Kellyn Roth's Blog: Kellyn Roth, Author, page 62

Abortion – They Understand But They Don’t Admit

I’m reblogging this post by Allie of Girls Living for Gods Glory. It’s about abortion, as you can see by the title. It’s an incredible post and you should check it out.

Girls Living For God's Glory

Today, my mom was calculation Student Loan stuff and what not on a government student loan site. They asked her many questions, but one caught her eye. She soon brought this question to my attention;

The following questions will be used to calculate your family size. Do not include yourself or your spouse (if applicable) in your responses to these questions. You and your spouse, as appropriate, are automatically included in your family size.

How many children, including unborn children, are in your family and receive more than half of their support from you?

This pretty much proves that even the government believes that children in the womb are still in fact children. Because if they did not, why would they say ‘including unborn children’ to calculate your affordability payment? They want to know how many children you are supporting and an unborn child still counts as a child in…

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Worlds Unseen by Rachel Starr Thomson

Worlds Unseen by Rachel Starr Thomson

The Seventh World Trilogy, #1

Quiet, timid, and still haunted by the murder of her childhood guardians, Maggie Sheffield wants peace and healing—not an opportunity to uncover truths so frightening that they threaten to forever unravel the world she thinks she knows. But when a dying friend gives her an ancient scroll that purports to contain just such truths, Maggie finds the lure of understanding too hard to resist:

For the power that killed Maggie’s guardians was not human—and she has reason to believe the same power is controlling the Seventh World.

Leaving her hopes for peace behind, Maggie sets out to carry the ancient scroll to the far eastern city of Pravik, seeking the only man in the world who can read it. Along the way, Maggie falls into the companionship of a charismatic young wanderer called Nicolas Fisher, who has secrets of his own that he has long been trying to keep hidden.

Together, their journey plunges them into a strange new world of colorful Gypsies and ancient legends, of death-hounds and beautiful witches, of wilderness treks, unexpected love, and political rebellion. But the price of truth may be too high: for Maggie, Nicolas, and the rebels of Pravik are tearing at the veil between the seen and the unseen, between good and evil, between forgotten past and treacherous future—and when that veil grows thin enough, it’s anyone’s guess what may come through.

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I don’t usually read high/epic fantasy, but I made an exception for Rachel Star Thomson’s Worlds Unseen, and I’m glad I did. It was a fantastic story of good vs. evil, and it had a nice, Chronicles of Narnia-reminiscent Christian theme that was just awesome. There were a couple things that bugged me. Read on.[image error]

The plot was a little rushed at times, but overall, good. Occasionally things seemed to happen waaaay too fast. And the relationship between Maggie and Jerome just didn’t make sense. He appears, and suddenly they’re in love? Wait, what happened to the “falling” part? I have no idea. Besides, Nicolas and Maggie make so much more sense together.

The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed them, even if they were a little undeveloped (and occasionally stereotypical). I think I liked Pat best … or Virginia.

The writing was very melodic, very poetic. The description, especially, was amazing. At times, I was pretty confused by it, but, then I read it quickly and when I had a cold, so that could be the problem.

The Coffee Book Tag

Good afternoon everyone,

Poppy (Poppy’s Best of Books) tagged me for the Coffee Book Tag. I haven’t been nominated for a while … so this is exciting! Thanks, Poppy!

I’m also stealing her adorable banner. >> I have neither the time nor the energy at this point to make my own, and, honestly, am I going to do better than that?

My Reading Schedule for June 2016

Hi guys!

After a discussion with my mom (who thinks I read too many trashy Christian books … which in itself seems contradictory), I decided to read more classics. Which is not really a problem for me, as I enjoy classics for the most part.

Throughout the summer I’m going to read three classic books every month. During the school year, I won’t be able to keep this up … but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.[image error]

My classic books for June will be The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and (for a change of pace) Hard Times by Charles Dickens. Granted, A Study in Scarlet is more of a short story.

Other than that, I also intend to read 3 books off my to-read list on Goodreads (I’ve decided on The Refuge of Highland Hall, but I’m still up in the air on the other two … opinions would be appreciated!) and as many books from my review pile as I possibly can. So I have a busy reading schedule this month.

