready by Susan Page Davis



Giveaway Books I Have Won:




What's in your box this week?

Book Review: Meggie's Remains by Joanne Sundell

First of all, let me begin by saying that I've never read Jane Eyre. I know, I need to get with it!! I will definitely be reading it after completing this book!

I was drawn to this book because of the cover and the title. When it came in the mail, I dove in and began reading it every chance I had. It took me awhile to get into this book, and truthfully, I almost gave up. Something kept driving me back to the pages of this story and I'm so glad that I followed through and finished this book. It is a story that you shouldn't miss!!

Meghan "Meggie" McMurphy is a young woman who has had an extremely hard life. At the age of four, she finds herself in an orphanage at the hands of a cruel head mistress. The cruelty continues when, at the tender age of 17, the head mistress sends Meggie out on a mission to deliver some important papers to one Benjamin Howard. Will Meggie ever get away from the cruel confines of her life?

Once Benjamin thinks she is dead, Meggie takes what little is left of her belongings and leaves Boston for Denver. Sadly, her life doesn't get any better and she feels the devil nipping at her heels. She meets some wonderful people along the way who show her that life can be better and things begin to look up for Meggie. She obtains a job as a teacher and enjoys her work. She also meets Ethan and instantly feels something for him. However, due to her infatuation with Edward from Jane Eyre, Ethan thinks that she is in love with another man and her troubles continue again.

What remains of Meggie throughout this book is remarkable. I was pleasantly surprised with this story and, as mentioned earlier, will find a copy of Jane Eyre and read it after reading this delightful story. I will warn those who are concerned about language and intimate scenes that there is quite a bit of both.

I hope you will give Meggie's Remains a chance. I don't think you'll be disappointed!

I would like to thank the author for sending me this book to read. Thanks Joanne!

My Review Policy

I enjoy reading a variety of books. Ones that I favor the most are christian fiction and young adult. As long as the book is not engrossed with vulgar language and sex, I will usually read it. If I read a book laced with the language and sex, I tend to not give it as high of a review based on that alone. I do make mention of that in my review and focus on the other aspects of the book. I can promise you a honest, while respectful, opinion of your book or product. I value the time you have put into your work and will do my absolute best to highlight that!

I will, by my posting of a review, let all my blog readers, Twitter and Facebook followers, and other blogging communities know of your work. I also post my reviews on popular sites such as Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and any other place that you request.

Please respect me and understand that my work is mine. Please do not copy my work without prior permission and credit.

I review many books and cannot guarantee that I can review your book in a specific time frame. If you have a time frame in mind, please contact me and I'll see what I can do to accommodate your request. If I'm unable to meet your needs in the time specified, I will recommend someone who might be able to do so. Please also understand that if I accept your offer to review a book that the review may not be favorable. I will show the utmost respect while sharing my opinion.

I can be contacted at faithfulgirl4[at]gmail[dot]com. I can also be found on BookBlogs, Goodreads, Twitter (@faithfulgirl), and Facebook.

Who's In This Corner Anyway?

Hi! I figured it was about time to introduce myself to everyone! I'm Julie and I am a blogger! I am a 30 something wife to one, mom to four, Christian, nurse, high school teacher, book lover, avid hockey fan, and the list could go on!

I enjoy reading a wide variety of books but have a strong preference for those that do not involve a lot of vulgar language or sex. Books can be great or not so great and I don't believe that value is added to a book but including language that is offensive. I love to encourage my students to read and will only recommend books to them that I feel are wholesome, good reads.

In my spare time, I do enjoy a great game of hockey (Go Thrashers!), reading (of course!), singing, and most importantly, hanging out with my family.

Would you like to know anything else about me? Well, ask away. I might be in a small corner of the world but I don't have much to hide! :)

Happy Reading! :)

What Would You Do?

