Amber Stokes's Blog, page 52

My Review of Blackmoore

Here's a description of the book from the author's blog:

"Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a Regency romance of a young woman struggling to learn to follow her heart with a delicious must-read twist."
My Rating
Spring
My Review
With an intriguing premise, haunting and romantic descriptions, and interesting plot twists, Blackmoore is a lovely and worthy sophomore novel from Julianne Donaldson. There is a lot to enjoy for historical-romance lovers, especially those who favor an atmospheric story full of imagination and sweet romance.

While there were a couple of things that kept Donaldon's debut Edenbrooke from being a complete favorite of mine, I still appreciated how engaging and inviting the story was, and Blackmoore followed suit for me.

Both books heavily emphasize the physical (albeit fictional) places they're named for, touting their merits, although I appreciated that Blackmoore offered a more roundabout journey to the end than Edenbrooke. Blackmoore does have a lot of flashbacks, which was neat in some ways as the scenes were often romantic or insightful, but also came across as a little overdone, at least in the e-ARC I read. And the romance - like the homes the books are named for - is rather idealized/idolized (though not without its drama, especially with such a strong-willed heroine).

While those elements kept me from falling completely head-over-heels in love, I still loved my visit to Blackmoore. The symbolism and emotions are poignant, and Henry - while a bit "too" perfect - is a fitting hero for such a story. Fans of Edenbrooke and respectable romances should be quite pleased with the overall presentation.

*With thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with a temporary e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*  This book will be available September 2013.

Conclusion of the Songstone Blog Tour!

What better way to spend a summer vacation than by taking an island trip full of romance and character growth through the pages of a book? It's been awesome seeing readers' reactions to Songstone during the blog tour, as well as learning more about the book and author through the interviews. Even if you're not the official Rafflecopter winner (announced below), everyone can be a winner by picking up a copy of the book (currently only $3.97 for Kindle!) and re-visiting the awesome blog tour posts!

Winner!

The winner of the Sweet Summer Giveaway (which includes a signed copy of Songstone when it's available as a paperback, a sea glass necklace, and a gift card!) is...

 Ruth Hill!
Congratulations! Be sure to check your e-mail! You have 1 week to respond before another winner is chosen.

Thank you to all those who entered the giveaway and left comments on the blog tour posts! We hope you had fun following the tour. =)

Acknowledgements

This blog tour couldn't have happened without the following people...
Rebeka, Lisa A., Jana, Kav, Samantha, Tammy F., Julie, Dianne, Erika, Miranda, Jennifer R., Renee, Amber M., Jennifer P., Lisa G., Rachelle, Tammy S., Michelle, Serena, Audrey, Bonnie, and Kara. (If you missed any of their fabulous posts, be sure to click on the links!) A blog tour can't exist without bloggers, so Lena and I thank each one of you for your participation and your enthusiasm. You all rock!  The Studio of Glass Etsy shop, for allowing Lena to order the sea glass necklace ahead of time. It made a lovely addition to the giveaway package! Lena. I've loved working with you on all our bookish projects, and I can't wait for all that is to come! Keep doing all the awesome things you do. =) Keep up with Lena!

While this blog tour is now over, be sure to keep up with Lena - she's got great things coming, including some new book projects (and hopefully some new cover designs *wink*). Consider joining her newsletter so you don't miss any of the excitement! 

On My Way!

Well, tomorrow my family and I should be off on our summer vacation! Virginia City, Disneyland, and possibly The Price is Right (my mom and I got tickets to be in the audience!)... Should be an adventure. *wink* Virginia City is one of the settings in Bleeding Heart, so I hope to take pictures for a guest post for the blog tour, and maybe pick up an item for the tour-wide giveaway. Love that place! And of course I love Disneyland!

I also have an editing project I've got to get done during the trip, and some other projects coming up... Plus, here's hoping I can get some reading done so I can get some more reviews up!

As for Bleeding Heart, even though the blog tour doesn't officially start until the 18th of August, the publicity campaign, if you will, is on its way! Here's where it starts - an interview on Melissa's awesome blog for "Welcome Mat Wednesday" (click the image below):


I'd love for you to stop by and say "hello," and maybe share about a character you'd love to spend a day with!

Speaking of blog tours, the winners from May the K9 Spy's blog tour will be posted today on her Facebook page! And I'm still planning on sharing the conclusion of the Songstone blog tour on Friday!