I’m not sure how this will reflect on the review posting schedule of this blog … we’ll see.

I know this is a short post, but short posts are good, right? Right?!

Can Christians be Gay?

(This was actually a response I made, but like some of my comments do, it turned into the size of a blog post, and while it is not my usual style…) Well, the difficulty here is that the bible…

Source: Can Christians be Gay?

Back from “Hiatus”

I put it in quotation marks because, though I was technically not blogging for these last couple weeks, I published three posts (all reviews) during that time.[image error]

Well, guys, I’m back, well rested-up now. I’ve finished up school for the year, gotten through the terrors of band concert (which is actually not terrible … and a lot of fun … and easier than I expected), and I got a little bit of work done, too!

I’ve also made some headway on Ivy Introspective … I now have over 13,000 words. I want to get at least 50,000, but that shouldn’t be a problem … I’m only at the beginning of the rising action.

At the moment, I’m trying to get through a couple scenes I need to happen before I ship Ivy off to a boarding school in Scotland. I have to make my way through Christmas and a Boxing Day fox hunt, send some guests away and get Alice and Posy (a secondary character, daughter of Mr. Parker) to boarding school themselves.

I’m also spending some time researching autism, though my headway has been little, I’m afraid. I’ve been reading a book on it, but it’s really, really “a beginner’s guide,” and I need more. Does anyone have any idea how I could go about this researching?

When is my goal for finishing the first draft of Ivy Introspective? Before the end of July. I refuse to allow myself to delay any longer … I’m seriously going to finish it this coming month! And I mean it!

The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

For some reason I’m having trouble putting my thoughts about this book into words today … so bear with me!

The Daughter of Highland Hall by Carrie Turansky

Edwardian Brides #2

Eighteen-year-old Katherine Ramsey travels to London with her family to make her debut into society and hopefully find her future husband. Her overbearing aunt insists she must secure a proposal from a wealthy young man who is in line to inherit his father’s title and estate.

But Katherine questions her aunt’s plans when she gets to know Jonathan Foster, a handsome medical student and strong Christian who is determined to protect the poor and vulnerable in London’s East End.

When a family scandal puts a damper on Katherine’s hopes for the season, she has time to volunteer with Jonathan, caring for children in one of London’s poorest areas, and romance blossoms.

Katherine’s faith grows and she begins to envision a different future with Jonathan. But when Katherine’s work in the East End puts her in danger, Jonathan distances himself from Katherine to protect her. A wealthy suitor reappears, and Katherine must choose which path to follow.

Buy on Amazon // Add on Goodreads

This book was as good as – if not better than – The Governess of Highland Hall. I couldn’t put it down, and was once-again delighted by the inspirational Christian content and squeaky-cleanness.

The characters were marvelous. Katherine was interesting, to say the least. I enjoyed her realistic transformation from one way of thinking to another. She was loveable, humorous, and brave. I love stubborn characters, and so Kate and I got along just fine.

Jonathon was nice, but I feel like I didn’t know much about them except that he was kind, generous, etc. The character development there could have been a little better.

It was nice to see the characters from The Governess of Highland Hall again, and to briefly get inside their heads. I can’t wait to get to The Refuge of Highland Hall and read more about them!

Oh, and I still HATE David Ramsey. Try to convert him if you will! David … *traces line in air from my eyes to David’s* … I’m watching you.

The plot was interesting. I especially loved the setting – London during the all-important Season. I’ve been researching debutantes and coming-out and all that for a while now, and it was great to my research in novel form, if you know what I mean.

I did find the ending of the novel a little rushed, as with The Governess of Highland Hall. It just all seemed to come together too quickly, too easily. I suppose that might happen in real life.

Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt

Once again, I publish a post when I’m not supposed to be publishing posts. But, hey, I’ve got some catching up to do! And I have a busy reading schedule for this summer, so … I think I’m justified.

Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt

American Journey, #3

Providence, Rhode Island, 2017.

When doctoral student Cameron Coelho, 28, opens a package from Indiana, he finds more than private papers that will help him with his dissertation. He finds a photograph of a beautiful society editor murdered in 1925 and clues to a century-old mystery.

