Vanessa Hall's Blog, page 22
June 8, 2022
Review: Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M. T. Anderson
Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Well, it’s only taken me over six months to write this review. When I first started this book, I didn’t really know what to expect, but it exceeded my expectations in so many ways!
The pacing and organization were extremely well-done. Some nonfiction books are super dry and draggy, but this one held my interest so well. Intertwining Shostakovich’s story with and the story of Russian in the early 20th century made for a riveting read, and the suspense was high! I feared for Shostakovich as he lived through the pre-war horrors, but then when the war came, things got even worse for him. Also, the way the book was structured around the 7th Symphony was quite lovely, but this book isn’t just focused on that single symphony. The author gives a lot of context that truly makes the story surrounding that symphony even more powerful.
And on the research side of things … wow. The author did an outstanding job balancing reports and truth. There’s a lot of confusion on what Shosty actually believed compared to what he said, especially after the war, and the author didn’t enforce his own opinion about what Shosty actually believed. The author simply presented the facts and allowed the reader to come to your own conclusions.
On another note, the pictures interspersed through the book were a wonderful addition. I loved seeing all the different photos of Shosty, and the photos of Leningrad were just heart-wrenching.
I think the one major problem keeping this book from becoming extremely popular is its classification. As a YA-labeled book, most people who would really enjoy this (history nerds and music nerds), miss out. And beyond that, there’s stuff in here I’m not sure I’d classify as appropriate for YA. The Siege of Leningrad was gruesome, and there was some stuff in this book that was probably some of the most disturbing and scary accounts I’ve ever read. There were also a few curse words, which I could’ve done without.
But beyond a perhaps-incorrect labeling and some uncomfortable scenes/wording, this book spins the amazing story of Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony and the city of Leningrad. Music history people out there, you will love this, and you won’t think about Shostakovich the same ever again!
June 6, 2022
Writerly Updates
I can’t believe it’s been nearly three months since I’ve done one of these updates on the blog. Time just flies by, doesn’t it? How is it already June?
But since it is June, that means I’ve off school for the summer, and that allows me much more time to edit and write. Right now, I’m thick in the middle of a round of editing on Untold. Instead of heavy rewrites, I’m now at the point of removing picky little grammar issues and awkward phrasing. Oh, and making sure I don’t forget details, and the story makes sense!
So I’ve been marching along there, and I’m hoping to get it off to my editor (aka my mom aka the infamous Typo Queen) within the next month, Lord willing.
And while Untold is in the Typo Queen’s hands, I’m excited to begin working on the fourth book in the Grace Sufficient series. (Wow, that’s crazy to start talking about the fourth book!) I need to cut out at least thirty to forty thousand words, so that’ll be fun. I have learned that I’m not good at cutting out words. 
But I’m excited to dig into this fourth book—it might just be my favorite in the series—and to be reunited with these characters.
As for writing … wow. I’ve been editing so much and trying to juggle different things that I haven’t had a lot of good writing time, but I have gotten some in. And yikes. It’s rough. This plot is really hard to write. After going through all the different books with these characters, it’s really hard for me to watch them go through yet another trial. But I’m marching onward, and hopefully I’ll get to an easier section of the book in due time.
And finally, I’ve been thinking about other upcoming writing projects. I won’t give many details right now, but keep your eyes open in about six months …
How’s your writing going? Are you editing, too? Do you have long-term plans for thousands of projects? Any guesses for this mystery project? (Though at least two of you know, so try not to spoil anything.) 
June 3, 2022
Review: Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin
Until Leaves Fall in Paris by Sarah Sundin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
3.5 stars
At first glance, this looks like just the book for me. WWII, written by Sarah Sundin, and starring a ballerina? It sounds like it couldn’t get better! Sadly, this book wasn’t a home run for me.
