Sheila's Books Read

Sheila's bookshelf: read

The Best Intentions
Scotland's Melody
The Secret Society of Salzburg
Secret of the Sonnets
20-40-60-Minute Dinners: Meals to Match the Time You Have
Through the Wilderness: My Journey of Redemption and Healing in the American Wild
Secret Santa Claus Club: A Tool to Help Parents Unwrap the Secret of Santa
Mr. Pudgins
Revenge Never Rests
The Best Mistake
Meriden Park
More Inspirational Stories for Young Women
The Great Tree: A Christmas Fable
To Capture His Heart
The Call of the Sea
Esperance
Livvy and the Enchanted Woodland
Come, Gentle Night
The Bad Boy Theory
Guide To Smart Wedding Planning: What You want to know and everything you haven't thought of yet.


Sheila's favorite books »

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Soul Mirrors By Wiley A Haydon-Cover Reveal and Giveaway





My love of storytelling traces back to my step-mother, who spun wonderful fantasy stories when I was child. I finished my first novel at sixteen. That first attempt was terrible, but taught me quite a bit about story construction. Though I would start numerous other projects in the following years, I wouldn't actually complete another book for another 21 years. 
I wasn't idle in that time, though. I earned a degree in engineering, married the love of my life, worked as a semi- truck driver crisscrossing the country, moved from Texas to North Dakota and then came back home. 
It's been a fun and interesting journey. I really enjoy engineering, but writing was my first passion, and I'm excited to share it with you.
I currently live in West Texas with my wife and our two adorable (but weird) cats.

Connect with the Author here: 
 ~ Website




"No one knows how human genetics evolved to create Mirrors. No one knows how the evidence of a criminal’s last horrendous act can be confirmed in a single gaze of a child’s silvered eyes. But just because science can’t explain something doesn’t mean it can’t be used, and this gift is simply too valuable to ignore.

Twins Thomas and Ashley Ross have grown up knowing they would be used as Mirrors for the “good” of humanity. When their powers mature at age twelve, they are taken weekly to fulfill their role. By reliving the most heinous crimes from a perpetrators’ perspective, they alone can assure that no innocent people will be executed, and that the worst offenders are not set free due to lack of evidence.

Justice is not without cost, however. Taking on the memories of others is a destructive process, one that quickly consumes the children involved until most take their own lives. As despair threatens to drown Thomas and Ashley, a distant hope keeps them from succumbing: If they can make it to their eighteenth birthday, their contract with the government will be fulfilled. Changing views on the morality of their role threatens to tear them apart, but the twins struggle to cling to each other and try to construct a fragile life above the weekly flood of horrors. 

As their work takes it toll, however, a new question emerges: does survival even matter when you’re already broken beyond repair?"


And now for the Cover
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~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK




To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 




Tuesday, November 14, 2017

It's Time For the Gratitude Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to one of my most favorite things every year: 
The Gratitude Giveaway Hop!

This is where I get to thank my blog followers
 and reward one of you a
gift certificate to Amazon.com

I'm also grateful for Mary at Book Hounds
for hosting this hop! 

I love this month of November when I can
enjoy the beautiful fall weather and remember all of the wonderful things I'm grateful for.

All you need to do to enter the giveaway is to follow me here at GFC on my blog or on Twitter. 
Again, I hope that you enjoy all of the upcoming
holiday celebrations with family and friends.
What are you thankful for this time of the year?

 Comment below with your thoughts and don't forget to enter the giveaway! 
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Monday, November 13, 2017

Happily Ever After Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology) by Jessica Day George, Julie Wright, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Sarah M. Eden, Julie Daines


{Product Details}

  • Title: Happily Ever After Collection (A Timeless Romance Anthology) 
  • Authors: Jessica Day George, Julie Wright, Annette Lyon, Heather B. Moore, Sarah M. Eden, Julie Daines
  • Print Length: 300 pages
  • Publisher: Mirror Press (October 24, 2017)
  • Publication Date: October 24, 2017
  • Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B075855VPW
  • FTC, FYI: I received a review ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

{Book Synopsis}

MAIL-ORDER PRINCESS by Jessica Day George: 
Elise flees her small kingdom and arrives in the New World with only her two trunks and seven swans—her seven brothers to be exact. But Elise will do anything to get her brothers away from their cruel stepmother’s curse, even if it means accepting the long-distance marriage proposal to a former count turned farmer. 



