Vanessa Hall's Blog, page 20
July 26, 2022
Cover Reveal: Back to Me by Michaela Bush
I’m not me anymore.
Bridget Owens spends her days working and her nights trying to escape the nightmare she was born into. One year after leaving her old life, she still sees ghosts, hears threats, feels nails digging into her flesh, and can’t sleep unless she wants to wake up sobbing. Her memories become a graveyard of who she once was, and she nurtures it daily until she reaches her breaking point.
When Nick, a childhood friend, suggests help at the last moment, she finds it hard to sit across from a counselor who says he cares. She finds it impossible to trust anything, even herself. She’s broken, and she isn’t sure how to put the pieces back together. What if they never fit right anymore?
A story of redemption, calling, healing, and recovery.
About the Author
Michaela Bush is an independent writer of Christian fiction. She graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania in 2019 with a degree in English and minor in Psychology. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and when she isn’t writing, freelancing, or building her own editing business, she’s out with her horses or playing violin. Writing has been her calling from a young age and she hopes to touch lives and inspire readers with clean, thoughtful, and impactful novels. Follow her blog at www.tangledupinwriting.com
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Cover!
July 25, 2022
Review: Midnight Will Come by Kristina Hall
Midnight Will Come by Kristina Hall
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Wow! What can I even say? I never thought I was much of a dystopian reader, but there is so much in this genre that makes a great story. And this one … well, this took a different twist on a dystopian story. And added to amazing, memorable characters? Just epic.
Characters: So let me just start this out by saying Mellie is such a great MC. Her narration is hilarious. I’d be willing to read day in the life of Mellie just because her personality is that engaging. Needless to say, she offered a good dose of humor that really lightened up even the tense moments of the book (in a good way.) I loved her care and commitment for her patients (oh, and I didn’t even mention that she’s a naturopathic nurse – too cool!), and her protectiveness over her family was so sweet. And then Friedrich … the poor man. He went through so much in this book (mentally and physically), but I just loved watching him seek to serve the Lord and try to do what was right. That moment at the end that I won’t detail for spoilers was so powerful when he was faithful even in the face of his enemies. I can’t wait to see watch Mellie and Friedrich’s tentative relationship grow. And then the side characters. I loved Jess. She was so much fun, and she seemed so realistic. The perfect sister for Mellie! And then there was Karl. The guy doesn’t even deserve for me to mention him. What a jerk. I refuse to say anything more about him, other than Mellie’s comments about him cracked me up.
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: Though this book was dystopian, it didn’t have the super hardcore dystopian feel that some books do. (As in the entire world wasn’t imploding on the characters – just somewhat.) But I did appreciate the possible parallels the author allowed the readers to draw to our own world. And I loved the Eastern Kentucky setting. As for the writing style, it worked great. Simple, to the point, easy to read. And that plot – yikes! Needless to say, there was plenty of suspense in here that made you keep reading, and the twists and turns definitely could give some surprises to the reader!
Moral/Theme: This was so beautiful. The story of Paul and Silas praising the Lord while they were imprisoned (Acts 16) is such a powerful story, and that’s what this book touched on. Christians should praise the Lord, even in the midnight, because of His faithfulness. And that scene with “The Solid Rock” at the end … beautiful! Other wonderful themes were also presented throughout the book, such as trusting the Lord and the importance of missions.
Overall, this was such a great first book in the Kentucky Midnight series. Those of you looking for powerful, clean Christian suspense should check this series out. You won’t regret it!
July 22, 2022
Cover Reveal: Darkness Draws Near by Kristina Hall
I’m currently reading Midnight Will Come, the first of Kristina’s Kentucky Midnight series, and I am just enjoying it so much! And today, I get to share with all of you the cover for the second book in the series. I read the first draft of Darkness Draws Near a few months ago, and I was just blown away by how many amazing elements Kristina incorporated into this novel. I just love the characters, then all the suspense and slightly-dystopian elements and a pro-life theme … yeah, you all need to check this book out.
So without further jabbering, here is the blurb for Darkness Draws Near, the second book in the Kentucky Midnight Series.
