Sheila's Guests and Reviews

Today I'm delighted to welcome author Jackie Gamer to my blog for a wonderful interview. No, I'm not interviewing Jackie, but Jackie is interviewing the redoubtable Ela Greenscale. Don't know who Ela Greenscale is? Then you mustn't have read Jackie's new book Reclamation yet. Reclamation is the long-awaited conclusion to Jackie's excellent Leland Dragon series--I know it's long-awaited because I've been long awaiting it. And I'm delighted to get this chance to meet the wonderful Ela. Over to you Jackie, and welcome to my blog, Jackie and Ela:     “Interview with Ela Greenscale” by Jackie Gamber Thank you, Sheila, for having me as a guest on your blog today! I’ve brought a guest of my own with me today, and we’ll be discussing her role in the final book of my Leland Dragon series, “Reclamation”. Please welcome with me, Ela Greenscale. Hurray!! Welcome!!! EG: Thank you for having me. JG: Ela, you’re a newcomer...

As I worked on more stories for Galilee's Gift, tidying up characters, arranging events to make a continuous plot, and adding suitable prayers to the ends of each story, it seemed appropriate that I'd been asked to review a lovely picture book called "Everyone Prays." So that's where I'll start today's list of book reviews. So many books... so little time... and so many more stories to write (Jerusalem Journey, coming soon!) Everyone Prays: Celebrating Faith Around the World, by Alexis York Lumbard , is truly a celebration, which bright pictures, simple text, and a wealth of information crammed into short one-page appendices. I found myself asking questions as I enjoyed the images, then being delighted to find the answers. A perfect nighttime read to encourage prayer and thought and faithfulness, this is a rich, elegant picture-book to enjoy with a rich, elegant 4-star coffee. For slightly older children, Tina Marie Kaht's Dress Up Day is a bright...

Today is the official launch day for Toi Thomas's paranormal romance, Eternal Curse, and I was lucky enough to be offered a free preview copy some while ago. The novel creates an intriguing mythology of angelic beings and the Fall, binding it nicely to modern day characters in search of meaning for their lives. There's an interesting blend of the paranormal, faith and science, and the story has a nicely old-fashioned feel with separate underlying tales taking center stage on the way to resolution. So... here's the cover, the blurb, and my review: ABOUT THE BOOK 'You have plenty of time to change your mind. You have not yet seen the monster I can be.' Giovanni has been waiting his whole life to meet someone like Mira, someone from the outside world who might be able to help him. He wonders if there really is help for him as he continues to hold tightly onto dark secrets and even darker memories. Giovanni wants to be hopeful and he wants to accept Mira...

My Mum's gone back to England. My husband's playing chess. The snow's retreating, the rain is falling, and the gray gray skies are pressing down on me. I guess it must be time to read. In case you feel like it's time to read too, here are some brief book reviews of novels I've read recently, and recommended coffee ratings--I always recommend coffee. Once I've got them posted, I'll return to Jane Gardam's Old Filth, recently read by our book group and highly recommended, but I missed the meeting: Mum was here; husband was working on his chess; and the snow had yet to fall... Starting with a classic literary mystery to whet your appetite, Dakota, by Gwen Florio is a great standalone novel, and second in what's sure to be a great ongoing series. Gwen Florio might be the thinking woman's Tony Hillerman, as she writes of Indian America and smalltown values and beauty. In Dakota, big oil meets missing teenage girls, and protagonist Lola Wicks is loo...

To celebrate the launch of Michele Gorman’s Valentine’s week short story, Weightless, on February 11th, the publishers are offering the book for free in any eBook format to Smashwords readers. It's a short, fun, intelligent romantic comedy, so read on to find your coupon at the end of this post! My Review of Weightless: Told in a convincing professional young-adult voice, Michele Gorman’s Weightless brings two former high-schoolers together, reigniting a once imaginary romance with all its enticing dreams and possibilities. Unfortunately, Jack has mistaken dietician Annabel for the gorgeous nemesis of her miserable teens, and Annabel goes along with the mistake, not wanting to remind him of the spotty overweight girl she used to be. Can true romance be built on lies such as this? Weightless combines the story of Annabel’s mistaken identity with another teenager’s desperate search for individuality. Wise lessons in self-esteem are offered through natural conversation ...

Environmental intelligence, literary fiction , and the eternal search for balance--in nature and in families--you'll find all this and more in P.C. Zick's novel for teens, Trails in the Sand... Plus there are turtles! I'm delighted to be part of Juniper Grove's book blitz celebration today, and I hope you'll be delighted to learn about this book too... Plus there's a giveaway. Don't miss it, at the end of this post! Excerpt from Trails in the Sand by P.C. Zick: PROLOGUE 1956 – St. George Island, Florida Alex and Gladdy Stokley sat on the sand as the reddish glow from the setting sun disappeared and left the beach shrouded in darkness. The light of day remained only in memory as the waves rhythmically beat upon the shore where the brother and sister sat in silence. “Moon’s rising,” Alex said half an hour after the sun left the horizon. “See the light edging its way over there? It’s going to be full tonight.” The tide was going ou...