Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Book Review: Real


About the book
"Real" is a collection of 60 inspirational stories by Shelley Malcolm, with photos by Terilee Dawn Ouimette. The stories are deeply revealing, while the photos are anonymous, focusing only on each subject’s hands. Subjects range from adolescent to elderly, from former gangster to humble homeless, international refugee to hero-housewife, from pro athlete to Hollywood celebrity.   Here is a link to view the video trailer: http://marthamartha.net/media.html.  Proceeds from "Real" go to various charities.  Visit http://realthebook.blogspot.com/ for more information.

My thoughts
I enjoyed the small insight I was able to get into a variety of lives and the epilogue at the end, brings a semblance of closure to my involvement in their lives.  The stories not only cover a variety of people and slices of their lives, but covers a broad area of life topics, such as hope, love, courage, and renewal.  I found the stories to be inspiring and heartwarming and the photography is stunning.  I will never look at, or even think of, hands in the same way again.  The photos did a fabulous job of capturing the stories and lives of the hands they showed.  Overall, the book brings the reader to the realization that the only way to make it through this life is to be the real you.  In fact, one of the opening quotes to the book, has become a favorite of mine.  It is by Margery Williams, from her book, "The Veleveteen Rabbit".  Skin Horse says to the Velveteen Rabbit, "Real isn't how you are made.  It's a thing that happens to you... Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things don't matter at all because once you are Real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."   This quote perfectly captures just what this book is about.

I recommend this  book for anyone who enjoys peering into the lives of everyday people and who need to be uplifted.  This is the type of book that you can open and read just 1 or 2 stories at a time and does not need to be read in order, or you can sit down and read it cover to cover in a few sittings. 

About the author
While "Real"  is her first published book, Malcolm is no stranger to creative projects, as co-owner and restorer of an historic chapel, La Perla del Mar in Shell Beach, CA, and a set designer for theater and film. Shelley Malcolm was named Pismo Beach’s Citizen of the Year in 2011 for her extensive contributions and involvement in the community. Proceeds from the book will benefit the Alzheimer’s Foundation and other charities. Shelley Malcolm graduated from University of Southern California with a degree in dental hygiene. For more information, please visit http://marthamartha.net or http://shelleymalcolmblog.wordpress.com/ Shelley Malcolm resides in Shell Beach, California with her husband, Doug. 

Shelley has four adult children. Her interests include painting , drawing, sculpting, building, playing piano and other musical instruments, outdoor activities including hiking, ocean kayaking, running, water and snow-skiing, international travel, sewing, reading, writing and others. Visit www.marthamartha.net for more information.

Disclosure
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group and the author for providing me with a copy of this book for review purposes. My opinion is my own and was not influenced by anyone else.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

48 hour giveaway: $25 gift card to Kroger (or affiliate) giveaway

I was offered the opportunity to share information with my readers about a sale Kroger had back in November and to give away a gift card to Kroger.  Unfortunately, due to the accidents and surgeries, I was unable to get online to post in a timely manner.  However, the kind folks at Kroger and General Mills through My Blog Spark are still allowing me to offer my readers the prize of a $25 gift card to Kroger.  The gift card can be used at Kroger or any Kroger affiliate (Ralphs, King Scoopers, City Market, Dillons, Smith’s, Fry’s, QFC, Baker’s, Owen’s, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Food4Less, Fred Meyer, Pay Less Supermarkets and Scott’s Food & Pharmacy).  I need to have the winner's information to the prize sponsor on December 9th, 2011.  The winner will be notified no later than 10AM on 12/9 and MUST get back to me with their information no later than 7PM or a new winner will be chosen.


Disclosure: The Kroger gift card, information, and giveaway have been provided by Kroger and General Mills through MyBlogSpark

Book Review and Giveaway Info: The Mirror of N'de


About the book
In the mythical city of N’de lives thirteen-year-old Hadlay and her people, the Ramash. Scorned and abused by the unloving and absent Emperor, the Ramash are poor people, placed second to the ruling class of the Oresed. Young but bold, Hadlay rages against the injustice in her city. When she is chosen for the honor of serving the Prince in the Tower, she hopes to find a way to right the wrong... but soon discovers that things are worse than she believed.