While things are going to be rather hectic on Friday, I'll also be sharing a guest post on Seekerville titled "Blog Tours, Cover Reveals, and Giveaways - Publicity 101." I'll be in off and on, hopefully (when I'm not out exploring the Wild West), to respond to comments! So, I hope to see you here and there!

How about you? Have you all had some fun adventures so far this summer - even if it's just through the pages of a book?

Litfuse Publicity Blog Tour: Anomaly

Here's a description of the book:

"Thalli has fifteen minutes and twenty-three seconds left to live. The toxic gas that will complete her annihilation is invading her bloodstream. But she is not afraid.

Decades before Thalli’s birth, the world ended in a nuclear war. But life went on deep underground, thanks to a handful of scientists known as The Ten. Since then, they have genetically engineered humans to be free from emotions in the hopes that war won’t threaten their lives again.

But Thalli was born with the ability to feel emotions and a sense of curiosity she can barely contain. She has survived so far thanks to her ability to hide those differences. But Thalli’s secret is discovered when she is overwhelmed by the emotion in an ancient piece of music.

She is quickly scheduled for annihilation, but her childhood friend, Berk, convinces The Ten to postpone her death and study her instead. While in the scientists’ Pod, Thalli and Berk form a dangerous alliance, one strictly forbidden by the constant surveillance in the pods.

As her life ticks away, she hears rumors of someone called the Designer—someone even more powerful than The Ten. What’s more, the parts of her that have always been an anomaly could in fact be part of a much larger plan. And the parts of her that she has always guarded could be the answer she’s been looking for all along.

Thalli must sort out what to believe and who she can trust, before her time runs out…"

My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

Fascinating. The underground world McGee has created... The difficult questions McGee doesn't save her characters from... The Matrix-y intensity without the ickiness (Thank you, McGee!)... The twists and turns through the human mind... The romance that somehow survives and is as tender and fragile as one would expect in such a world... And the creative and simply powerful look at faith. All of it made for such an engaging story, and a great start to what's sure to be an intriguing trilogy!

To be honest, the two YA contemporaries I read by McGee - while sweet and written in an easy-to-read style - were not favorites of mine, but I was curious about her foray into the world of dystopia. McGee's writing style fits so well in this genre, and I loved this one! Her simple storytelling makes Thalli's eye-opening process so interesting to read about, and it creates a strong impact when Thalli wrestles with tough issues - things like reality vs. simulation, and the fear of forgetting all one has ever known and believed in.

The epilogue has me a bit unsure... Either A) the villain is even more egotistical than previously suggested or B) his plan is super complicated. But really, either way I'm curious to see where this series goes! This is a great set-up, and - more than that - a thought-provoking story on its own. Bravo, McGee, for your creativity and your fearlessness!

*With thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion, to be shared during the Litfuse Publicity blog tour.*

About the Author

"When Krista McGee isn't living in fictional worlds of her own creation, she lives in Tampa and spends her days as a wife, mom, teacher, and coffee snob. She is also the author of Anomaly, First Date, Starring Me, and Right Where I Belong." Learn more about the author at www.kristamcgeebooks.com.

To Buy the Book: click HERE

Blog Tour: Check out the reviews from other blog tour participants HERE.

My Reviews of Other McGee Books: First Date and Right Where I Belong

Litfuse Contest

Krista McGee is celebrating the release of Anomaly , the first book in her new YA dystopian series, with an iPad Mini Giveaway!


One winner will receive:
An iPad MiniA $25 iTunes gift card (download Anomaly to the iPad!)Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 31st. Winner will be announced at Krista's website on August 2nd.

Spread the word about Krista and her giveaway HERE!

Bleeding Heart - Now Available!