I was out surfing some blogs today and ran across this great giveaway over at my friend MJ's blog, Creative Madness. She is giving away a book about a young girl traveling by RV with her dad. They are in Wal-mart one day and she sees her picture on a missing person's board. How would you feel about this? Why not go tell MJ about your thought (You can only use ONE word!) and be entered into her contest?

I'm sharing the wealth but hoping I win! :) If this book doesn't interest you, she's celebrating her Blogoversary and giving away a TON of books!!

Meggie's Remains by Joanne Sundell

Today the new release Meggie's Remains by Joanne Sundell is the featured tour of Pump Up Your Book Promotion Tours.

Book Synopsis:

Meggie's Remains is a romantic suspense unlike any other. Meggie struggles with far more than meeting the man of her dreams. In fact, she's scared to death when she does. This story could happen to any woman, in any time. It is you. It is me. It is private ... but must be told.

Afraid of men, afraid for her sins, afraid for her sanity, and right now afraid for her life, Meggie McMurphy flees Boston once the fiendish terror--so long stalking in her nightmares--surfaces in the light of day. She escapes west to Denver in the wild Colorado Territory, hoping to lose herself among the multitude of townsfolk. The year is 1874.

Twenty-five years old, alone, and near penniless, Meggie struggles to find honest work and to keep the dark secrets of her past just that: a secret. Not so easily done when the handsome, foreboding westerner Ethan Rourke, stumbles upon her on a snowy Denver street. Why it's as if he'd stepped right out of the pages of her beloved romance, Jane Eyre! Safe to encounter such a man on the romance page, it is certainly unsafe, even deadly, for her to encounter such a man in the flesh. Men belong ... six feet under, six feet away ... where to stay safe, the devil must stay!

Hired as a teacher, not in Denver, but in an isolated mountain town in rugged Ute country, Meggie is determined to make a home for herself in Hot Sulphur Springs. There she keeps up her masquerade as Rose Rochester, yearning for a normal life--for companionship and even love--all the while knowing it's only a matter of time until the monstrous changeling from her nightmares will find her, killing any possibility of a life at all.

I am about half way through this book and hope to have my full review posted for you this weekend.

In Memoriam: Mama Dearest Blog Tour

The following information comes from the author's tribute website:

E. Lynn Harris was born in Flint, Michigan and raised, along with three sisters, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville where he was the school's first black yearbook editor, the first black male Razorbacks cheerleader, and the president of his fraternity. He graduated with honors with a degree in journalism.

Harris sold computers for IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and AT&T for thirteen years while living in Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. In 1991, he quit his sales job to write his first novel, Invisible Life, which, failing to find a publisher, he self-published and sold mostly at black-owned bookstores, beauty salons, and book clubs before he was "discovered" by Anchor Books. Anchor published Invisible Life as a trade paperback in 1994, and E. Lynn Harris’s career as an author officially began.

Harris went on to become a ten-time New York Times bestselling author. His work included the memoir What Becomes of the Brokenhearted and the novels, A Love of My Own, Just as I Am, Any Way the Wind Blows (all three of which were named Novel of the Year by the Blackboard African American Bestsellers), I Say a Little Prayer, If This World Were Mine (which won the James Baldwin Award for Literary Excellence), the classic Invisible Life, Just Too Good to Be True, and Basketball Jones.

Harris was a member of the Board of Directors of the Hurston/Wright Foundation and the Evidence Dance Company. He was also the founder of the E. Lynn Harris Better Days Foundation, a nonprofit company that provides support to aspiring writers and artists.

E. Lynn Harris passed away at the age of 54 in 2009, just months before the publication of his final novel, Mama Dearest.

One of E. Lynn Harris's incomparable heroines, Yancey Harrington Braxton, is working her way back to Broadway and beyond. And this diva supreme always stirs up drama in and out of the spotlight....

