Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for June, 2011

ABOUT THE BOOK

Female journalists are rare in 1879, but American-born Clara Endicott has finally made a name for herself with her provocative articles championing London’s poor. When the backlash from her work forces a return home to Baltimore, Clara finds herself face-to-face with a childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished factory worker she once knew. In her absence, Daniel Tremain has become a powerful industry giant and Clara finds him as enigmatic as ever. However, Daniel’s success is fueled by resentment from past wounds and Clara’s deeply-held beliefs about God’s grace force Daniel to confront his own motives. When Clara’s very life is endangered by one of Daniel’s adversaries, they must face a reckoning neither of them ever could have foreseen.

When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain’s worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible.

But time has changed them both.

Daniel is an industrial titan with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts, and lives, hang in the balance?

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Lady of Bolton Hill, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

I haven’t finished reading this book but wanted to get my post up in time for the book tour. So far, The Lady of Bolton Hill is a wonderful historical fiction read. Now, please understand that my opinion might be a little clouded because this is the first book that I’ve read in the past 4 months!

I’ve enjoyed the premise of the book – rich girl during childhood befriends a poor boy because of their mutual love of Chopin and 12 years later after she’s been shipped abroad in order to prevent the friendship from blossoming into love she returns home to find that the poor boy is potentially one of the richest men in the country. And the best part is he’s an eligible bachelor.

To me, the lessons in the book come across as choices, consequences, and standing for what you believe. I could be a little off in those topics since I haven’t finished yet. I’m really tempted to skip ahead and find out what happens, but I plan to savor every word even if it takes a month!

I’ve included the author information below because she is a “new to me” author and likely to some of my readers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.

A word from Elizabeth: I am a college librarian in central Florida by day, but by night I can be found pounding out inspirational historical novels the moment the sun goes down. I love writing books about fiercely intelligent people who are confronted with profound challenges. As a rather introverted person, I have found that writing is the best way for me to share my faith and a sense of resilience with others.

As for who I am? I love old Hitchcock films, the hour before sunset, a long, sweaty run through the Florida countryside, and a glass of good wine. After spending my entire adult life on a college campus (either as a student or a librarian) I have finally been able to pursue my ultimate goal of writing professionally.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free  via Christian Fiction Blog Alliance. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.
She received her first book contract in November, 1992 and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings’ Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership’s vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.

In December, 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.

She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.

Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family–especially her three grandchildren–Rainy, Fox and Max. She’s active in her church as the Director of Women’s Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer’s retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Will Love Escape Her Grasp?

Life seems to be falling into place for Deborah Vandermark. On the cusp of finally marrying Christopher, the man who claimed her heart, she is devastated when he receives an urgent telegram. Bound to his family obligations, Christopher travels to Kansas City, uncertain of what he will find there.

When her fiancé returns to Texas, Deborah is faced with a very different future than she expected. She finds herself plagued with questions and uncertainty…about marriage, motherhood, and her passion to train as a physician. And when an old adversary reveals a contract that may spell ruin for Vandermark Logging, Deborah’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. Can Christopher and Deborah find a way to claim the future they long to share when so much stands in the way?

If you’d like to read the first chapter of Hope Rekindled, go HERE.

Because of a serious problem with a previous pregnancy, I’m required by my doctor to have an ultrasound as soon as I know I’m pregnant. So, at 4 weeks 6 days gestation, I had our first ultrasound. I’ll never forget that ultrasound! It was almost over when the sonogram lady paused.

“Wait a minute…” she said.

“Oh no! What’s wrong?” I thought to myself as a feeling of dread washed over me.

“See this right here? I think it might be a twin.”

“Twin?” (I think my voice squeaked a little.)

“Now I can’t be 100% sure because it’s early but I’ve been doing these ultrasounds for years and this definitely looks like a twin.” She was pointing to some faint blobby thing that really didn’t look at all like the other baby. In fact, I had a hard time distinguishing it on the screen.

She said she was marking it for the radiologist to look at as she typed “Possible Twin???” on the screen.

One other thing that she mentioned was that my HcG levels were elevated which can also signify a multiple pregnancy.

Later that evening my doctor called with the ultrasound results. He told me not to get excited about the twin thing because a lot of pregnancies start out as twins especially on the early ultrasounds. Then somewhere between the early ultrasound and 10 weeks gestation one of the twins vanishes resulting in what is called “vanishing twin syndrome.” (Scientists have no explanation for what happens to the twin other than it simply vanishes and our bodies absorb it.)

So the plan was that we wait until 10 weeks gestation for our next ultrasound.

To me, that wait seemed like forever. Not so much to find out about the twins because I already knew in my heart it was, but simply to find out if they were healthy and to see/hear their heartbeats.

Finally at 10 weeks 6 days, we had our ultrasound. DH came along for this one – no way was he missing out on seeing his babies for the first time! (Other than the very first ultrasound, he was at the remaining 8!)

Sure enough, there were two tiny little babies who were very active squiggling and squirming around. (And they were that way at every ultrasound. We had 5 different sonographers over the course of the pregnancy and all of them commented on how active the babies were, more so than some singletons.)

Now for the ironic part of the story. For a month or so before that first ultrasound we had been car shopping. My car at the time had an unsolvable mechanical problem and we were tired of dumping money in to it. I took a pregnancy test on a Thursday (4 weeks 1 day), and that Saturday we were out shopping again. We did find a car, albeit bigger than what we had in mind – we were planning on a Focus but ended up with a Fusion.

As we drove off the car lot, I looked at DH and said, “Ya know, this car is bigger than what we planned. Maybe God knows that we’re having twins and we’ll need the bigger car.” DH groaned and we both laughed.

So, four days later, after that first ultrasound was finished, I called DH who was on his way to work. I made him pull over to the side of the road (partly because I didn’t want him losing the call in spotty cell service and partly because I didn’t want him wrecking his car!). First, I assured him that everything was okay with the pregnancy – a big relief for us.

Then I said, “Remember what I said when we left the car lot on Saturday about needing the bigger car?”

“Seriously?” (I could hear the disbelief in his voice.)

“Yep.”

“You’re having twins?”

“Yep.”

And I really don’t remember the rest of the conversation. But I do know that today there is no way we’d fit in a Focus!