Want to hear a not-so-secret secret? My debut novel is available now in Kindle format on Amazon! The blog button still says August, and that's when the official release excitement will occur, but you don't have to wait until then to pick up a copy. *big grin*

It is with much joy (and more than a little relief, LOL) that I present you with this link:

Bleeding Heart on Amazon
I'm so grateful to all of you for sharing this journey to publication with me! I hope you are blessed by this story - and I hope it makes you want to learn more about some of the characters, because I'm thinking that this won't be the last you'll hear from some of them, Lord willing! But more on that in the weeks and months to come...
In the meantime, if you'd be willing to help me out, I'd love for you to check out a few links!Here's the book's Amazon link again: Bleeding Heart. Of course, you know I'd be honored if you'd like to purchase the book, borrow it via Amazon Prime, or try out a sample! But it would also be a big help if you could share the link with others! There are some buttons on the right underneath the "Free Kindle Reading App" box where you can share the link via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. And if you received a review copy, if you'd be willing to share your review there whenever you have it ready, that would be wonderful! I also have an Author Central page on Amazon now: Amber Stokes. There's a button in the upper right where you can "Like" the page, which would be super cool if you did! *wink* And, of course, you can find other links and info on the Bleeding Heart site. I'll keep that page updated with promo info, and I'm sure you'll hear about it here, too, LOL! The blog tour is coming up soon, and there will be some additional posts before then (including an interview next Wednesday on Melissa Tagg's blog, and a guest post I'm sharing in conjunction with Sandra Leesmith regarding book promotion on the "Seekerville" blog, mentioned in the latest Weekend Edition).I hope you all have a lovely weekend! We'll hopefully be leaving on vacation next Thursday, so I guess I have a lot to do before then... A writer's/publicist's/editor's/blogger's/book reviewer's work is never done, right? You got to love the crazy book-biz world! And you all know that we really do. ♥

Conclusion of May the K9 Spy's Blog Tour!

You want to know the coolest thing about this particular blog tour's conclusion post? While the tour itself might be over, the fun is not! Here are 2 reasons to stay excited:

1. May Finds a Way: Peril in Paris - the exciting sequel to May's first book - is still FREE for Kindle!!! (Regularly $3.99) If you haven't downloaded it yet, be sure to snatch it up between now and Saturday night! (And if you missed the first book, it's only $2.99 for Kindle!) We'd love your help in spreading the word so little May can climb the big Amazon charts. ♥

2. May's two drawings - "reviewers rewards" and the scavenger hunt - are open for entries through Monday, July 29th! Details HERE (and below)!

Scavenger Hunt

Did you catch all 11 of the red letters in the blog tour posts (including the introduction post)? You have the weekend to sleuth for the letters, unscramble the code word (hint: May loves it and uses it often in a special phrase!), and enter your guess for a chance to win a PAWsome bookmark and a gift card!


Doesn't that bookmark look sweet?? Check out Blog Tour HQ for links to the blog tour posts (where the red letters were hidden), the rules for the drawing, and the form to enter your response.

The winner (drawn randomly from correct entries) will be announced on May's Facebook page on Wednesday, July 31st, so be sure to swing by there then!

Lucky 7 Rewards for Reviewers

Did you pick up free copies of books 1 and 2 in May's series? Did you receive review copies in order to share your review during the blog tour? Did you purchase one or both of May's e-books? If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, this drawing is for you!

You still have through the weekend (through Monday, actually!) to finish reading the book(s) and share your review(s) on Amazon! (Link to book 1: May on the Way ; Link to book 2: May Finds a Way ) All you have to do is e-mail me the link(s) to your honest review(s) (at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com) to be entered to win one of these super cool prizes:
May the K9 Spy set with hardcover copies of the books, plush toys, and pet treats from Joshua's Pet Treat Bakery (pictured above)Autographed copy of May Leads the Way: Trouble Near Tofino when it releases $25 Cheesecake factory gift cardA character named after you in book 3More details about the prizes and rules can be found at Blog Tour HQ!

Acknowledgements

Despite the fact that the drawings are still open for entries and the last freebie promotion is still going on, it is time to wrap up the actual blog tour. (Blog Tour HQ will be up through Wednesday, though, so you can revisit links and keep up on the winner news there!) A blog tour is a community event, and I wish to thank the following people...
All of the participating bloggers: Sherida, Rebeka, Diane, Roseanna, Virginia, Meagan, Serena (and Ellerie!), Cindy, Kav, and Tammy. (If you missed any of their posts, do be sure to check out these links!) This was a rather complicated blog tour because of the scavenger hunt and all of the book news, so we greatly appreciate your time, your effort, and your willingness to be a part of this. There would have been no blog tour without you, so thank you for everything! All those who downloaded books 1 and 2 doing their freebie promotion periods on Amazon. And to those who wrote reviews, an extra big "thank you" (and I'm sure lots of tail wagging from May)!  KC. Thank you for the privilege of working with you to get May's stories out to the masses. I hope you and May had fun with the tour! Thank you for all of your encouragement, and for getting me to learn new things, like how to put together a newsletter. *wink* You challenged me and yet remained patient with me, and it's been a pretty "pawsome" experience! Bonus Review

Here's a description of the book:

"An enterprising escape, a perilous mission...