New York City, you've been warned: Yancey Harrington Braxton is back. The ambitious singer and actress is fired up to move past her recent professional and personal setbacks -- including an explosive romance with NFL tight end John Basil Henderson -- and prove her talents are stronger than ever. After being out on tour, Yancey realizes what she really wants is to star in her own reality TV series, and she's even found a rich and well-connected lover to make it happen. There are, however, two women fierce enough to derail Yancey's plans with ambitions of their own: Madison B., a hot new bombshell taking the music industry by storm, and Ava Middlebrooks, who happens to be Yancey's own mama dearest.

Ava is out, about, and ready to reclaim her throne. Not even a stint in prison for attempted murder has curbed Ava's competitive nature, and it doesn't faze her in the least that her #1 rival is her own daughter. Ava is willing to do whatever it takes to make Yancey pay, including using Madison B. to turn Yancey's world upside-down by forcing her to confront the past...and making her comeback dreams more exciting and dangerous than she ever imagined.

Taking readers on a wild, passion-filled tour of the entertainment world, E. Lynn Harris's Mama Dearest delivers sensual thrills and electric plot twists -- with one unforgettable woman of radiant star power, sexual magnetism, and unapologetic ambition at the heart of the action.

I have not yet had the opportunity to read this book but I did want to participate in this day of honor for our author. Others are joining in too, and some may have a review of the book for you to read.

Drey’s Library: http://dreyslibrary.blogspot.com/
Found Not Lost: http://jmomfinds.amoores.com/
Rundpinne: http://www.rundpinne.blogspot.com/
My Own Little Corner of the World: http://molcotw.blogspot.com/
The Brain Lair: http://brainlair.blogspot.com/
My Reading Room: http://myreadingroom-crystal.blogspot.com/
That’s A Novel Idea: http://www.thatsanovelidea.blogspot.com/
Jeanne’s Ramblings: http://jeannesgifts.blogspot.com/
Cheryl’s Book Nook: http://cherylsbooknook.blogspot.com/
Just Another New Blog: http://justanothernewblog.blogspot.com/
My Book Addiction and More: http://mybookaddictionandmore.wordpress.com/

There may be a tour near you! Check it out here to see if you can join in a live tribute in a local bookstore near you. If you can't join in live, why not partake in a few of E. Lynn Harris's favorites found here.

A-Z Wednesday: Great Reads Begin with "G"

Welcome to A-Z Wednesday brought to you by Vicki over at Reading At the Beach!!
To join, here's all you have to do:
Go to your stack of books and find one whose title starts with the letter of the week.
Post:
1~ a photo of the book
2~ title and synopsis
3~ link(amazon, barnes and noble etc.)
4~ Come back here and leave your link in the comments
If you've already reviewed this book you can add it also.
Be sure to visit other participants to see what book they have posted and leave them a comment.
(We all love comments, don't we?)
Who knows? You may find your next "favorite" book.
THIS WEEKS LETTER IS: G

Graceling by Kirstin Cashore

Amazon.com Review
If you had the power to kill with your bare hands, what would you do with it?

Graceling takes readers inside the world of Katsa, a warrior-girl in her late teens with one blue eye and one green eye. This gives her haunting beauty, but also marks her as a Graceling. Gracelings are beings with special talents—swimming, storytelling, dancing. Katsa's Grace is considered more useful: her ability to fight (and kill, if she wanted to) is unequaled in the seven kingdoms. Forced to act as a henchman for a manipulative king, Katsa channels her guilt by forming a secret council of like-minded citizens who carry out secret missions to promote justice over cruelty and abuses of power.

Combining elements of fantasy and romance, Cashore skillfully portrays the confusion, discovery, and angst that smart, strong-willed girls experience as they creep toward adulthood. Katsa wrestles with questions of freedom, truth, and knowing when to rely on a friend for help. This is no small task for an angry girl who had eschewed friendships (with the exception of one cousin that she trusts) for her more ready skills of self-reliance, hunting, and fighting. Katsa also comes to know the real power of her Grace and the nature of Graces in general: they are not always what they appear to be.