Life’s worth fighting for …
When Mellie Rivers opens her home to a young mom, she knows there’s risk involved—both from the government and her own inadequacies.
Friedrich Wolf is content to work as a missionary and a mechanic. Too bad he’s given vandals an unknown reason to hate him.
When the vandalism escalates to deadly violence, Friedrich and Mellie will have to fight for life … even as darkness draws near.
Add on Goodreads!About the Author
Kristina Hall is a sinner saved by grace who seeks to glorify God with her words. She is a homeschool graduate and holds a degree in accounting. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, arm wrestling, lifting weights, and playing the violin.
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July 19, 2022
Blog Tour + Review: A Prayer Unanswered by Kellyn Roth
As Alice Strauss enters her first year of marriage—full of optimism and determination—she finds herself wholly unprepared for reality. In a new country, with a new family, she struggles to find her footing. Difficult relationships and situations batter her, but she is determined to establish a perfect life with the man she loves.
Unfortunately, perfection seems just beyond her reach. An unexpected tragedy flings Alice out of control, and she struggles to rise from the ruins. Her world is full of spinning variables and agony beyond anything she has ever experienced.
However, there is hope—in a God who loves her and a future established for her since before time began. Yet the devastation of Alice’s life seems beyond even the touch of grace.
GoodreadsAmazonBookbubMy ReviewA Prayer Unanswered by Kellyn Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
Coming into this book, I knew it was going to touch on several difficult topics (see the lovely author’s content guide for the complete list), and I always appreciate authors who deal with hard topics that are true to real life. So let’s start with the characters, which I knew from the fourth book, At Her Fingertips.
Characters: The two POVs were Peter and Alice, now married after their engagement in the fourth book. I was hoping to see some happiness and marital bliss for at least a few minutes, but that didn’t last quite as long as I’d hoped. Peter was quite well-written; I thought the author really grasped his character and his overall voice. Peter always felt like Peter! And of course, he was almost always the Peter I’ve come to expect: faithful, thoughtful, and kind. As for Alice … dear Alice. She just had so much room to grow in this book, and I suppose that she did grow, even though it maybe wasn’t quite as clear as I’d hoped. Alice, in general, is just a bit of a difficult character, and then this entire book sent the poor girl for an entire tailspin. As for the side characters, I enjoyed seeing Ivy and Jordy from the last book, and getting to know the Farjons better was also fun (when they weren’t causing problems, that was). Overall, it was great to have all the familiar side characters back on the scene, even if it were only for a few pages.
Setting/Writing Style/Plot: The change of setting from England to America was a nice change, and the writing style throughout was consistent and true to the author’s voice. Her writing worked really well for this type of book, and the sentences flowed smoothly and unobtrusively. As for the plot … this was where I started struggling. The first forty to fifty percent went along okay (because I knew some of what was coming), but then the second half really just threw me for a loop. It got to the point that I was a little overwhelmed by all the twists and turns and drama and pain. I think I just can’t deal with so many relationship problems, and I just wanted to see Peter and Alice happy for once! (Petty reader here.) However, Alice’s reactions were understandable, even if I wanted to just shake her and make her listen to Peter for once!
Moral/Theme: Where do I start? This book touched on so many difficult topics, and I applaud the author for doing so. Loss and grief are real, and I think it was portrayed in a realistic way. Alice’s downward spiral into severe depression was also true to real life, and it was just terrible to watch. The author addressed these things with sympathy and sensitivity, and the ending was well-done in the fact that everything wasn’t immediately okay. That’s also so true to life. However, I would’ve liked to have seen more Biblical responses to everything Alice and Peter face. Yes, there were Biblical responses in general to the trials they faced, but I needed more. I needed Alice to come to an even greater realization of her need for the Lord, and the same for Peter after his understandable breakdown in the middle of the book. To be clear, the author did touch on these things, but I just needed them shouted in my face after so much darkness. I just needed blazes and floods of light against the darkness!