After going astray during K9 Spy boot camp, May tries to find a way to the American Embassy in Paris.

Join her and Léonce, a feral cat, as they sniff out an evil plot leading from Benjamin Franklin's park through the historic Passy Cemetery to The Pantheon...including a journey under the city!"

My Review

May really does find her way in book 2 of the "May the K9 Spy" series - a story that resonated with me even more than book 1 and improved on May's voice and her adventures! Once the action pulled me in, I enjoyed getting caught up in the suspense and the intriguing look at Paris. The descriptions of the city add to the drama of a dog trying to save the day and embrace her purpose, as well as a boy trying to do the right thing and a cat trying to help where he can. The characters are intriguing, and I must admit that Léonce made the book all the better for me... What can I say? I'm a cat-lover, and Léonce reminds me of why that is so - 'cause cats are pretty great. *wink*

There was a bit of a disconnect for me toward the end of the book, when something rather major happens but isn't really properly addressed until a couple of scenes later, at the very end. (I guess I didn't quite understand why May wasn't more upset and more eager for answers.) Overall, though, I had great fun joining May on this journey, and I'm impressed with this sequel - the story, the characters, and another batch of great illustrations to go with them. Bring on book 3!

Launch of the Songstone Blog Tour!!!

I'm thrilled to announce the beginning of the Songstone blog tour! Lena Goldfinch has become a dear friend, in addition to being my awesome cover designer and a number of other amazing things. I love her books, and Songstone is my favorite so far, so you can imagine how excited I am that some wonderful bloggers are helping us to spread the word!

Here's the lowdown about this sweet summer tour...

Schedule
Monday, July 22ndIntroduction to the tour at Seasons of Humility ← You are here!Interview and review at The Other WorldSpotlight at Lisa AmowitzTuesday, July 23rd
Interview at A Novel RealityReview at Best Reads (2010-2013) Wednesday, July 24th
Review at West of Newbury StreetSpotlight at The Book Fairy's HavenThursday, July 25th
Review at My Favorite PastimeInterview and review at Tome TenderFriday, July 26th
Interview at One a Day Y.A.Interview and review at To Be a PersonSaturday, July 27th
Review at Donnie Darko GirlSpotlight at Doorkeeper Sunday, July 28th
Review at The Wonderings of One PersonSpotlight at Jennifer Allis Provost Monday, July 29th
Character interview at Paranormal Point of ViewReview at Inspiring DaringTuesday, July 30th
Review at Bluerose's Heart Spotlight at Michelle McLean Wednesday, July 31st
"Outside the Author's Studio" interview at Edgy Inspirational RomanceReview at The Lore-MistressThursday, August 1st
Interview and review at A Backwards StoryReview at Flowers of Quiet Happiness Friday, August 2nd
Conclusion of the tour at Seasons of HumilityTo view this schedule at any time, grab some blog buttons, etc., be sure to visit the blog tour page!

  Giveaways
Lena is offering one main summer-themed giveaway, which you can enter at any of the stops along the tour via the Rafflecopter form. (Or even here, if you'd like!) The giveaway is open internationally, although the type of gift card you win is dependent on where you live (Dairy Queen for U.S. residents, Amazon for all other countries). a Rafflecopter giveaway

While the gift cards are rather self-explanatory (yay frozen treats or summer shopping!), here's a little more info about the other two prizes:

Songstone

"Kita can meld song into stone. In a world with no written word, storytelling—the ability to meld (or magically impress) song into stone—is greatly honored. The village honors her master as their medicine man, but Kita knows he's secretly a sorcerer who practices black magic using drops of her blood. She fears he’ll use her beautiful gift for a killing spell, so she conceals it from him. Each day, his magic tightens around her neck like a rope. His spells blind the villagers, so they can’t see him for what he really is.

 Not that anyone would want to help her. She was found in the forest as a baby and would have died if a village girl hadn't brought her home. But the villagers saw Kita's unusual coloring and decided she belonged to the mysterious tribe who lives in the forests of the volcano, a people feared for their mystical powers. So they fear her too. Now seventeen, she can barely admit her deepest longing: to know who she really is and where she belongs.