Graceling is the first book in a series, and Kristin Cashore’s first work of fiction. It sets up a vivid world with engaging characters that readers will certainly look forward to following beyond the last chapter of this book. (Ages 14 and up) --Heidi Broadhead

This is a book that I purchased on Amazon after seeing how much Alaine, Melissa, and other bloggers raved on it!

CSFF Blog Tour Day 3: Wrap Up and My Thoughts

Today is the last day for the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour featuring Mrs. Donita K. Paul and her book The Vanishing Sculptor. Thank you for your participation in our blog tour!

Today I will share with you my thoughts on this book. This was my first exposure to Mrs. Paul's works, although I do own the entire DragonKeeper Chronicles series (I have to steal them from my daughter when she isn't looking!) Having said that, I have seen some reviews that say it's important to read this series before reading this book and then some say it's not necessary. I feel like I might have missed out on the background of some of the characters as there are a few that have been in the DragonKeeper Chronicles. This is supposed to be a free standing novel however.

I would have to say that my favorite aspect of this book is the characterization. More specifically, the names of the characters! After all, who could resist a parrot named Beccaroon, a little girl named Tipper (I just love that name!), a Prince named Jayrus, and a Wizard named Fenworth, just to name a few. It would also be important to mention the dragons as well!! Junkit and Zabeth are minor dragons with a major purpose.

For those who may tend to stray away from the Christian fiction label, please give this book a chance. While there are undertones of Christianity, this book is not preachy at all. One could simply appreciate the fact that this is a good, clean book without sex, profanity, or other vulgar situations.

I would highly recommend this book to any fantasy lover, big or small, mature or young, Christian or not!! Don't let this title vanish away!

One thing I failed to mention yesterday that I would like for you to know is that I learned that Mrs. Paul has quite an extensive list of published works!! She writes all sorts of genres and I look forward to reading some of her other works (especially those in the romance line that she wrote when her daughter started asking for romance novels. Way to go Mom!)

For more great info on our author and her works, feel free to surf on over to her website and blog.

Donita Paul’s Web site - http://www.donitakpaul.com/
Donita Paul’s blog - http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/

The source of my book comes from Amazon. I personally purchased this book specifically for this tour.

Please be sure to take a few minutes and visit these fellow bloggers on the tour. Comments are much appreciated!!

http://www.christiansciencefiction.blogspot.com"> Brandon Barr
http://jimfictionreview.blogspot.com/"> Jim Black
http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/"> Justin Boyer
http://bookshiddencorner.blogspot.com/"> Rachel Briard
http://www.kcreviews.blogspot.com"> Karri Compton
http://www.the160acrewoods.com/"> Amy Cruson
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
http://word-up-studies.blogspot.com"> Stacey Dale
http://www.scificatholic.com/"> D. G. D. Davidson
http://scriptoriusrex.blogspot.com/"> Jeff Draper
http://projectinga.blogspot.com/"> April Erwin
http://virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com/"> Karina Fabian
http://lindarg.wordpress.com/"> Linda Gilmore
http://anewnovelistsjourney.blogspot.com"> Todd Michael Greene
http://cloakanddaggerfiction.blogspot.com"> Katie Hart
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart
http://jessebecky.wordpress.com/"> Becky Jesse
http://crisjesse.wordpress.com"> Cris Jesse
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner
http://www.molcotw.blogspot.com/"> Julie
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen
http://krystisbooks.blogspot.com/"> Krystine Kercher
http://momofkings.wordpress.com/"> Dawn King
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://mirathon.blogspot.com/"> Mirtika
http://www.questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
http://linalamont.blogspot.com/"> Nissa
http://www.leastread.blogspot.com/"> John W. Otte
http://residentialaliens.blogspot.com/"> Lyn Perry
http://prochristroetlibertate.blogspot.com/"> Crista Richey
http://www.cherylrussellwrites.wordpress.com"> Cheryl Russell
http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/"> Chawna Schroeder
http://www.jamessomers.blogspot.com/"> James Somers
http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/"> Speculative Faith
http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings/"> Rachel Starr Thomson
http://www.epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php"> Robert Treskillard
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
http://www.fantasyandfaith.com"> Dona Watson
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"> Phyllis Wheeler
http://kerani-in-the-world.blogspot.com/"> Elizabeth Williams
http://kmwilsher.blogspot.com/"> KM Wilsher

Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page.

Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!!

"I beg your pardon?" Beccaroon knew the man was touched in the head, but sapient? "Do you mean you have trees in Amara that think, plan, and converse?"

Taken from The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita Paul

Look for the Blog Tour of this book on Sept. 20-22!

CSFF Blog Tour: Day 2 Let's Meet the Author!

This week, the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour will be hosting Mrs. Donita K. Paul and her book The Vanishing Sculptor.


Yesterday, we took a peak into the first chapter of the book. We also saw a little bit of background information on the book. I hope you had a chance to visit with some fellow bloggers over this book and see what they have going on too! Today, you will get an opportunity to learn a little more about Mrs. Donita K. Paul as she has dropped in for a brief visit!

Thank you so much, Mrs. Paul, for taking a few minutes out of your busy schedule to visit with us today!


1. Who is your writing inspiration? Why?

I have two. Patricia Veryan, a secular historical writer. I admire her for
her complex plots, intriguing characters, and her humor.
The second is Max Lucado. His stories compel the reader to think and move
them toward a better understanding of God.

2. What piqued your interest in writing about dragons and other
fictional characters?

I have characters pop into my mind and I must know more about them. That
means I have to use my imagination to flesh them out. I sometimes wonder if
I would have been a good profiler. Probably not, because I don¹t like grim
and grizzly. I¹m not into gore, either.

3. As a former school teacher, what is one bit of wisdom that you
would pass along to my students who are reading this blog?

Very often when you are young, you think your going to want to do something
in particular. For instance, in high school, you decide you want to be a
policeman. My suggestion is to not hold tight to those interests. There is
nothing wrong with having a goal, but it can make you to narrow. I know many
people who went to college and got a degree and three years later knew they
would have been happier in another field. So be open to suggestions and for
sure, be open to the Lord¹s leading.

4. Who is your favorite author (If not the answer to question #1)?
What is it about him/her that makes them your favorite?

5. What book would you consider one that every person should read at
least once in their life?

Well, of course, the answer is the Bible. But I¹ll assume you mean something
other than the Bible which we all should be familiar with. Hmmm? I think I
will choose two children¹s books. The first is The Story of Ping. In this
book a little duck misses getting on the boat at the right time. He doesn¹t
scurry to get on because the last duck in line gets a little pop on the
bottom. He learns that sometimes it is worth a bit of discipline to do the
right thing. We can be going the wrong way and repent. Sometimes we have to
take our just desserts. But it is worth it to be back in the fold.
The other is Corduroy. A little bear goes in search of his missing button in
a department store. The way Corduroy greets each new situation is a
wonderful way to address life.

For more great info on our author, feel free to surf on over to her website and blog.

Donita Paul’s Web site - http://www.donitakpaul.com/
Donita Paul’s blog - http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/

I do hope you will come back tomorrow and read my personal review of this book!!

The source of my book comes from Amazon. I personally purchased this book specifically for this tour.

