If you haven’t read any steampunk novels, you must read Stephanie Burkhart’s Windsor Diaries Book One: Victorian Scoundrel. It’s one of the most fun and interesting books that I have read recently. I absolutely loved it from the first page and I never lost my excitement for this wonderful story. Our electricity went out during a severe thunderstorm, and I was thrilled that I had this ebook to continue reading. While the rest of the family complained about no TV, I was curled up reading Stephanie’s riveting time-travel book.
Burkhart’s dialogue is a lively mix of humor and depth. I adored the interaction between all the endearing characters. Although the cousins have a close relationship, Alice, Princess of York, feels a need to watch Edmund, Prince of Wales, constantly so his influence in the Victorian Age won’t alter events in their modern world. Their escapades in going back to 1851 will keep readers turning the pages – I know I couldn’t stop reading to see what the cousins planned to do next.

The romance between Alice and Grayson Kentfield, an earl in 1851, makes for an interesting conflict. How can their love survive with Alice living in the present and Grayson being from the past? I’m looking forward to seeing what decisions these two characters make regarding their future together in the next book.

I could tell Burkhart did her research and the historical facts are incredibly well-done.

It’s definitely a favorite book of mine for 2011. I’m looking forward with great anticipation to the next book in the Windsor Diaries series. Burkhart gives readers an exceptional, unforgettable story in this first book, Victorian Scoundrel in her new series.

Yesterday my husband drove his truck and I drove our SUV to Columbus, Ohio, to move our daughter, Emily’s furniture and other things. It takes approximately 2 hours from where we live. After working a year in Columbus, our daughter is leaving Ohio. She is going to start Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She will be studying to become an optometrist, and she’s very happy about her career decision. She will not miss the cold and snowy winters we have in Ohio. We noticed that the temperatures have been lower in Ft. Lauderdale this week than here. Yesterday, it was 90 degrees in Florida and 96 degrees here.

We will enjoy Emily being home for a short time before she starts graduate school. Emily’s older sister,April, is having a going away party for her this weekend!

No Other was an incredible debut novel by Shawna Williams, and I gave it the highest rating. Her second book, In All Things, which continues the Wilheimer family saga, is even more impressive. I didn’t think this was possible after loving No Other. The Wilheimer story resumes ten years later in this second book. Meri and Jakob are raising their three children in California because Meri’s dream of wanting to be an actress became true. Her Hollywood name is Meredith Louis. Jakob is a successful architect, and although Jakob’s kept his promise to Roger that Meri would achieve what she wanted, it has been at a big cost.

Shawna does a magnificent job of creating characters, so real that I felt like I personally knew each one as well as my own friends. Her characterization and story remind me of Shakespeare’s play, As You Like It, when Jacques says,

“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven stages.”

Life is like a play and we have to go through the numerous stages of acting it out. Meri has to play many parts in real life and in the movies. She sometimes feels resentful of Jakob’s attitude about her movie career. Juggling so many roles as husband, father, and architect becomes difficult for Jakob. He tries to hold the family together as they live such a different lifestyle than he experienced as a child.

Jakob’s problems start when his pride is more important than putting first what God wants for his life with Meri. Jakob becomes obsessed with fulfilling his promise to Roger. Several of their problems are a result of Jakob and Meri having sex before marriage. In Jakob’s case, he wanted to move away from his hometown and his close-knit family after he falters as a Christian. Meri was also embarrassed about being pregnant before they got married, so she wanted to escape hearing people talk about her. Jakob felt a strong need to make it up to Meri for taking her virginity before marriage, so he wants to make her dream of becoming an actress come true.

Shawna gave so much depth to Jakob’s choices as a husband, father, and brother. Jakob’s pride and mistakes had a bad effect on his sister Esther. I liked how Shawna showed how Esther felt so abandoned by Jakob. He had been more than an older brother to Esther. He replaced their ill father in many ways to the child Esther. When Jakob left Esther to have a life with Meri in Hollywood, Esther no longer had Jakob’s immediate love and care. She dated the worst guy and didn’t care about living the life God wanted for her.

In All Things made me examine my own life as a Christian. I could relate more to Jakob because he wanted to fix everything in Meri’s life and didn’t follow and listen to God in the beginning of the book. I do the same thing. In the past, I try to go it alone and fix everything for everyone. When I let go of my control and listen to God, I’m at peace and realize He needs to be in control. It’s beautiful to read the Christian growth of Meri and Jakob in this book.

The details about how Hollywood producers and directors operated and managed their actors lend a realistic feel to the whole book. I highly recommend In All Things because it’s an awesome book!

BEAT THE HEAT
July 8th thru July 24th

Cool off with our holiday themed stories, traditions, recipes, decorating tips, discounts, gifts, and lots of fun. All commenters will be included in a variety of drawings for free reads, print books, and gift certificates from Amazon.

Participating blogs and sites include (but are not limited to): All blog links are here!