Then Pono, a young journeyman, arrives from the other side of the island. He's come to fulfill a pact between their villages: to escort a storyteller back to his village--a storyteller who'll be chosen at the great assembly. Finally, in Pono, Kita sees her one slim chance at freedom and she'll risk her life to take it.

A dark, twisty tale of sorcery, tummy-tingling romance, and adventure, inspired by the folklore of New Zealand's Māori people."

Add the book on Goodreads. Purchase at Amazon.com.

Sea Glass Necklace

 Designed by The Studio of Glass.
Extra Giveaways
In addition to the Rafflecopter giveaway, be on the lookout for additional e-book giveaways at a couple of the blog tour stops! 
Conclusion
So there you have it! Enjoy the reviews, interviews, and giveaways, and pick up a copy of Songstone for your summer reading pleasure! *grin* Then come back here on August 2nd for the conclusion of the tour and the Rafflecopter winner announcement. 
If you have any questions about the tour, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or e-mail me at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com.

Dragonwitch Winner and Upcoming Events!

I had the pleasure of hosting Anne Elisabeth Stengl last week for the release day blog tour for Dragonwitch. (If you missed the interview, you can read it HERE!) Anne was generous enough to do an extra giveaway on my blog, and the winner of a copy of Dragonwitch is...

Christa!
Congratulations, Christa! I sent you an e-mail, so be sure to check your inbox!
If you have yet to grab your copy of Anne's latest, you can purchase it HERE. My review copy arrived this past week, so I should hopefully be reading it and sharing my thoughts here soon!
In the meantime, here are some of the other goings-on...May the K9 Spy's blog tour is in full swing! We're halfway through, with a stop at The Curried Nut today. While the first book has completed its freebie promotion period, you'll be able to pick up book 2 for FREE next week (the 23rd through the 27th), so don't miss it! And be sure to follow the tour by visiting Blog Tour HQ. Seven letters have been revealed so far for the scavenger hunt - have you found them all? The tour concludes on Friday, with winners announced on May's Facebook page the following Wednesday (so everyone has time to get their entries in!). The Songstone blog tour begins tomorrow! Lots of exciting stops along the way, so be sure to follow along via the blog tour page. It's an island-themed tour with a sweet summer giveaway you won't want to miss! AND, the Kindle version is currently $.99 as part of a pre-release promotion, so grab your copy before the tour kicks off! Be on the lookout for other book news as I work through some review copies on my TBR pile and finish proofreading Bleeding Heart, which is due to release in less than 2 weeks! Eeep!! Have a wonderful Sunday, and see you in the blogosphere!

My Review of the Halflings Trilogy

About the Series
Book 1: "In the first book of the Halflings Trilogy, Nikki Youngblood discovers she’s the central force of a madman’s plan, and turns to three half-angel boys for protection. With the Halflings, she’s completely safe. Everything except her heart. And Mace’s soul. Falling for him could ensure his eternal ruin."

Book 2: "In book two of the Halflings Trilogy by author Heather Burch, Nikki Youngblood discovers there might be more to her gifts than simply Seeing—making her a central part of Damon Vessler’s plans. Mace and Raven are forced to work together to keep Nikki safe, but will their love and protection be enough to keep Nikki from the future set before her?"

Book 3: "In the third book of the Halflings series from author Heather Burch, Nikki must finally make a decision—not only which Halfling boy she will give her heart to, but where she stands in the supernatural war her godfather has unleashed. Though first she must ward off a demonic Seeker that is intent on ending her life."

[Book descriptions from the Blink YA Books website.]


My Review
The "Halflings" trilogy caused divided reactions in me: half enthralled, half frustrated. I admit that one of my biggest difficulties in approaching the stories was reconciling the presented theology with the awareness that the series is more fantasy than a presentation of angelology and the like. When it comes to novels with angels (or in this case, half angels) as the main characters, some sort of theology is going to be involved, whether the author wishes to highlight it as a valid interpretation of Scripture or not. I occasionally got hung up on things that were probably not intended to be huge statements, but bothered me, nonetheless. It was a bit of a jerky ride - being swept along through some of the action and romance scenes, but then getting snagged by attitudes and beliefs that didn't resonate (as well as some dialogue and actions that confused or annoyed me). That being said, it was still an enjoyable ride, overall, and one that certainly culminated in an exciting conclusion!