Please be sure to take a few minutes and visit these fellow bloggers on the tour. Comments are much appreciated!!

http://www.christiansciencefiction.blogspot.com"> Brandon Barr
http://jimfictionreview.blogspot.com/"> Jim Black
http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/"> Justin Boyer
http://bookshiddencorner.blogspot.com/"> Rachel Briard
http://www.kcreviews.blogspot.com"> Karri Compton
http://www.the160acrewoods.com/"> Amy Cruson
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
http://word-up-studies.blogspot.com"> Stacey Dale
http://www.scificatholic.com/"> D. G. D. Davidson
http://scriptoriusrex.blogspot.com/"> Jeff Draper
http://projectinga.blogspot.com/"> April Erwin
http://virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com/"> Karina Fabian
http://lindarg.wordpress.com/"> Linda Gilmore
http://anewnovelistsjourney.blogspot.com"> Todd Michael Greene
http://cloakanddaggerfiction.blogspot.com"> Katie Hart
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart
http://jessebecky.wordpress.com/"> Becky Jesse
http://crisjesse.wordpress.com"> Cris Jesse
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner
http://www.molcotw.blogspot.com/"> Julie
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen
http://krystisbooks.blogspot.com/"> Krystine Kercher
http://momofkings.wordpress.com/"> Dawn King
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://mirathon.blogspot.com/"> Mirtika
http://www.questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
http://linalamont.blogspot.com/"> Nissa
http://www.leastread.blogspot.com/"> John W. Otte
http://residentialaliens.blogspot.com/"> Lyn Perry
http://prochristroetlibertate.blogspot.com/"> Crista Richey
http://www.cherylrussellwrites.wordpress.com"> Cheryl Russell
http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/"> Chawna Schroeder
http://www.jamessomers.blogspot.com/"> James Somers
http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/"> Speculative Faith
http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings/"> Rachel Starr Thomson
http://www.epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php"> Robert Treskillard
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
http://www.fantasyandfaith.com"> Dona Watson
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"> Phyllis Wheeler
http://kerani-in-the-world.blogspot.com/"> Elizabeth Williams
http://kmwilsher.blogspot.com/"> KM Wilsher

CSFF Blog Tour: The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul

This week, the Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour will be hosting Mrs. Donita K. Paul and her book The Vanishing Sculptor. Please be sure to stop by the next three days to learn more about this fantastic book and her author!

From the back of the book:

Tipper, a young emerlindian woman, has been responsible for the upkeep of her family's estate since her sculptor father disappeared several years ago. To make ends meet, she's been forced to sell off the artwork he left behind. When at last her father returns, accompanied by two strangers from a distant land, Tipper discovers that her actions have unbalanced the foundation of her world and endangered her father's life. She must act quickly to undo the threat. But how can she save her father and the world on her own? The task is too huge for one person, so she gathers the help of some unlikely companions---including the giant parrot, Beccaroon, and the aristocratic tumanhofer, Bealomondore---and sets out on a quest, eventually witnessing the loving care and miraculous resources of Wulder.

Join new characters and old friend in a fantasy that inhabits the same world as the DragonKeeper Chronicles, but in a different country and an earlier time, where the people know nothing of Wulder or Paladin.

Here is a sneak peak into Chapter 1: A View from a Tree

Beccaroon cocked his head, ruffled his neck feathers, and spread his wings, not to fly, but to test the air. He stretched, allowing his crimson wings to spread. The branch beneath him sank and rose again, responding to his weight. Moist, hot air penetrated his finery, and he held his wings away from his brilliant blue sides.

“Too hot for company,” he muttered. Having declared his opinion, he rocked back and forth from one four-toed scaly foot to the other on the limb of a sacktrass tree. The leaves shimmered as the motion rippled along the branch. “Where is that girl?”

His yellow head swiveled almost completely around. He peered with one eye down the overgrown path, and then scoped out every inch within his range of vision, twisting his neck slowly.

A brief morning shower had penetrated the canopy above and rinsed the waxy-coated leaves. A few remaining drops glistened where thin shafts of tropical sun touched the dark green foliage. On the broot vine, flowers the size of plates lifted their fiery red petals, begging the thumb-sized bees to come drink before the weight of nectar broke off the blooms.