Overall, though this was a difficult read, I appreciate the author’s take on such real, heartbreaking topics. For those of you who are fans of British historical fiction, you will likely enjoy this book. Just brace yourself for some heartwrenching drama!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
A paperback copy of A Prayer Unanswered
A bracelet
A locket
Enter!About the Author
Kellyn Roth is a historical romance & women’s fiction author who writes about the empty places where hope has the most room to grow. Her novels include the inspirational Victorian family saga, The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy, and the Kees & Colliers series, which follows a broken family in the tumultuous years of the first half of the 20th century.
Kellyn is a student of the Author Conservatory and a writing coach. When not building her author career, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends, watching period dramas and facetious comedies, or spending time with her husband.
Connect!Tour Schedule16th:
Book Spotlight @ https://kristinahallauthor.wordpress.com/blog/
Author Interview/Book Spotlight @ https://onceuponanordinary.wordpress.com/
17th:
Book Review @ novelsdragonsandwardrobedoors.blogspot.com
Book Review/Spotlight @ https://tangledupinwriting.com
18th:
Book Spotlight @ www.graceajohnson.com/blog
Book Review @ http://www.precariousbookstacks.com/
19th:
Book Review @ Oldfashionedbooklove.WordPress.com
Book Review/Spotlight @ https://vanessahallauthor.wordpress.com/
20th:
Author Interview/Book Spotlight @ thelongvoyage.org
Book Review @ https://thewriterlyworm.com/
Book Review/Spotlight @ losingthebusyness.wordpress.com
21st:
Book Review @ https://mckennedyauthor.com/
Book Review @ janemouttet.wordpress.com
22nd:
Book Review/Spotlight @ https://discipleshipwithjoy.com
Book Review @ www.towerintheplainswordpress.com
July 18, 2022
Blog/Social Media Tour for Untold!
Yep, you read that one right. For the first time, I’m going to be running a blog tour, and it will be in honor of the release of Untold! I’m so excited for this new adventure, and I’d love if you could join the team. The tour runs from September 23 – October 1.
Sign up here!July 15, 2022
Review: “The Colour Red” by R. A. Rooney
The Colour of Red by R.A. Rooney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow, I didn’t know where this little story was going! From the very beginning, I was touched by Owen’s sorrow, and his interactions with Willie were so bittersweet. And then … wow! That action happened, and I was not prepared for it! I loved the London setting, and I can tell the author knew what she was talking about. As for the plot, some things didn’t exactly make sense, but I still enjoyed the story. And speaking of the story … I think this needs to be expanded! I like that Owen was going in the right direction, but I would’ve loved to see his story fleshed out, both with Addison and Willie but as also a continuation of his path toward the Lord. Overall, a fast, unexpected short story worth your read!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
July 13, 2022
Review: Red Umbrella by R. A. Rooney
Red Umbrella by R.A. Rooney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
This was a sweet novellette about sacrifice and friendship! Symphony was such a sympathetic character, and her situation was so sad. And then there was Jack, who was such a kind man to care for this girl he didn’t even know. He really put his “money where his mouth was” as he took care of Symphony. The plot wasn’t super complex or exciting, but the pacing of the story was pretty good and kept my attention. There were a couple confusing plot points that weren’t really explained, but it didn’t really alter my enjoyment of the story. Also, the discussion on God’s sovereignty was a nice inclusion! I think this story definitely has the potential to be expanded (I mean, yes, she went home, but what about her and Jack?) I am left with questions!
Overall, this was a nice, short novellette, and any fans of contemporary Christian fiction will enjoy this.
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
July 11, 2022
Cover Reveal: Bound and Determined by Grace A. Johnson
Well, the long-awaited day has arrived, and just typing that title of the post is so exciting to me! Ever since I read the second book in the series, I have been awaiting the third book. And after hearing about Bound and Determined for a long time (so many tantalizing snippets!), I received the honor of beta-reading this epic novel just a few months ago. And wow, you all should be excited. No, you will be excited after reading this blurb. So without any more jabbering on …
Bound and DeterminedPort Royal, Jamaica
1686
A wicked twist of fate—or perhaps the hand of God—has landed Captain Rina Bennet in the most precarious situation yet. When her husband and the father of her twin boys leaves at the behest of a family friend, she is left to take charge of the ship she has not sailed on in two years, alongside her two toddlers. She finds herself between a rock and a hard place when her first voyage drastically turns into a rescue mission, leaving her to the ghosts of her old life.