Characters: First off, I really enjoyed Lucie’s character. She was the best developed of the two MCs, and her personality was amazing. Her mixture of playfulness and joy really created an intriguing character who didn’t come off as a hairbrain. (Which she totally could’ve in a lesser author’s hands.) Of course, I loved the part about her being a ballerina, though I could’ve done with way more of that storyline. As for Paul, though … I just wasn’t sold on him. He seemed a little bland in comparison to Lucie (maybe just because she was so outstanding), but I just couldn’t understand him. Sometimes he seemed like the gruff factory owner, but then he had these moments of weird lightheartedness. (Which was actually really cute.) However, I would’ve just liked to see his character more fleshed out so I knew more of who he actually was. As for Josie … she was such a cutie! I loved the part about her Feenee stories. As a fellow writer, that plotline was golden. I also thought Josie’s interactions with Lucie and Paul were both quite well-done. The side characters were okay – I liked Moreau, but Lucie’s friends seemed so shallow. I think I was expecting the usual friends that Sarah Sundin puts in her books, and I wish something could’ve resolved with those girls.
Writing Style/Setting/Plot: The writing was okay; nothing spectacular, but it was clean and easy to read. The setting was interesting, though, because I haven’t read that much about Paris at the beginning of WWII. It was intriguing to see how Parisians were affected and reacted to the war. Also, on an entirely random note, I appreciated all the names of the streets even though I couldn’t pronounce them to save my life. Good research on the author’s part. But as for the plot … this is where it really dragged. I enjoyed the first hundred pages or so (really loved those), but as the book continued on, I felt like I was just laboring to get to the end. This could totally just be a thing specific to me, though, so take this with a grain of salt. I just felt as if the plot began wandering a bit without much of a clear end, and it took things longer to resolve than they should’ve.
Moral/Theme: One big theme that came through was the importance of both beauty and functionality. As a ballerina, Lucie found great important in beauty, and as a car designer/manufacture, Paul focused more on functionality. However, they both came to see that the world is better with both beauty (art) and functional stuff (cars, business, etc.) This tied into Josie’s Feenee stories, because Paul eventually saw that there was value even in his little girl’s slightly confusing stories. As an author, I loved that!
Overall, Until Leaves Fall in Paris was an okay book. The pacing, for me, was the main problem, but if you enjoy WWII fiction, definitely give this book a try.
May 31, 2022
Cover Reveal for Untold
Well, the day has finally arrived, later than I planned (per usual), but here nonetheless! I love when I finally get to cover reveals in the publication process – it’s a sign that the end of the editing stage is not too far off!
So, without further adieu, here is the synopsis for Untold, which is the third book in my romantic suspense series set in Moscow, Russia.
You can only run for so long …
Two years hasn’t erased the sting of betrayal and the shadow of the past, but Nikolai Alexandrov has finally found a way to live. Moscow, Russia, is the last place anyone would look for a rogue ex-CIA agent, and the members of Grace Baptist Church see beyond his past to the man he is now.
Molly Baird never wanted to be a missionary, but due to her father’s wishes, she lands in Moscow to aid her missionary cousin, Gabe Kelly. All is foreign in the massive city, though, rendering her unable to serve. Only the few English speakers in Grace Baptist’s congregation hold a trace of familiarity—including Nikolai, whose kindness she can’t deny.
Yet when a sniper’s bullet strikes far too close, Nikolai and Molly are thrown together in a desperate race against untold threats. When time runs out, will Nikolai and Molly be able to trust God with the past—and with the future?
Thank you to my wonderfully talented sister, Kristina Hall, for designing the cover for me! She completely nailed it, and it goes so perfectly with the covers for Unknown and Unworthy.
Lord willing, Untold will be released late summer (July-August) of 2022.
Add on GoodreadsMay 27, 2022
Review: Nicholas Bishop by P.D. Atkerson
Nicholas Bishop by P.D. Atkerson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I’m reading this series out of order, but I think reading Phantom Thief first makes things even more interesting! And once again, Lee is his sarcastic, genius self, and it’s amazing!