Beccaroon flew to a perch on a gnarly branch. He sipped from the broot blossom and ran his black tongue over the edges of his beak. A sudden breeze shook loose a sprinkle of leftover raindrops. Beccaroon shook his tail feathers and blinked. When the disturbance settled, he cocked his head and listened.

“Ah!” he said. “She’s coming.” He preened his soft green breast and waited, giving a show of patience he didn’t feel. His head jerked as he detected someone walking with the girl.

“Bah!” The word exploded from his throat. He flew into a roost far above the forest floor where he couldn’t be seen from the ground.

He watched the approach of the girl placed under his guardianship. Tipper strolled along the path below. She wore a flowing, golden gown over her tall, lean body. She’d put her long blonde hair in a fancy braid that started at the crown of her head. A golden chain hung from each of her pointed ears. And she’d decorated her pointed facial features with subdued colors, blue for her eyelids, rose for her lips, and a shimmering yellow on her cheeks. Beccaroon sighed. His girl was lovely.

Download the rest of this chapter (PDF)

For more great info on our author, feel free to surf on over to her website and blog. Or, even better, come back tomorrow when she is a guest right here at My Own Little Corner of the World!

Donita Paul’s Web site - http://www.donitakpaul.com/
Donita Paul’s blog - http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/

The source of my book comes from Amazon. I personally purchased this book specifically for this tour.

Please be sure to take a few minutes and visit these fellow bloggers on the tour. Comments are much appreciated!!

http://www.christiansciencefiction.blogspot.com"> Brandon Barr
http://jimfictionreview.blogspot.com/"> Jim Black
http://fantastyfreak.blogspot.com/"> Justin Boyer
http://bookshiddencorner.blogspot.com/"> Rachel Briard
http://www.kcreviews.blogspot.com"> Karri Compton
http://www.the160acrewoods.com/"> Amy Cruson
http://csffblogtour.com/"> CSFF Blog Tour
http://word-up-studies.blogspot.com"> Stacey Dale
http://www.scificatholic.com/"> D. G. D. Davidson
http://scriptoriusrex.blogspot.com/"> Jeff Draper
http://projectinga.blogspot.com/"> April Erwin
http://virtualbooktourdenet.blogspot.com/"> Karina Fabian
http://lindarg.wordpress.com/"> Linda Gilmore
http://anewnovelistsjourney.blogspot.com"> Todd Michael Greene
http://cloakanddaggerfiction.blogspot.com"> Katie Hart
http://realmofhearts.blogspot.com/"> Ryan Heart
http://jessebecky.wordpress.com/"> Becky Jesse
http://crisjesse.wordpress.com"> Cris Jesse
http://www.spoiledfortheordinary.blogspot.com/"> Jason Joyner
http://www.molcotw.blogspot.com/"> Julie
http://carolkeen.blogspot.com/"> Carol Keen
http://krystisbooks.blogspot.com/"> Krystine Kercher
http://momofkings.wordpress.com/"> Dawn King
http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/"> Rebecca LuElla Miller
http://mirathon.blogspot.com/"> Mirtika
http://www.questwriter.blogspot.com/"> Eve Nielsen (posting later in the week)
http://linalamont.blogspot.com/"> Nissa
http://www.leastread.blogspot.com/"> John W. Otte
http://residentialaliens.blogspot.com/"> Lyn Perry
http://prochristroetlibertate.blogspot.com/"> Crista Richey
http://www.cherylrussellwrites.wordpress.com"> Cheryl Russell
http://www.chawnaschroeder.blogspot.com/"> Chawna Schroeder
http://www.jamessomers.blogspot.com/"> James Somers
http://specfaith.ritersbloc.com/"> Speculative Faith
http://www.rachelstarrthomson.com/inklings/"> Rachel Starr Thomson
http://www.epictales.org/blog/robertblog.php"> Robert Treskillard
http://christiansf.blogspot.com/"> Steve Trower
http://frederation.wordpress.com"> Fred Warren
http://www.fantasyandfaith.com"> Dona Watson
http://christian-fantasy-book-reviews.com/blog/"> Phyllis Wheeler
http://kerani-in-the-world.blogspot.com/"> Elizabeth Williams
http://kmwilsher.blogspot.com/"> KM Wilsher

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday is hosted by Marcia at The Printed Page each Monday so that other book lovers and bloggers can see and comment on what's in the mailbox. Thanks Marcia for a great way of posting our new (or new to us) books!!