Within days, he meets Geoffrey Bell, the “time-travel professor,” and begins an unlikely journey through the Roaring Twenties.

Filled with history, romance, and intrigue, Indiana Belle follows a lonely soul on the adventure of a lifetime as he searches for love and answers in the age of Prohibition, flappers, and jazz.

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Indiana Belle by John A. Heldt is an amazing book that caught my attention from page one to the end.

Cameron Coelho, the main POV character, was interesting. At first I had a little trouble getting attached to him … I felt like we were learning a lot about the other characters and very little about the MC, which seems to be a common case in closed 3rd-person narratives (assuming I’m using that term right). However, as time went on, I got attached to him, too. He was admirable, but not too perfect. His back story was sad, yet not melodramatic or secretive, and fit in nicely with the storyline.

I’ll be honest … if it had just been Cameron, I wouldn’t have been quite so enthusiastic about this book. It took Candice Bell, the journalist, the rebel, the flapper, the Indiana Belle to liven up the story. She was … well, she was perfect. And by perfect, I mean she also had some faults and short comings (so bullheaded …) that made her perfect. And besides, she’s a redhead.

Candice’s family – mother, brother, sister-in-law, baby niece – were lovely. I especially liked Mrs. Bell.

The villains were hateful, but still human. These were hateful, but not too hateful. I don’t know if you know what I mean, but I get sick of totally evil villains. They’re kind of unbelievable. Like Dr. Doofenshmirtz. secretly I’m very lonely

The writing was very good. I liked the style. It didn’t throw me off with a ton of description or facts or super long words. I got the information I needed to proceed and give me a feel for the time period; nothing more.

I’ve loved the 1920s since I read Cheaper by the Dozen when I was 9-ish. It was wonderful to go back in time with Cameron and see this vastly different – and in my opinion vastly better – time period. Indiana Belle was thoroughly researched, which was good because historical discrepancies can throw me off.

Time travel has always fascinated me to some extent. I know it’s impossible (I actually had to think about this for a bit while I was reading this book to determine that, no, time travel isn’t ever going to happen), but I just keep wishing it was possible. Honestly, though, I don’t want to time travel to different time periods; I want to have been born there and grow up there and live there.

Dark Eminence by Marguerite Vance

I wasn’t going to publish anything until after June 1, but this doesn’t really count as it was for school, and I was going to have to do it anyway.

Dark Eminence by Marguerite Vance

Catherine de Medici and Her Children

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it, but this school year (2015-2016), we’ve been studying the Renaissance, Reformation, and the Age of Exploration.

We’re finishing up this week with school and the 1500s. And I’ve got to review this book, Dark Eminence, and write a report about Catherine de Medici’s life for school. Why not share it with you?

It’s a little-known book that gives you an accurate, unbiased account of the life of Catherine de Medici. *shivers*

I actually had a dream about her chasing me down and making me do what she wanted me to do (which was marry her icky son) a couple nights ago. Um … yeah.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Life of Catherine de Medici

Catherine de Medici was born in 1519 in Florence, Italy, in the Medici palace. Her father was Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbino (1492-1519). Her mother was Madeleine de la Tour D’Auvergne. Her parents both died when she was a baby, and she spent the first six years of her life in Rome under the watchful eye of her uncle, Pope Leo X. She then returned to Florence (c. 1525) to live with her aunt and uncle.

In 1527, the Medici family became very unpopular in Florence, and Catherine, the eight-year-old child was sent to the Dominican convent of Santa Lucia. A few months later, she was transferred to the convent of Santa Caterina of Siena, then to Santissima Annunziata delle Murate. In 1528 when her aunt died, the nine-year-old little girl was alone in a city filled with her enemies.

She was taken away from the convent after that to Rome where her grandfather’s cousin, Pope Clement VII, now reined. Since Catherine was six years old, he and Francis I of France had been negotiating terms for an engagement between Catherine and the King’s second son, Prince Henry, Duke of Orleans, and at the age of fourteen she was sent to France to marry this prince she’d never laid eyes on before. On October 28th of the year 1533, she became the Duchess of Orleans.