Characters: Well, what can I say? Simon Lee is hilarious and heartbreaking at the same time. I love his wit and his interactions with his team. The kid is just crazy! (I will say I have to kind of suspend belief for a bit when I read this series – Lee acts like he’s about forty years old, but he’s fourteen. I know he’s special, but fourteen-year-old boys don’t do the stuff he does. Well, unless you’re Simon Lee, I guess.) But anyway. Lee’s mysterious past just makes everything more interesting, and I definitely need some resolution there. I just need to keep reading the series! As for the other characters … Agent Mason was interesting, and Shirley was so hairbrained, which was an intriguing mix with Lee. Lee’s team was also fun to see, and I’m thinking they come back in later books? I will say that I needed a lot more of Winfield – I’m glad he made a cameo, but he’s so interesting. And that ending … my heart.
Setting/Plot/Writing Style: The French setting of this book was an interesting twist I wasn’t expecting! Little did I know Simon Lee had even more talents that I’d thought and could speak fluent French. The writing style was very clean and forthright, which worked really well with this type of book. I was a little perplexed with where the plot was going at the beginning of the book, but I think it ended up connecting more once I got past the midpoint. But as usual, there was plenty of intrigue and action that kept everything moving.
Moral/Theme: So this is before Lee even thinks of becoming a Christian (save for the time he said he definitely wasn’t), so there weren’t a lot of overt themes. I suppose you could say there’s a moral against lying and stealing, given what Lee is doing is not good. But there really wasn’t a ton there, and I would’ve loved to see more Biblical themes.
Overall, this was a fun prequel to the Simon Lee series. I’m looking forward to reading more of these books, and I better get some closure out of those. Lee has me hanging in suspense, per usual! (Still torn up about that ending.)
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.
May 25, 2022
Release Day – World of Silence by Kaytlin Phillips!
Silence. Complete silence. That was all I heard.
Fledge Owenby is a deaf archer struggling to be seen for his potential instead of his disability. When forgotten and left behind during a dragon attack, he thinks it is the chance to prove himself that he has been waiting for. But who knew one trip out of the bunker would change everything?
Saved from evil dragons by a dragoness, Fledge wonders why she would help him and soon discovers how similar they are. He is deaf and she is without fire. Drawn together by a bond, not even he can understand, Fledge and Galexia are unwittingly pulled into adventure.
Betrayal of the highest level, deception, and a war that never should have been. Fledge must find a way to end it all while trying to be seen as the boy he is, instead of the disability he has.
May 24, 2022
Cover Reveal: Midnight Will Come by Kristina Hall
She can’t escape the past …
Mellie Rivers’s job as a nurse allows her to help those the all-too-dystopian government has deemed unworthy of medical care. The threats she’s been receiving are a small price to pay. Besides, she has the help of her new tenant—German missionary and powerlifter Friedrich Wolf.
When Friedrich rented that mobile home from Mellie, he didn’t expect to be drawn into protecting her. But now he’s getting all too close to her—and to the danger threatening her life.
When the threats turn to something more, Friedrich and Mellie face a danger neither of them could’ve imagined, and they’ll have to find a way to escape a situation that has no escape.
Because midnight has come.
As many of you well know, I love Kristina’s books. (She is my sister after all, which means I am biased, but I still think they’re rather epic. Extremely epic, actually.) But this one is probably one of my very favorites, first of all, because it’s got basically everything in it. Super high stakes, romance, comedy, and so much truth. And then there are the amazing characters. Don’t even get me started. It’s such a great read!
So, without further adieu, go ahead and add Midnight Will Come to your Goodreads list, then check out the absolutely gorgeous cover below! (Oh, and did I mention Kristina also designed the cover?)
Cover Reveal!