Have you read a book on my list? Please comment on it. It's possible I will use your comment and link back to you when I post my review of a particular book!

To Review:

Beautiful Mess by Diamond Rio (Review copy provided by Thomas Nelson)
Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris (Review copy provided by publisher)
Selfless by David Michael Slater (review copy provided by author)

Purchased:




Giveaway Books I Have Won:

Look to the East by Maureen Lang (won over at Trisha's) <--she has great Christian Fiction giveaways every week! You should check them out!


What's in your box this week?

Breaking News: New Book Club!!

Today, Shelia announced the creation of a new online book club, Word Shakers Online! Please feel free to join and check this out.

Show Me 5 Saturday

Alison over at That's a Novel Idea has decided to start a new MEME. This meme will give each blogger an opportunity to give a brief description of a book they have read or reviewed during the week.

It will work like this:
Each Saturday You will post the answer to these questions. The number indicates the number of answers you will provide.

1 Book you read and/or reviewed this week: The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita Paul
2 Words that describe the book: dragons, art
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met: Beccaroon, Tipper, Verrin Schope
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it: 1. I love the character names!! 2. I feel sorry for Tipper. 3. Tipper's mother is absolutely hilarious 4. I haven't found anything to dislike about it, however, I've just started it too

5 Stars or less for your rating? Not sure yet. Will let you know when review is posted.

If you would like to become a part of this meme, please join in! Alison would love to have you! Create your post and then let her know the link and she'll add you to the linky list!

Thanks Alison for a super fun Saturday meme!

BBAW Wrap-Up

This has been an incredibly amazing week full of lots of blogger love. I was not a blogger during last year's festivities but I am oh so glad that I'm a part of this year's!!! I want to give a huge shout out to Amy for all the time and effort that she has put into Book Blogger Appreciation Week! Amy, you ROCK!!

I do have a few things to wrap up, and I figured I'd get that taken care of. Sorry for the delay, it's been a pretty wild week for me. In between the J-O-B (teaching high school!) and the 2 CPR/First Aid classes I've taught this week, it's a miracle I've even had time to visit the few new blogs that I have found. I do promise to visit more of you soon as things start to die down a little here.

I have some giveaway winners that I would like to publicly announce at this time:

On Monday, I gave away How It Ends. The lucky winner is Rachel!

Tuesday's winner of Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz is none other than Emily and the winner of the 2 Michelle Moran books is Marie!

The Summer of Two Wishes winner on Wednesday was Debbie!

Thursday night's winner of The Science of Life After Death was Diane!

Books will be shipping out shortly to winners! Thank you to everyone for commenting and participating. I hope to see you again soon for more great giveaways!

Special thanks again to Amy and the BBAW team for the following badge. Isn't it just lovely? I love it! :)

I really hope to be more active in next year's festivities. I might just have to take the week off work!!! LOL


On that note....

Oct. 3 is a HUGE day for me...after all, it's the opening night of my hometown team the Atlanta Thrashers versus the Tampa Bay Lightening!! (That's hockey for those of you who don't know!) I love love love hockey, it's like the only sport (besides volleyball) that I even care about!! While my team is not doing it's best during pre-season, I hope to see some improvements and enjoy a few games this season. We opted to not get season tickets this year (trying to save some money) so I'm not sure how frequently I'll be able to go, but I will go as often as hubby will let me!!