The match was frowned upon by the French court. Catherine, though rich enough, was the daughter of a merchant with no true royal blood running through her veins. She was shunned, insulted. Of course this was embittering, and Catherine held a grudge.

Catherine’s husband’s big brother died in 1536; she was to be the next queen of France if all went well. However, this was not a happy time for Catherine. Her husband was neglectful of her at best, and she ‘d yet to produce an heir. The court wanted to replace her. Only by humbly begging Francis the I, her father-in-law, to protect her was she able to save her marriage and position.

In 1543, her son was born, who would be Francis II of France. After that, Catherine gave birth to six more children between 1545 and 1554, Elizabeth (Queen of Spain, 1545-68), Claude (Duchess of Lorraine, 1547-75), Charles IX (King of France, 1550-74), Henry III (King of Poland, later King of France, 1551-89), Marguerite (Queen of France, 1552-1615), and Hercules (Duke of Alencon, 1554-84). Of all her children, only Marguerite would outlive her.

They were, for the most part, a sickly, fretful bunch. Catherine had complete control over most of them with the exception of Marguerite, who never would obey her, and she used them as pawns. Her goal was to establish the House of Valois in France as supreme. She would have her revenge and her power through her children. Let the court try to shun her now; “that Italian girl” would rise!

King Francis I died. In 1547, Catherine’s husband was crowned King Henry II of France. Around this time, Mary Stuart came to France. She was to marry the heir-apparent Francis II; for now she was sort of the ward of the court. In 1558, this marriage came about. Catherine did not particularly like Mary, however. I don’t blame her; Mary Stuart was the stupidest woman who ever walked the face of the planet, always befriending enemies of powerful people and putting  incriminating things in writing.

At the same time, Catherine was scheming for a marriage between Don Carlos, son of Philip the II, King of Spain, and Elizabeth. But Philip II decided he’d rather marry Elizabeth himself.  Catherine decided that a marriage with the father was as good – if not better – as a marriage to the son. She agreed, and poor little Elizabeth was carted off to Spain in 1559.

This year, 1559, Henry II of France died in a jousting accident. The crown was passed to his weak little son, Francis the II of France. He only reined for a year; in 1560, his delicate health failed him once and for all and he died, having spent his short reign as a pawn of his wife’s French relatives, the Guises, much to Catherine’s distress. Mary Stuart was sent back to Scotland.

(In 1559, Claude, Catherine’s uglier, sickliest little daughter, was married to Charles III, Duke of Lorraine. She had a relatively happy life after she was no longer her mother’s pawn. She had nine children, dying in childbirth with her last one (who survived her by only a year) in 1575)

The next-in-line, Charles IX, was a pouting baby of ten years old at the time of his brother’s death.

At first, Catherine was able to manage him; as the years passed, she was unable to keep control of her unruly boy. They disagreed violently over and over again, arguments usually ending with the King rolling all over the floor screaming and Catherine in tears. Charles began to allow other people to influence him besides his mother, some of them Huguenot supporters, and Catherine couldn’t stand that.

She arranged for a marriage between her daughter Marguerite and the King of Navarre, Henry IV. He was a Huguenot, and Catherine hated him. And after their wedding came the dreadful carnage which historians generally say that Catherine de Medici guilty of. And she probably was.

And so, on August the 22nd and 23rd of 1572 came the St. Bartholomew’s Day Massacre. Huguenots, a Protestant group in France, were killed by the thousands: men, woman, and children. Guise and his followers stormed the streets shouting, “Kill! Kill! Kill all the Huguenots by the King’s command!” Of course, the King’s command was only given after the Queen Mother convinced him to give it.

After this event, Charles was swamped with guilt. He died two years later in 1574, leaving his young wife, Elizabeth of Austria, and a daughter. (None of Catherine’s children produced sons, interestingly enough. A God-given miracle, perhaps?

Blogging Hiatus

Hi guys!

I’m not going to be blogging for a while! Well, I’ll be back around June 1st to be specific. I’m pretty busy right now with school and band concerts and writing deadlines and stuff.

See you in June!

~Kellyn Roth