Daisy Sharow has risked it all by escaping from her owner’s tavern in search of her sister. Following God’s direction, she seeks out the only person she trusts to help her: Keaton Clarke. When Daisy stows away aboard the Rina, quartermaster Keaton is faced with a ghost from his past and a decision neither he nor Rina are prepared to make.
Rina has to make a judgment call when the ghosts come knocking, a call that could mean either life or death—for both an innocent girl and herself. Can Daisy, Keaton, and Rina band together to save Daisy’s sister…or is the risk too great?
GoodreadsAbout the Author
Grace A. Johnson is a teenage Christian fiction authoress, book reviewer, and avid reader. She lives in beautiful (but humid) South Georgia, surrounded by farmland and forestry, with her parents and six younger siblings. She has written four novels, three of which are published, and a smattering of short stories and novellas, which you can find on Amazon. She’s also a homeschooler who loves learning about history, linguistics, art, and the world around her. You can find her on Goodreads, Pinterest, BookBub, or blogging on her website at www.graceajohnson.com. Join her for a virtual cup of tea and a free preview of her debut novel when you sign up for her e-newsletter!
Connect!Cover Reveal!
July 7, 2022
The Strange Process of Editing
Over the past year of editing and publishing, I’ve realized the process has fallen into some pretty obvious patterns. The entire publishing process is wild, and on that side of things, I’ve noticed a lot of emotional patterns. (This is dramatic, guys.) But we’re not going to talk about that – maybe at a later date, that’ll be a series. 
But as for editing, I’ve fallen into a routine that seems to work decently for me.
Now, before we jump into that, let me just note that everyone’s methods are different. My sister, Kristina, does things a bit differently than I do, and she’s quite successful in her editing. And then there’s people like Grace A. Johnson, who write and edit at the same time like an absolute pro. I think there are hundreds of ways to edit, and I probably learn something new with every single book. This is all still a work in progress – there is likely a far more effective way to edit out there, but I haven’t discovered that way just yet. 
(This is where things get wild, and bear in mind that I wrote each of these books at least two years prior to my foray into seriously editing them.)
This stage is where the entire book gets turned on its face. Honestly, this is probably more re-writing than anything. This stage includes, but is not limited to: cutting thousands of words, revamping plots, creating new plots, creating new characters, overhauling the writing style, remembering why I actually like this story, fretting over plot twists, etc.
So it’s a big deal. I’m very much a pantser (I think that’s what it’s called?) in that I don’t outline heavily when I write, so when I come back to edit, I kinda have to pick up the pieces. There’s also a lot of tightening the plot—getting rid of all those extra scenes and making sure the story makes at least a little bit of sense.
Now, this is just plowing through the book and whacking stuff out. I’m not freaking out over word choice and exact phrasing here; again, it’s more like rewriting.
Second and Third RoundsAnd this is where things get … interesting.
Now that I have the general structure of the story and the writing isn’t completely horrifying, I begin going back to the very beginning and editing. This is when I start thinking about word choice and phrasing and all those lovely things. (Aka, wracking my brain for an interesting way for someone to walk across the room. Why can’t characters just walk across the room when I want them to?)
Anyway. In this stage, I try to go over each scene twice. (That accounts for the two rounds of editing.) I’m a bit of a perfectionist, but I’m always changing stuff on both rounds.
This is also the stage I also really start thinking about exact character development, romance development, theme, etc. I also start having a lot of fun tying the title into literally every single plot point. Also, I may or may not begin scrawling down character profiles and all that drama on sheets of paper, or if I’m especially organized, on Milanote. (Thanks, Saraina, for turning me onto that software!)
There are also times here that I may have to add some scenes because something doesn’t make sense, and these rounds are still pretty heavy edits.