May 23, 2022
Tour + Interview: Kaytlin Phillips, Author of World of Silence
Today, I’m honored to welcome my good friend Kayti to the blog! If you haven’t heard, she’s about to release her wonderful debut novel, World of Silence.
Silence. Complete silence. That was all I heard.
Fledge Owenby is a deaf archer struggling to be seen for his potential instead of his disability. When forgotten and left behind during a dragon attack, he thinks it is the chance to prove himself that he has been waiting for. But who knew one trip out of the bunker would change everything?
Saved from evil dragons by a dragoness, Fledge wonders why she would help him and soon discovers how similar they are. He is deaf and she is without fire. Drawn together by a bond, not even he can understand, Fledge and Galexia are unwittingly pulled into adventure.
Betrayal of the highest level, deception, and a war that never should have been. Fledge must find a way to end it all while trying to be seen as the boy he is, instead of the disability he has.
VH: Hi, Kayti, and welcome to the blog! I’m so excited to have you join me today, and congratulations on the upcoming release of World of Silence !
KP: Thank you for having me!!! Ek, thank you!! I am seriously so excited to be here!!!
VH: Tell me a little bit about your writing journey. When did you first start writing?
KP: Well, I wrote my first book when I was seven…it was basically a Roy Roger’s film I copied to paper, and I might have added one or two characters…lol…But I seriously started writing when I was fourteen. My sisters and I started a book together titled The War King (it’s horrible, but the concept is salvageable). That was fun, but it was quite crappy. After that I continued working on group projects with my sisters which I typed out for us on my Kindle Fire 7! Yeah, I didn’t have a real laptop till 2020…I wrote with my Kindle for three years, then decided it was a serious thing and I really should get a laptop because auto correct on a Kindle is killer…lol…
VH: What’s the hardest part about writing for you?
KP: Finding the focus and time, and also getting the image in my head onto paper. That is super hard. It’s like awesome in my head and then a million puzzle pieces when I try to write it. So aggravating.
VH: What authors have deeply influenced your writing?
I definitely have to say that early in my writing endeavors, the authors that have left lasting marks are S. D. Smith, Andrew Peterson, and Chuck Black. To this day they are three of my favorites (Though don’t get me started on that, because my “favorite” author list is never-ending)! Their stories just drew me in and made me realize that I wanted to do that too! I wanted to write something that was going to make people feel what I was feeling, that inspired and gave hope.
VH: What’s one of your best pieces of advice for an aspiring author?
KP: Don’t give up and don’t compare your writing to others. Not giving up is key to success; you’ll never know unless you try. And comparison is a killer, so don’t do it. I’m trying to break this habit myself…because honestly if it weren’t for my sisters and mom saying just publish your book, I’d still be bemoaning the fact that I’m not as good as so-and-so or such-and-such. That’s okay though, because they’re not me, and I’m not them.
Honestly, there are so many tidbits of wisdom I’d love to pass along but those are the main two.
VH: What’s your favorite type of character to write?
KP: Well, I’m gonna be gender specific first and say boy characters. For some reason, I can’t write a girl to save my life…though readers have told me Adara is awesome, I find her annoying…lol…but as for more about the character, I like writing broken characters. Redemption arcs are beautiful! I’ve seen (and experienced) amazing ones! I’m broken, everyone in this broken world is…but to see God move so fully through us is amazing! I like a struggling character, not a perfect character. A character who is trying to figure out who they are and where they stand in the huge world, because, honestly, that’s me. I’m nineteen and still trying to find my place and worth and want to help anyone I can along the way!
VH: At what point did you realize you wanted to publish? How did you decide to go indie?
KP: So, I entered WoS in Scholastic Art and Writing Awards my senior year. I didn’t win, but I got an honorable mention…it meant a lot to me that they liked it. There were only ten awards given total in my region, so to be one of the ten stories…I was mind blown. I set out some queries but nobody was interested, so I looked over the manuscript again and beheld frightening typo after horrifying grammar…lol…it was a MESS! So I revised and changed a BUNCH! I cut out 20,000 unnecessary words and sent more queries…still no one was interested. So, Nov. 2021 I see a blog tour going on, snoop around a bit, pray, and then go to my mom with the crazy question, “Would I be crazy to publish my book by March?”