While Hadlay works to better her people’s condition, she struggles to abide with the abusive Oresed and understand the meaning of her dreams in which a fantastical white horse appears to her and speaks in riddles. When Hadlay stumbles into one of the Tower’s secret rooms, she discovers a hidden mirror that doesn’t just show her reflection, but reveals much more: the horse’s name is Sirach and he has a plan to save the children of N’de, if only Hadlay can bring them to the mirror. Hiding her knowledge of Sirach from the Prince, Hadlay sets out to do Sirach’s bidding. But when Sirach’s presence is revealed, Hadley’s life is in danger and the only way to save her is for Sirach to give up his own.

Crafting powerful narrative and creative characters, author L. K. Malone spins a compelling tale that combines exciting entertainment and the Christian story. In The Mirror of N’de, readers will empathize with the desires of an oppressed people, will anger at the affliction of a cruel adversary, and ultimately rejoice with the revelation of a Savior.
You can also watch a trailer for The Mirror of N'de on YouTube.
 
My thoughts 
This book is targeted at tweens and  teens, so I decided to read it along with my tween girls, ages 9 and 10.  They really enjoyed the storyline, but found much of the vocabulary to be rather advanced for them.  I would put the vocabulary level of the book at 10th grade or so, but if an adult were to read it along with them, the storyline would be great for 6th grade or so (and up).  There are many aspects of  The Mirror of N'de that anyone who knows the stories, even just the basic ones, like Adam and Eve,  of the Old Testament would recognize.  I think that is what intrigued my girls the most.  Also, be aware that many of the names are not names we are used to.  However, there is a pronunciation guide in the front of the book that was very helpful.  
I recommend this book for families with older kids to read together and for high school students and adults to read alone.  

About the author
L. K. Malone is an insatiable reader who devours nearly a book a day when she isn’t writing. Favorite genres include political thrillers, historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. Some of her favorite reads include the Hunger Games series and the Harry Potter books, which inspired her to try her hand at fantasy with a Judeo-Christian twist. Malone is a Colorado native with a large extended family, which includes two lovely young women who graciously let her mentor them through the Denver Kids program, and a handsome menagerie of pets. 
About the giveaway
The publisher is sponsoring a $50 Amazon.com giveaway.
To enter all you have to do is send a tweet (using @litfuse) about The Mirror of N'de  or share about it on Facebook!
If you tweet we'll capture your entry when you use @litfuse. If you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email us and let us know (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com). Easy.
Not sure what to tweet/post? Here's an idea:
TWEET THIS: New YA fantasy - The Mirror of N'de - compelling narrative and creative characters! @litfuse RT for $50 to @amazon http://ow.ly/7AWGT 
FACEBOOK THIS: Don’t miss this debut YA fantasy story: Crafting powerful narrative and creative characters, author L. K. Malone spins a compelling tale that combines exciting entertainment and the Christian story. In The Mirror of N’de, readers will empathize with the desires of an oppressed people, will anger at the affliction of a cruel adversary, and ultimately rejoice with the revelation of a Savior. Share this for a chance at $50 to Amazon.com http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13440685


Disclaimer
Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group and the author for providing me with a copy of this book for review purposes. My opinion is my own and was not influenced by anyone else.
  
 

Lots of upcoming posts and giveaways and an official announcement

I will start with the official announcement, well, I actually announced this in the book review I posted October 20th, for The Wonder of Your Love,  but I know not everyone enjoys book reviews so I am making a special official announcement.  My family and I are excited to announce that we are expecting our 5th baby in June 2012.  This partly explains my disappearance for the past several weeks and the relatively few posts in the weeks prior to that.  I have never experienced morning sickness, but the beginning of this pregnancy has proven to be the hardest on me physically.  Along with feeling awful, we had a car accident and 2 surgeries (unrelated to the accident) in our home within the past month.  Having said all that, life is quieting down and I am starting to feel better, at least most of the time.  My surgical "patients" are healing and our van has been repaired.  Now, I have LOTS to catch up on.  I will start with some reviews and giveaways and then get back to posting more original content.  I have lots to share and can't wait to get to writing it.