Happily Ever After KMN Books Blogspot Diane’s Blog Romance…and a little bit of Texas
Romance Under the Moonlight
Victory Tales Press
Western Trail Blazer
Publishing by Rebecca J. Vickery
Linda Swift

99 cent Holiday-themed Reads
(No Coupons needed - Unlinked titles will be added during the sale - Check back often)

The Proposal by Diane Craver
White Christmas by Cheryl Pierson
Underneath the Mistletoe by Laura Shinn (spicy)
Scarlet Ribbons by Cheryl Pierson
Angel and the Cowboy by Celia Yeary
Homecoming by Cheryl Pierson
Christmas in Bayeux by Stephanie Burkhart
Mars Needs Men by Gerald Costlow

A Christmas Full of Memories by Markee Anderson
Feliz Navidad by Kit Prate
Severed Hearts by Laurean Brooks
My Life and Times with Nickolopolus Christog Cringelenstien Clausener
by Charlotte Raby

Discounted Christmas Titles
(Click on the title for the buy link and be sure to note if a coupon code is included.
You will need it to obtain your discount)

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Linda Swift 50% off Coupon Code-SK83D (sweet)
The Hands of Time by Laura Shinn 50% off Coupon Code - EB63Y (spicy)
Wanted by Karen Michelle Nutt 25% Coupon Code - PZ76Z (sensual)
Let Nothing You Dismay by Linda Swift 25% Coupon Code - RZ98Y (sweet)
A Christmas Vow by Laura Shinn 50% off Coupon Code - SSW50 (spicy)
A Christmas Collection: Sweet from VTP $1.00 off - No Coupon Needed
A Christmas Collection: Sensual from VTP $1.00 off No Coupon Needed
A Christmas Collection: Stimulating from VTP $1.00 off No Coupon Needed
A Christmas Collection: Spicy from VTP $1.00 off No Coupon Needed

Recommended Holiday Reads
Journey to Forgiveness by Laurean Brooks
A Christmas Gift by Diane Craver
Gifts Gone Astray by Linda Banche

Free Gift for Visiting Christmas Dessert Decadence from Victory Tales Press
~~~~~
Another BIG SALE - go to Rebecca’s site for the FREEDOM TO READ SALE - it ends July 31st!

~~~My first giveaway was on Regina’s blog. I drew a name but the person hasn’t replied. If Georgia girl doesn’t reply by the end of the weekend, I’ll draw another name from the commenters on this July 1st post. This giveaway is a $5 Gift Certificate to Amazon OR a signed copy of A Christmas Gift!

~~~Please visit my spotlight No. 8 at Martha’s Blogoversary Extraveganza! Here is the link: http://marthasbookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/06/mbs-blogoversary-spotlight-8-diane.html
I’m giving away a signed print copy of A Christmas Gift. This giveaway will close at 10PM Central on July 15, 2011.
~~~~
A few of the many reviews for A Christmas Gift:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Heartfelt Christmas Story
By Colette (Sydney, NSW, AU)

I can highly recommend this beautifully written memoir of an unforgettable Christmas as seen through the eyes of seven year old Debby. Family life in the 1950’s was wonderfully captured and Debby was a delight. The story was quite poignant, but ultimately uplifting and very touching, and I cried more than a few tears. It is not a long book but I enjoyed it from start to finish. It reminded me of classic storytelling such as Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. A gift not just for Christmas.

5 stars A Wonderful Story to Share
By Shawna Williams
Sometimes when I read a book written in a child’s perspective I’m yanked out of the story because I can’t really buy into the voice. It’s like what a grownup thinks a child will sound like. Not so with this book. Diane Craver does an amazing job of pulling me back to 1957 and placing me inside a seven year old girl named Debra. I saw what she saw, reasoned the way she did, and felt her emotions — especially her love for her dad. There were moments in this book where I had to stop, just to give myself a moment to process the emotion Diane stirred in me. Without giving anything away, I’ll let you in on one particular moment: Debra’s mother tells her about her father’s reaction to a poem she wrote. You’ll know what I mean when you read it.

Words really can’t convey how precious this story is. I plan on giving it as a gift to several of my relatives.

5 stars A Heartwarming Read
By Miss Mae “I read what I write…” (USA)
I’d already read all the reviews about this book before I read it. Still, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but it immediately draws you into the Reeves family and the pain that Justin Reeves suffers because of his secret.

Ms. Craver is expert at writing through the eyes of a seven year old girl. We’re there with her as she helps her dad overcome his handicap, and we’re taken to years beyond when Debby herself becomes a grandmother.

This story is a moving read. It’s about faith and love, pure and simple. The love of a man for his family and the love of a little girl for her father. If you want a book that will touch you in an unforgettable way –and believe me, you won’t forget this story– then pick up this book. It’s not just for Christmas. It’s just one you need to read.

5 stars A Christmas Gift by Diane Craver
By Sidney W. Frost “Author of Inspirational Fiction” (Georgetown, TX USA)
This story is told by a seven-year old girl who’s faith is strong enough to comfort her whole family and positively affect many other people for years to come.

The book begins in 1957 when Debra Reeves discovers her father cannot read. He is trying to teach himself, because he is embarrassed to ask for help. Being seven, Debra decides the only solution is to pray for her father. God’s answer to Debra’s prayer solves more than one problem. Debra learns she is loved, the teacher sent to help is released from a life of grieving and Debra’s sister finds happiness.

I have to warn you I cried more than once while reading this rather short book. Of course I laughed some too. All good books affect me this way.

A prologue sets the scene and adds a depth of reality that might not be possible without it. The epilogue lets the reader know what happens to all the characters for the next fifty-three years. It was a real delight to read that part. At first I wondered how the author was able to stop where she did with all that backstory available, but it worked perfectly the way it was written.

Despite the title, this is not one of those stories that only makes sense during the Christmas season. This is one you’ll enjoy all year long.