Fourth and Fifth Rounds:Again, this is one of those two-for-one rounds, in which I go back and reread each scene. (In general. I haven’t always done this, but it seems useful.) Again, a lot of stuff that’s similar to the earlier rounds. However, this is where I have to make sure the plots make sense.
This is hard.
It’s usually not the overall plot, but the nitty-gritties of who committed which crime, how could the villain get there, how can I explain this without a massive info dump. I’ll also try to add in lots of details to create realism, and again, just more word choice and rephrasing.
Optional Round:This doesn’t always happen, but I like to go back and hit stuff I listed down during the prior rounds of editing. This isn’t an entire-book edit, but spot edits.
And of course, you have all sorts of long lists like exhibit A of all these problems you must fix. (Is labeled “third edits” since I wasn’t counting the first rewrite, and I wasn’t counting editing each scene twice.)
Bonus content: My amazing romance writing “Why do they like each other?” and these poor people’s character flaws and strengths. Sorry, guys, for exposing you all. Outside Opinions:Now, this is the time when I have someone else read this massive mess. (Or what I hope is not so massive of a mess.) I’ve had an amazing beta reader (you know who you are), my sister, and then of course my mom (aka the Typo Queen.) Outside opinions are so helpful, even if there are like 5,000 comments to resolve. Each and every one is so useful. I don’t know what I would do without other people—I mean, I shall forever be indebted to Kristina for keeping Gabe Kelly from accidentally murdering someone.
Yeah, it was bad.
Anyway … then you can add in your beta/editor comments throughout the book. This is a highly important step, and I highly recommend.
This is where you start screaming either because you really are tired of these people, or you’re so terrified you’re just shrieking. These are line edits when you hunt down those silly typos, groan about problems that are so hard to fix, and fret.
Or, if you’re wise, you surrender your book fully to the Lord and trust Him to carry you through. (The obvious best choice.)
The End!And finally, after more unnecessary panicking, you’re off to the publishing part, which isn’t all that hard in comparison to all you’ve done. Yay!
Whew. That was a lot to talk about. How do you edit? Do you have a certain number of edits that you always do, or do different books change the way you edit? Did any of that make a lick of sense?
July 4, 2022
Review: Falling for the Farmer by Hannah Foster
Falling for the Farmer by Hannah Foster
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
4.5 stars
Aw, what a sweet contemporary romance! I always appreciate Hannah Foster’s gentle and clean romances, and this one isn’t an exception!
Characters: I enjoyed Annabelle probably the best out of the two characters – she was pretty sassy and emotional and dramatic, but that made her character quite clear and understandable. She could sometimes come off as a little insulting at times, but it seemed as if her insults were mostly in good fun or her own way of hiding her feelings. But by the end of the book, she had mellowed out a little bit, all the while keeping her fun personality! Cash was a super nice guy – I loved how gentle and thoughtful he was with Annabelle. They definitely made a good couple.
Writing Style/Plot: The overall writing style was quite well-done. It wasn’t overly poetic, and that worked really well here because it put the focus on the story. As for the plot, it wasn’t the most exciting book I’ve ever read, but I needed a relaxing read today. It was very much real-life where dramatic things were not happening every other moment, and we simply got to follow along with the characters.
Moral/Theme: This might’ve been my favorite part of the book! Both Annabelle and Cash really wanted to get married and love someone, but they both came to the realization that they had to put the Lord ahead of any person or relationship. That was just so beautiful! I loved when Annabelle realized her hope was in Jesus, not in a guy, and Cash admitted to Annabelle that he was worried he would put her before the Lord. We need more of this in romance books! Romance is beautiful and wonderful, but no person should ever be put before the Lord. No person should be expected to fully satisfy another’s desires – only the Lord can fully satisfy us! I absolutely loved this moral woven throughout this sweet story.
Overall, I enjoyed this clean, sweet romance story, and if you’re looking for a relaxing, truth-filled read, look no further! You won’t be disappointed. I’m looking forward to reading more by Hannah Foster!
Disclosure: I received this book free from the publisher/author. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