She said yes but encouraged me to do it anyway…we all know the deadline got pushed out…lol…once I was enlightened to how long this would take. But I’ve not regretted my decision. I’ve been told that after my beta reading the story was really good. My editor even asked if I had thought about querying again. I may one day…but right now I am content to release WoS for you all and bore you with this long answer…lol…
VH: What was the inspiration behind this book?
My family was watching Sue Thomas F. B. Eye, which is about a deaf woman who worked for the FBI reading lips off of camera feeds and helping to stop crimes and terrorist attacks – super cool! So, this deaf archer kept popping up in my thoughts…I was like, “no thanks, I don’t write by myself. Run along.” Then he got a name…Fledge. And he stuck around and his story built. He was an deaf archer in a fantasy world (something, that as far as I know hasn’t been done before…at least not as the MC) My brothers are archers, I have lots of siblings, my sisters and I love dragons…and all those facts got together and created this crazy plot of a deaf boy and a mute dragon who needed to work together in order to survive. The whole other side of the story was a panster thing…I have no idea where it came from.
VH: What do you hope readers will take away from your writing?
KP: Hope and encouragement to keep on. That we can all fight the darkness around us in some way, even if it’s a small way. None of us are useless, we all have a purpose, a place, and a calling on our lives. I hope that when a reader finishes any of my books (speaking of future books), they can honestly say they feel like there is hope left in the world. That they feel they can make a difference. But most importantly that they know they have a purpose and that Someone loves them.
VH: What do your upcoming projects look like?
KP: Slow coming and varied…lol…I’m a genre hopper so we got exciting things happening in my writing kitchen. The book I am currently working on and hoping to finish before the end of summer is a YA Western titled Rivals of Skyline. It is the first in a series I am hoping to do set all throughout the western states.
Once I finish Rivals of Skyline I’m going to drop back into fantasy for a bit and write a novella connected to World of Silence…I’m excited about this project!
And then lastly (because to name off all future projects would take too long), I have a YA fantasy I started a while back and hope to rework and finish. It’s about a set of twins, and the concept was something new for me, and I was excited about it when I started but then got stuck and retreated…haha…
But that’s what you can expect me from me, randomness.
VH: Thanks so much for chatting with me today, Kayti, and congrats again!
KP: Thank you for having me, Vanessa! It was so much fun!!!!
About the Author
Kaytlin Phillips is a homeschool grad who spends her days praising her Savior, reading, writing, blogging, and annoying her sisters with random thoughts. She is the fifth child out of seven and resides in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
Her favorite hobbies include writing, reading, hiking, theology, history, blogging, ASL(Of which she only knows the basics but has good intentions of learning more), crocheting, doodling, wild orchid hunting, and anything she does with her sisters or family.
GoodreadsFacebookBlogPinterestTour Schedule!Monday, May 16thSisters Three – Blog Tour Launch Announcement
The Sword of the Penmaiden – Guest Post
Vanessa Hall – Spotlight and Review
Tuesday, May 17thKristina Hall – Review and Sneak Peek
Wednesday, May 18thSaraina Whitney – Review
Tasha Van Kesteren – Interview
Thursday, May 19thThe Introspective Introvert – Interview
Friday, May 20thAbbigail Befus – Facebook Review
Teen Writers’ Nook – Review
Bookish Productions – Review
Saraina Whitney – Behind the book Interview and Sneak Peek
Saturday, May 21stSisters Three – Character Interview
Sunday, May 22ndSisters Three – Fan Art
Monday, May 23rdSaraina Whitney – Character Interview
Vanessa Hall – Interview
Tuesday, May 24thBookish Productions – Behind the book interview
Into my Writing Journey – Spotlight
Release day!Wednesday, May 25thSisters Three – Launch announcement and Winner of the Short Story contest announcement!
