Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes

Hughes will fill your heart with the sights, sounds, and flavors of new love, glamorous fashion, and decadent holiday cuisine.

Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs Elysee and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macaroons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Isabel is an ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, and Neil suddenly decided to take over his grandparents’ farm. Isabel wasn’t ready to trade her briefcase for a pair of rubber boots and a saddle.

When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets for herself, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully her neighbor Alec, a French children’s illustrator, comes to her rescue. He too is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon for the holidays. With a new friend by her side, Isabel is determined to use her time in the city of lights wisely. After a chance encounter with a fortune teller and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.

Christmas in Paris is a moving and heartwarming story about love, trust, and self-discovery. Set during the most magical week of the year, the glorious foods and fashions of the most romantic city in the world are sure to take your breath away.

Goodreads Summary

If there's one thing I can't imagine doing when planning a wedding it's...calling it off. In a way, Isabel is brave because she actually calls off the wedding despite it being only a week away. In another way, she's selfish because her main reasoning is not wanting to go from living in the city to working on a farm. I would think if you truly loved someone that that would not necessarily be a deal breaker. Neil is an extremely nice and kind man and...her ex-fiance, but he also suggests that she use their honeymoon tickets on herself. Isabel takes him up on his deal and flies to France, the land of cheese, fine wine, and sweet romance.

Isabel's character would have been fine if it has not been for her selfish streak. However, her selfish streak led her to the exotic locale of France! I loved the rich descriptions and could picture myself there. This book reinforced my desire to visit France some day soon. I loved Alec. Isabel and him were two peas in a pod; they were both recovering from break ups. Their snappy and humorous dialogue helped make the book more enjoyable and I did like the author's upbeat writing style. 

3 1/2 Stars



This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Redemption by Anne Osterlund: Character Interview and Promo!

Summary:

AURELIA, former crown princess of Tyralt, has cobbled together a new life in exile with ROBERT, the young countryman who loves her. In the Outer Realms, they have found safety, but their homeland has not. Tyralt is under attack. When a friend from the past arrives to persuade Aurelia to rescue her country, she and Robert must weigh the hopes of a kingdom against their own failures, nightmares, and self-doubt. Because both Aurelia and Robert know that if they make the wrong choice, with the freedom of an entire nation at stake, they may not find redemption.

Redemption: An Early-Morning Character Interview

(by Anne Osterlund AKA the author)

“Come on, Aurelia. It’s time to go to Live to Read!” I call to the heroine of my first complete series.

She is hovering at the top of the stairs. She has actually been dressed and ready for the first stop of our blog tour—in honor of REDEMPTION, the third & final novel of the Aurelia Trilogy—since about 4:00 a.m.  Aurelia is the only participant in the tour who is a morning person.

Though if you ask her, she will probably tell you she has been prepared for her own personal blog tour her entire life.

“I’ve been ready,” she says. “Robert is the one who is dawdling.”

Robert is more nervous. He isn’t as used to the public spotlight. Four years on the frontier will do that to you. Though you would think he would have adjusted by now, seeing as how this is his third novel alongside a young woman raised as a crown princess. It takes as much backbone for him to stand up to Aurelia as it does for her to stand up to an assassin. Truly, I think both my hero and heroine have a lot of guts. Though their dynamic can be a challenge on a daily basis.

I glance down the stairs. He is tying his boots.

New boots. He really needed them. We all did. After our trek across the desert, over the frontier, climbing the treacherous Gate, negotiating the forest, and trying to survive the many battles within Redemption.

“We’re going to be late,” Aurelia warns.

You would think she might have become more patient after so much time around Robert. But some things don’t change.

Others clearly do.

She descends the stairs and takes his hand, a sign that she is aware he isn’t just dawdling.

Up the stairway they come. “So what shall we say?” Aurelia asks as we head out the door. “What shall we tell Krystal at Live to Read?”

“She asked for a character interview,” I answer. “What would you like to tell her about Redemption?”