THE MILLER’S DAUGHTER by Julie Wright:
When Isa meets Thomas Rumple, she is quickly infatuated with his good looks and natural charm, until she learns his true identity. Due to a wild claim by her insufferable father, Isa’s life is threatened by the king if she can’t spin a room full of straw into gold, and Thomas may be the only one who can save her. 



THE PEBBLED PATH by Sarah M. Eden: 
Deep in the heart of a mysterious forest, Gretel trades her freedom to save her beloved father from the spell of an evil enchantress. Even attempting to escape would cost her father his life. Gretel’s determination to fulfill her promise wavers when she meets Hansel, a young man who captures her heart. For, she loves him too dearly to put his life in danger, and he loves her too much to simply leave her to her fate.



BLACK FERN by Julie Daines: 
RĂ³s is desperate to find work in order to care for her ailing father and younger sisters. She applies to the mysterious owner of a crumbling castle and is soon swept up in dark secrets. Unsure if the owner of the castle is man or beast, RĂ³s determines to help him at all cost. She soon discovers that the cost may be too great, even for her.



SCARLET by Heather B. Moore:
When Scarlet needs to fetch a healing tonic on the night when the wolves are at their most dangerous, she has no choice but to apply to her nemesis, August, for help. He agrees to help her, but they encounter a pack of wolves that put up a fierce fight, marking Scarlet as their newly targeted prey. 



SO RARE A POWER by Annette Lyon:
 Stella knows she’s taking a risk each time she meets Patrick in the rose garden that they’ve cultivated together. And no matter how much her mother will disapprove of their relationship, Stella can’t deny her feelings for him. When the Snow Queen steals away Patrick to drain him of his powers of creating beauty and life, Stella must decide what she’s willing to risk to rescue him.














**** Amazon Goodreads****


{My Review}

I have always loved reading the Timeless Romance Anthologies but this one was so very different from the rest. In this anthology original fairy tales are retold and given a fresh, new twist. I've loved the past few years and how fairy tales have been given a new life with the retellings. Readers will find well written novellas by experienced authors. They are also authors whose work I read quite often so I knew before starting this book that I was in for good storytelling. Also, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!!

It's hard for me to pick which story I liked the most. All of them were so unique and creative. Of course each one held a touch of magic and romance. 

I've always loved Beauty and the Beast stories so Black Fern was especially exciting to read. I loved how the "Beast" was  portrayed in this story. He was so different from any other I'd read before. The love story is my favorite out of the six in the book. 

 I also like the fun Western twist in The Mail Order Princess from the original fairy tale of The Wild Swans or also know as The Six Swans. I loved how it took place in America out in the old west.

The Miller's Daughter, taken from Rumplestiltskin, was written with a clever plot that made it exciting and refreshing. I truly liked the courageous Thomas Rumple. 

The Pebbled Path was so uncommon and unexpected from the normal Hansel and Gretel stories we've always heard. This story is full of magic and I really loved the couple in this novella.

Scarlett was perhaps the most exciting as Scarlett and August battled against the fierce wolf pack. Their love story was also very believable because of their long history together. By far this is my favorite Red Riding Hood story I've ever encountered.

Finally, So Rare a Power, the story of the Snow Queen who kidnaps Patrick away from Stella wanting the mysterious power that she thinks Patrick has. It was fun to find out what that power was and this story had the best "life lesson" out of all of them. 

As you could see, I truly enjoyed reading each story and relishing the joy of reading a book full of fairy tales. No matter your age, there is still something thrilling about getting lost in the fairy tales of old.






Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Cover Reveal for Stolen Enchantress by Amber Argyle

Today is the cover reveal for Stolen Enchantress by Amber Argyle. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The cover is designed by Melissa Williams Design.


Stolen Enchantress
Stolen Enchantress (Forbidden Forest #1)
By Amber Argyle
Genre: Fairytale Adaptation/ Epic Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: April 9, 2018
Blurb:Any girl who goes into the Forbidden Forest never comes out again. Except the one who did. Larkin should have been watching her little sister. Should have paid more attention to the trees looming over her family’s fields. Now Sela is gone. Knowing full well the danger of the forest and its beast, Larkin goes after her anyway. With her sister clutched in her arms, she manages to escape, but not before discovering the truth lurking beneath the wicked boughs. She may have evaded the beast once, but with the full force of his magic now fixated on her, she isn’t sure how much longer she can resist . . .
You can find Stolen Enchantress on Goodreads.You can pre-order Stolen Enchantress on iBooks



Amber Argyle{About the Author:}
Bestselling author Amber Argyle writes young-adult fantasies where the main characters save the world (with varying degrees of success) and fall in love (with the enemy). Her award-winning books have been translated into numerous languages and praised by such authors as NYT bestsellers David Farland and Jennifer A. Nielsen.Amber grew up on a cattle ranch and spent her formative years in the rodeo circuit and on the basketball court. She graduated cum laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year-old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform from crazy small people into less-crazy larger people. She's fluent in all forms of sarcasm, loves hiking and traveling, and believes spiders should be relegated to horror novels where they belong.To receive her starter library of four free books, simply tell her where to sendit: www.amberargyle.comYou can find and contact Amber here:- Website - Blog - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest - Goodreads - Barnes & Noble - Kobo - Amazon - Newsletter banner Lola's Blog Tours

Monday, November 6, 2017

The Forgotten Carols Giveaway: Win Four Tickets to the Show!



1. What is your favorite Forgotten Carol scene?
I have so many scenes in THE FORGOTTEN CAROLS that are “favorites” for a variety of reasons.  But I’m surprised, performance after performance, how often something touches me differently and teaches me something that I’ve missed in performances past.  It’s the gift of doing this show for 26 years.  I keep learning things, understanding things, and feeling things that bring me closer to the One Christmas is all about…the One who we remember…It’s about remembering what’s been “forgotten” when it comes to the meaning of Christmas. 
2. Do you have a favorite snack you enjoy while traveling to each tour city? 

I'm a diabetic, so this is sort of a trick question.  I crave chocolate cake donuts, but have to eat Kind Bars.  That’s the reality, but the truth is, I cheat sometimes…and take a little bit more insulin to make up for it.  Don’t tell anybody :)


3. What do you enjoy most when you’re on the road performing? 

The older I get the more exhausting it is to be traveling from place to place…but the joy of that travel when it’s with people I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to pieces.  The cast and the crew make it a joy beyond measure.  

4.       During the last song when the audience is hand-in-hand singing, what emotions do you feel from the stage? 



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When the encore segment of The Forgotten Carols happens, I find myself focusing on the meaning of “together forever”.   Is it something that we hope will happen someday, somewhere down the road, or is it something we can feel right now, this moment?  Some nights I feel like I should sing a different lyric for families that can’t buy in to the idea of an eternal connection, for whatever reasons, and the appropriate lyric for them would be, “We can be together, whatever, today”.  Some nights, thinking about my own family and the challenges we face, those words are a great comfort and a celebration of now.  I believe that what happens to me, and many people who attend The Forgotten Carols, is that together in that moment, we feel the love and peace and comfort that comes at Christmas time to remind us that we are never alone, and the One whose birth we celebrate is ALWAYS with us.   Here’s a news flash for you, my blogger friends.  I’M ADDING A NEW CAROL TO THE SHOW THIS YEAR that I think will shine a beautiful light on that thought.  Hope y’all come and hear me sing it!!!

Now's your chance to enter the giveaway to win four tickets to the show nearest you!  

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