Haflings sets the stage by introducing some interesting characters and creating a good bit of intrigue about who Nikki is and what all the hoopla is about (i.e.: why everyone is either chasing her or determined to protect her from the ones chasing her). Guardian continues the romantic drama created in the first book by adding some rather fantastical plot twists (including a yacht ride to Europe vs. flying there) and keeping the Nikki pendulum swinging between her two admirers. Avenger adds a bit more depth by raising the stakes, giving the characters some maturity, and forcing the characters to face what needs to be faced (no matter how painful the revelations are) and decide what they're willing to fight for - and sacrifice for.

Through the books - especially in Guardian - it felt a bit like the Halflings were some sort of "Avengers" or "Justice League" group. It was like they were super heroes with special powers called upon to save the world - or at least their assigned problem in the world. I think this impression was supported by the faith aspect, especially the take on prayer that bothered me in Guardian. There's one scene where Will - the guardian of Vine, Mace, and Raven (the Halflings initially assigned to Nikki) - told Nikki to pray, pointing out the supernatural realm where angels were fighting to keep death from entering the scene and taking certain lives. When Nikki prayed, it came across (to me) as a matter of course vs. a genuine communication with an omnipotent God. She even asks something after saying a prayer to the effect of, "Did I do it?" as if she was the one who was responsible for any change in the situation. That attitude seemed to permeate a lot of the series - a focus on the deeds of the angels and Halflings rather than the source of their strength in the One they were supposed to be serving. The references to "the Throne," while in keeping with the feeling of a group of soldiers getting orders from the General, kept the faith element from really feeling personal or authentic to me.

Like I noted before, it's sometimes hard to keep in mind that this is mainly fantasy, especially when Scripture
is noted in defense of why certain things are the way they are in the story. When biblical references are used to support certain theories presented in the books, I can't help but wrestle with them. I know, I know - it's fiction, and the books certainly don't attempt to tell you otherwise! Yet, it was hard to mark the distinction between when the books were exploring interesting ideas for the sake of a good story, and when they were trying to convey certain beliefs beyond the fiction. I guess it just ended up being more confusing than inspiring or convicting in a theological sense.

As for the plot and the characters, there were some things that bugged me: Nikki's role, especially, as well as the repetitive back-and-forth interactions between her and her two guys. I could sympathize with her often enough to keep me reading, but her flip-flopping emotional extremes and her drastic personality shifts from warrior to wounded girl did annoy me. I admire that she was supposed to be a "tough" heroine, and I certainly understand why she had difficulty figuring out her affections when both boys did crazy things to her heart. But when Nikki noted in Halflings that she had taken six years of martial arts and was therefore basically able to take on any man, I scoffed. I realize that different types of martial arts can better prepare you for real-life combat than others, and different people can learn more quickly than others, but still...six years? That hardly makes anyone an expert in any field, especially considering Nikki is a teenager! (Yes, this is sort of a minor element I'm picking on, but the whole martial-arts thing didn't jive with me. Nikki ended up being open to learning more about fighting techniques, but I guess it was more that her character's personality and activities didn't always mesh for me, in general.)

Despite my complaints, I did find the books to be engaging. I devoured them pretty quickly, and I really appreciated being able to read them nearly one right after the other. The plot held my interest, and I think it and the character development came together the best in Avenger, which was my favorite of the three. (Although I imagine I enjoyed it that much more because I had been with the characters through two previous books and I could finally see them grow and find some resolution. I certainly recommend all of the books being read together and in order, if possible, for the most enjoyment.)

So, what's the verdict? I was personally frustrated by some of the faith elements (as they were presented) and some of the ideas behind the story and the characters. However, it's an intriguing and creative series that ultimately challenges and changes its characters, leaving an impact on the reader. Some parts feel ridiculous, and some end up working well when all is said and done - not to mention that it is a mostly fun reading experience, despite the little annoyances. The "Haflings" trilogy is one that can leave the reader rather torn, as I am...but I'm still glad to have met the characters and been given the opportunity to ponder some interesting topics because of them.

*With many thanks to Zondervan and DJC Communications for providing me with a copy of each book in the series in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Launch of May the K9 Spy's Blog Tour!!!