Aurelia gnaws her lip. A rarity. To see her struggle to speak. She always has an opinion. But it’s a sign of how much this final book means to her. To us. Three years we spent writing this novel. Every line has come out. Only the vital ones went back in. And there were times—many—when we thought perhaps we would never reach the end of this journey.

It’s been such an amazing, wonderful ride. Heart-breaking. Dream-making. Everything.

We don’t regret it. Any of us.

“That,” Aurelia says.  (The thing about being a character in someone’s head is that you can also read the author’s mind). “I just want our readers to know it’s the story we all hoped it would be from the very beginning.”

She’s nervous. We all are. We don’t know—any of us—if it’s the story our readers have imagined. Probably not. Probably some of it unfolds completely differently. And one day some of our readers will write their own stories to correct that grave injustice.

But for Aurelia, Robert, and I it is . . .

“Everything,” we all say at once.

This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

The Turncoat's Gambit by Andrea Cremer

What if America had lost the Revolutionary War? And now lived in constant fear and oppression? From the bestselling author of Nightshade, this is the action-packed final chapter of The Inventor's Secret trilogy

Charlotte has spent her whole life fighting the British Empire, following in the footsteps of her parents and their group of rebels. But when her reunion with her mother laid bare horrible truths about the rebellion, Charlotte knew she had to escape. Now she is on the run, with no idea who the enemy is--or which of her compatriots is truly on her side.

In this action-packed conclusion to the Inventor's Secret trilogy, full of swashbuckling pirates and young ladies who can hold their own against them, Charlotte will need to fight for her life and for her beliefs -- whatever they might be.


Praise for The Conjurer's Riddle:

"This is classic steampunk [with] exotic and picturesque locales, lots of interesting machinery, and the adrenaline rush of following the adventures of an honest and fearless heroine. A suitably swashbuckling sequel."--Kirkus Reviews
Praise for The Inventor's Secret:

* "Cremer...creates an inventive blend of steampunk and alternative history in this new series. She gives readers a fantastical world with mechanical wonders and an opulent vintage setting. The characters are interesting and well developed. Readers will be drawn to future installments."--VOYA, starred review

"[A]n entertaining romp in a richly imaginative setting."--Kirkus Reviews 

Goodreads Summary

I love the Inventor's Secret series and was expecting a lot from this one! America has lost the revolutionary war, but not all hope is lost. Charlotte and her family are rebels and are determined to take America back. She goes to unusual places and engages in intrigue and drama to accomplish her goal. I loved seeing Charlotte's character develop further into a more mature young woman. She grew more pugnacious (good or bad trait depending the scenario) and more dependable as a person. She definitely isn't a heroine that needs saving; she can save herself by herself. 

I liked the quandary of who was foe and who was friend. It was a little difficult for me, even as the reader, to tell. It added a dimension to the plot that the other two books could have used. I liked how some of the secondary characters were also developed a bit alongside Charlotte. It gave me more insight into Charlotte's character and the plot. I was very satisfied with the ending. Andrea Cremer is such a talented writer. I love how her words just seem to flow on the page. I'm never bored and I always want to finish her books immediately.

4 Stars





This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ

Download Your Free How-To Guide for Bring Your Bible to School Day

 

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are preparing for Hurricane Matthew to hit. For students in hurricane-affected states who are facing school closures but still want to participate in Bring Your Bible to School Day, the alternate date is Thursday, October 20.

This brings about a good point: Any day can be a day you organize your friends to bring your Bibles to school together!

By signing up during the month of October for Bring Your Bible to School Day (even if you missed the official celebration), you can download a free how-to guide for teens, parents, pastors, and elementary students. It's full of helpful information that will help you organize a day to take a stand for religious freedom and bring your Bible to school with your fellow classmates.

(Sign-ups must be received by midnight (MT), Oct. 7, in order to be automatically entered into the Newsboys giveaway.)

Plus Bring Your Bible to School Comes to Adventures in Odyssey

 

Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.

Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club. This product or book may have been distributed for review, this in no way affects my opinions or reviews. COPYRIGHT © 2014 LIVE TO READ