The Introspective Introvert -Sneak Peek – Lillian Keith
Abbigail Befus – Facebook
Into my Writing Journey – Issabelle Perry
May 20, 2022
Spotlight + Giveaway: A Heart to Cherish by Judith McNees
Everyone leaves…including God.
That’s how Julia Price feels after years of being passed over in foster homes. All she has ever wanted is a family, but when she finds herself pregnant and homeless, her dreams seem further away than ever.
Strait-laced good guy Alex Morgan has waited his entire life for the woman God has prepared for him. When he makes it his mission to help Julia, he wonders whether she could be that woman. But why would God lead him to a pregnant non-believer?
As Julia struggles with issues of self-worth and trust, can she open her heart to both God and Alex? And can Alex trust their relationship to the One who holds Julia in His hand?
Contemporary Christian romance author Judith McNees lives in southwestern Michigan with her husband and four of their seven children, along with their three dogs. Her family loves to travel together, but she still believes that her home state is one of the most beautiful states there is. She is a proud stay-at-home mom, step-mom, foster mom, adoptive mom, and grandma, which gives her plenty of fodder for her writing. She holds a B.A. in English from Western Michigan University and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Anchored Hearts is one of the many books in the Basketful of Books giveaway! The giveaway runs from 5/16 through 5/21, and the prize consists of twelve Christian books. The 1st place winner will receive all twelve books (authors’ choice of format) and the 2nd place winner will receive three books (authors’ choice of format) of their choosing. A variety of genres, from fantasy to historical romance to suspense and more, are featured.
Enter here!May 19, 2022
Spotlight + Giveaway: Love Unforeseen by Penny Zeller
Will a best friend’s matchmaking scheme be successful?
Tillie Waller finds her life’s purpose in molding young minds as a teacher in Ellis Creek in the late-1890s. While she claims contentment, there is a part of her that longs to marry and be a mother, like her sister, Meredith, and best friend, Lula. But no matter. With her students and books, how could she ever be lonesome?
Willard “Will” Fairbanks has longed to return to Ellis Creek since the day he left the town with his family twelve years ago. When a job offer at Ellis Creek Mill beckons his return, Will eagerly embraces the opportunity. An added bonus? He hopes to reconnect with Tillie Waller, the girl he has always loved—the girl who never felt the same about him.
When Tillie encourages her pupils to write to pen pals in another town, she can’t possibly foresee how such an assignment will impact her own future. Her best friend, Lula, concocts a plan, unbeknownst to Tillie, for Will to become Tillie’s pen pal under a false name. Tillie forms a connection with her pen pal and even dares herself to fall in love.
When Will returns to Ellis Creek and re-enters Tillie’s life, will she realize her true feelings for him, or keep them disguised because her heart now belongs to her new pen pal?
Will love unforeseen become a reality for Tillie and Willard?
Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith and her passion to impact lives for Christ through fiction. While she has had a love for writing since childhood, she began her adult writing career penning articles for national and regional publications on a wide variety of topics.
Today Penny is a multi-published author of several inspirational books. She is also a homeschool mom and a group fitness instructor.
When Penny is not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters and camping, hiking, canoeing, reading, running, gardening, and playing volleyball.
Penny is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency and loves to hear from her readers at her website at www.pennyzeller.com and her blog at www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com.
Love Unforeseen is one of the many books in the Basketful of Books giveaway! The giveaway runs from 5/16 through 5/21, and the prize consists of twelve Christian books. The 1st place winner will receive all twelve books (authors’ choice of format) and the 2nd place winner will receive three books (authors’ choice of format) of their choosing. A variety of genres, from fantasy to historical romance to suspense and more, are featured.
Enter here!!