Are you ready to play with May? 'Cause she, author K.C. Frantzen, and I have a super fun blog tour planned - complete with a scavenger hunt for fellow spies - to celebrate the release of her first two illustrated Middle Grade books in Kindle format! Read on to learn the lowdown...

Schedule
First off, be sure to note this link: Blog Tour HQ . If you're ever lost, unsure of your instructions (for the scavenger hunt), or curious about how to help spread the news, that's where you'll want to go! (The blog buttons link back to that page.)
And now, here's the schedule:Monday, July 15th ~ Introduction to the tour @ Seasons of HumilityTuesday, July 16th ~ Tuesday Tea with May & KC @ Sherida Stewart Wednesday, July 17th ~ Spotlight @ The Other WorldThursday, July 18th ~ Spotlight @ Diane EstrellaFriday, July 19th ~ Spotlight @ Writing RoseannaSaturday, July 20th ~ Review @ The Things That LastSunday, July 21st ~ Spotlight @ The Curried NutMonday, July 22nd ~ Review @ Edgy Inspirational RomanceTuesday, July 23rd ~ Interview with May @ Buckley's BlogWednesday, July 24th ~ Review @ Best Reads (2010-2013)Thursday, July 25th ~ Review @ Bluerose's HeartFriday, July 26th ~ Conclusion of the tour @ Seasons of HumilityWednesday, July 31st ~ Winners of the reviewer rewards drawing and the scavenger hunt announced on May's Facebook page!If there are any last-minute changes to this schedule, they will be noted on the blog tour page - so check there for the latest news and most up-to-date information!

Drawings and Freebies!
Scavenger Hunt
Have you seen any of the PBS Masterpiece Mystery shows? If so, you may recall their practice of marking certain letters in red throughout the credits when a show airs on TV, which spell a word that fits with that episode. (I’m pretty sure this isn’t just on Sherlock, but that’s the show I’m thinking of!)

Consider all of the posts for this blog tour (including this one but not including the conclusion) the "credits" for May the K9 Spy's adventures. You'll find one letter highlighted or marked in red in each of those posts, so take note! Write them down and then (here's the trick!) unscramble them to form a code word May wants to share with you all. A winner will be randomly drawn from the correct guesses, and he or she will win a $25 LongHorn Steakhouse gift card and a specially designed May the K9 Spy bookmark, pictured below:


Pawsome, right? Here are the rules:
This drawing is for U.S. residents ages 13 and up. Record your guess on the form HERE. Entries will be accepted through July 29th, with the winner announced on July 31st on May's Facebook page. Remember, you most likely won't be able to figure out the word until all of the blog tour posts have been shared. You should have between Thursday, July 25th and Monday, July 29th to figure out your answer and submit it.If you have any questions, read more of the details on the scavenger hunt form on the blog tour page, and/or e-mail me at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com. I'll share hints with everyone on the blog tour page if needed! Lucky 7 Rewards for Reviewers

We have one more drawing going on during the blog tour, and that's the "Lucky 7 Rewards for Reviewers!" Basically, you grab a copy of May on the Way: How I Become a K9 Spy and/or May Finds a Way: Peril in Paris , write a review(s), share your review(s) on Amazon.com, and then e-mail me saying you did so for a chance to win some great prizes! There are 7 prizes in all, and they include the chance to have a character named after you in May's next book, pawographed copies of book 3 when it releases this fall, and more!

Entries are currently low, so don't miss out on this chance to win! Learn all of the details in May's latest newsletter or e-mail me at amberstokes@editingthroughtheseasons.com.

Freebies!

To make things even easier for that reviewers drawing and even more exciting for those just hearing about this series, May's two e-books are going to be free at different times during the blog tour! Be sure to note these links and dates below in order to catch free copies of these sweet and exciting illustrated books:
May on the Way: How I Become a K9 Spy (FREE for Kindle July 16-20) May Finds a Way: Peril in Paris (FREE for Kindle July 23-27)  Conclusion
This tour is only as fun as you all make it, so I do hope you'll visit the different posts along the way (spotlights, reviews, and interviews) and take part in the scavenger hunt! Interact with May, leave comments asking her questions, share your thoughts on the books - whatever you want to do! We're just glad you're here. *grin* Please don't hesitate to e-mail me or leave a comment on the blog tour page (or here) if you have any questions about the tour!